What Does Fitness Mean?

What Does Fitness Mean to You?

The word fitness means something different to everyone. Our personal definition is shaped by our upbringing, lifestyle, mindset, current season of life, and personal experiences. For some, fitness means running marathons. For others, it means getting up off the floor without assistance. Every definition is valid.

To me, fitness is having the energy, strength, and ability to do the things you need to do and love to do with minimal discomfort.

I love to dance, take fitness classes, and hike. If I can randomly break into dance in the aisles of Target (despite my kids' complete embarrassment), make it through an hour-long class, or enjoy a five-mile hike, I'm happy. I also appreciate being strong enough to carry heavy watering cans, baskets of laundry, or gallons of milk without thinking twice. These everyday moments matter just as much as any workout.

Sometimes we also need to rethink how we view the daily tasks that keep us moving. We can talk about finding peace with chores, habit bundling, and other strategies that help shift resentment into gratitude. Happiness is often less about circumstances and more about perspective.

Your interests may look completely different from mine—and that's wonderful. But it's worth taking an honest look at the activities that make up most of your day. If you spend eight hours at a computer and then relax by reading for several more hours every evening, your body may not be getting the movement it was designed for. There's absolutely nothing wrong with reading, but when it's paired with an already sedentary lifestyle, it can make it harder to feel your best and age well. Our bodies were made to move, even though modern work, school, and entertainment often encourage us to sit. (This is one reason I'm such a fan of audiobooks—you can listen while walking, cleaning, gardening, or doing just about anything.)

I have a friend who works as a custodian, and she's one of the healthiest people I know. She's also sharp, organized, funny, welcoming, and an incredible hard worker. She chose her job not only because she loves where she works and the people she works with, but because she enjoys being physically active throughout the day.

She walks constantly, lifts, bends, reaches, and keeps moving from the moment she starts work. Her job is essential to the facility, but it's also helping her maintain strength, mobility, and posture. She doesn't spend much time worrying about calories because she eats wholesome foods and naturally stays active.

She's a wonderful reminder that lifestyle matters. For her, healthy eating and movement aren't daily decisions—they're simply part of who she is and how she lives. That's what I hope more people can experience: building a life where movement isn't another item on the to-do list, but something naturally woven into each day.

Discovering Your Definition of Fitness

If you’re exploring what fitness means to you, consider three key influences:

Lifestyle – What does your daily routine look like? What are things you need to do? Love to do?

Psychology – How do you really view fitness? Is it an obligation? Can it be fun? Are your choices shaped by social pressure, self-image, or past experiences? We could really dive in here and if you want to contact us to schedule some wellness coaching.

Childhood Activity – How active were you as a kid? Early habits often influence how we move—or don’t move—later in life. It also influences how we view exercise, food, and so much more. I mean the connection is obvious, but sometimes it’s not apparent to us.

As a wellness educator, I guide people through these reflections. Whether your goal is to play soccer with your kids, lift a gallon of milk, or simply feel strong and energized, it all starts with understanding yourself. Fitness isn’t about extremes—it’s about creating sustainable habits that fit you.

Balance Over Extremes

Our culture encourages swings from one extreme to another—fasting to bingeing, sedentary to overtraining, hoarding to minimalism. Your body doesn’t need extremes—it needs consistency and balance.

You don’t need a pantry full of protein powders or the latest gadgets to be healthy. Unless you’re training to become a bodybuilder, you can meet your protein needs through real, whole foods. Don’t be swayed by every trend or vitamin new seltzer. Collagen, creatine, casein—they’re optional. Your body is resilient and beautifully simple: it thrives on movement, nourishment, and rest. There are exceptions of course, but we are thinking general here.

Make Fitness Your Own

Fitness isn't about keeping up with anyone else. It's about doing what you can, with what you have, wherever you are in life. Your journey doesn't need to look like anyone else's. Pair movement with something you enjoy—a favorite playlist, a walk through nature, a great podcast, or a group fitness class that leaves you smiling.

Personally, I love walking, yoga, lifting weights, and teaching everything from self-defense to foam rolling. I've worked with people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and motivations, and one thing has become very clear:

The best fitness routine is the one you'll actually stick with.

Movement should leave you feeling stronger, more capable, and more energized—not defeated. It should build confidence, improve your quality of life, and support the things that matter most to you.

One of my favorite ways to stay active is through group fitness classes because they offer so much more than exercise.

They create community. In a world where loneliness is increasingly common, showing up in the same room with people who encourage one another can be incredibly meaningful. You begin to recognize familiar faces, celebrate each other's progress, and realize you're not doing this alone.

They provide accountability. On days when motivation is low, having a class on your calendar gives you a reason to show up. And once you're there, you're much more likely to finish the workout than if you were exercising alone. There is something powerful about the positive commitment you've made to yourself and the group.

They remove decision fatigue. You don't have to wonder what exercises to do or whether you're doing enough. The workout is planned, the instructor guides you through it, and all you have to do is show up and participate.

They help you work harder than you often would on your own. The energy in the room is contagious. Without even realizing it, you may hold a plank a little longer, try a slightly heavier weight, or complete one more repetition because the people around you are doing it too.

They add variety. Different classes challenge your body in different ways, helping improve strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, and coordination while keeping workouts fresh and interesting.

Most importantly, they make movement enjoyable. When exercise becomes something you look forward to instead of something you dread, consistency follows. And consistency is what changes your health over time.

So ask yourself: What does fitness mean to me?

Your answer becomes your reason to move—or not to.

Every choice we make shapes the life we're creating. If you're content with a sedentary job, convenience foods, and relaxing with television each evening, that's your choice. But it's also important to understand the long-term effects those habits may have on your energy, strength, mobility, and overall health. There are no perfect choices—only trade-offs.

I've worked with many wellness coaching clients who genuinely want to feel better. They know something isn't quite right, yet they aren't ready to make the changes that would help them get there. That's more common than people realize.

Behavior change isn't simply about knowing what to do. It's about being ready to do it.

Psychologists describe several stages of behavior change, from not yet considering change, to thinking about it, preparing for it, taking action, and maintaining new habits. Wherever you find yourself on that journey, it's okay. The important thing is to be honest about where you are, because lasting change rarely happens through guilt or pressure. It happens when your desire for a different future becomes stronger than your comfort with the present.

Fitness isn't about earning your worth or becoming someone else. It's about building a body that supports the life you want to live—for years to come.

Contact me to learn more about how I can help you adapt your mindset, create habit change, or master your movement.

Take Care and Be Well,
Megan Sol
Founder