Recently we were told by a student that setting aside time for improving his physical fitness would be a total misuse of his working hours. He assured us that he would be no better served by a fitness program than by learning to play bridge. College and his preparation for a career were his only priorities.

    This student has seen being physically fit as an end rather than the means we know it to be. His opinion is one of the many feelings, pro or con, that people hold about their personal involvement in a physical fitness program.

    Many people, including college students of all ages, spend little time in pursuit of physical fitness. Certainly some of these individuals may have physical limitations that make activity extremely difficult, and others are engaged in time-consuming activities that until finished do not permit opportunities for recreation. However, what about the majority who could do much more but do so little? Does one of the following statements sound like you?

    "I know it's important, but I just don't have time right now."

    "I'm already fit, and with my schedule, I'll have no difficulty staying that way."

    "I should do more than I do, but I just don't have facilities and I don't get much support from others."

    "Exercise makes me feel terrible. Even when I shower, I get to my next class wet, and probably smelling like a locker room."

    Unlike these people who have made no commitment to fitness, you may have made a commitment to a physical fitness program that might be rather narrow in scope. If one of the following comments fits you, perhaps you are failing to see the broader values of maintaining a high level of physical fitness.

    "Everyone in the dorm runs at night. That's why I run."

    "For every 3,500 calories I can 'burn' during exercise, I'll lose a pound of fat. I have only 10 pounds more to drop before Christmas."

    "This weekend will be cool and nice. Saturday looks like a good day for a personal record."

    "Some would say I have a fear of death. Heck, I just want to live a long time."

    If you see your own attitude represented by one of thee comments, might you be shortsighted in your reason for valuing fitness? We would suggest that you reexamine your approach to fitness and its ability to positively influence other aspects of your life. Ask yourself, "What could I achieve if I were really in top physical condition?" Because fitness levels are easily observed and can be measured, you can quickly start to see the emerging person you are capable of becoming. Almost daily you can see progress and accomplishment. Keep in mind, however, that all people are different and some may progress faster than others. In the final analysis, we think that although fitness will not guarantee that you will live longer, it can help you enjoy the years you do live.

    最近，有個學生告訴我說，分出一部分時間去提高身體健康的水平，純粹是擠占了他的學習時間。他想讓我相信，假如讓他參加健身培訓班和讓他學打橋牌同樣都是對他沒有好處的。他把上大學和準備干一番事業擺在了比一切都重要的位置。

    另一位學生把有個健康的身體看作是最終目標，而不像我們那樣把身體健康當作工作學習的一種手段或工具。許多參加健身培訓班的人都有著各種不同的感受，有的說好有的說壞，這位學生的意見是各種感受之一。

    很多人，包括各種年齡的大學生，幾乎不花時間去追求身體健康。當然，這些人中有些因為受到生理上的限制以致參加活動極為困難，還有些人從事著耗費時間的事務活動，以致只能等到忙完了這些事務才有可能去參加消遣活動鍛煉鍛煉。但是，大多數人，本來可以多參加些鍛煉活動，可是實際上卻參加得很少。這些人又怎么樣呢？下面這些論調中有哪一種聽起來像是你說的呢？

    "我倒是知道身體健康很重要，不過我現在就是沒有時間。"

    "我的身體已經很健康了，雖然我的時間表安排得很緊，但我要保持現在的健康還是沒問題的。"

    "我本來應該比我現在參加鍛煉的次數更多一些，可是我沒有那些健身設備，也沒有別人多加贊助我。"

    "鍛煉使我覺得很不愉快。甚至淋浴以后趕到下一堂的課室中身上還是濕淋淋的，也許會讓人聞到我身上的汗腥味好像是在更衣裳室里一樣臭。"

    你跟這些沒有參加健身活動的人不同。你可能已經參加了健身培訓班，也許這個培訓班的培訓范圍相當狹窄。如果下列這些說法中有一種正適合你的情況，那也許你還不懂參加高水平的健身活動會對你有更大的價值。

    "我們宿舍里大家晚上都在跑步。所以我也跑步。"

    "在我鍛煉期間，我每'燒'掉3500卡路里，我就減少了一磅脂肪。在圣誕節前我還要再減掉10磅重的脂肪。"

    "這個周末天氣將會又涼又快又舒適。星期六看起來像是個創造個人記錄的好日子。"

    "有人會說我怕死。見他的鬼去吧。我只是想長壽。"

    如果上面的說法之一你覺得正是代表了你自己的態度，也許你參加健身運動的理由會有點兒目光短淺吧？我們建議您重新檢查一下你對待健康的態度、重新檢查一下身體健康對您生活的其他一些方面能有哪些好的影響。捫心自問："倘若我的身體真的達到了最棒的狀態，那么我能取得什么成就呢"？因為身體健康的水平是很容易觀察到的、也能測出來的，那么3你很快就能看出來，你能夠成為一個脫穎而出的人。幾乎每天你都看到你的進步和成就。但要記住，所有的人都是不同的，有些人可能比另外一些人進行得快一些。歸根結底，雖然健康的體魄不會保證你一定會延長壽命，但是健康的體魄有助于你享受有生之年的歡樂。