Keeping fit: It's OK to do it your way Published July 16, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Nadia Frazil 1st SOSVS Hurlburt Field, Florida -- Everyone knows you should be getting some sort of exercise because of all the health benefits that come with a more active lifestyle. More than likely everyone has tried the gym thing or at least thought about it. Fitness is a noun and is defined as the state or condition of being physically sound and healthy, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition; a state of general mental and physical well-being. It's a term that covers a vast array of attributes: flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, strength, power, balance, coordination, body-fat percentage and more. There are many options to get active that don't include jogging, weight lifting or other traditional ways to work out. Although you will generally hear that multiple 30-60 minute sessions per week are the key to producing results, there are plenty of activities you can do that involve exercising. Chase your kids around the yard or around the park. It's surprising how much of a workout you can get while playing with your kids. Running tones muscles in your legs, hips and abdomen and is an aerobic exercise. It works your heart muscle and improves oxygen supply to your muscles. Although you're not running around a track or on a set course, you're running. Turn up your music and dance. Dance in your living room, kitchen, anywhere around the house while you're dusting, putting away the dishes, straightening up the rooms. It will get your heart rate up, and you'll actually have fun doing chores. Dancing will give quite the workout no matter what kind of music or style of dance. Social dancing helps to reduce stress, increase energy, improve strength and increase muscle tone. Dancing also lowers the risk of coronary heart disease and decreases blood pressure. When the weather permits, swim. Whether swimming a few laps or just playing in the pool with your kids, it's still a workout. Swimming can help you live a longer, healthier life, and many doctors consider it one of the safest forms of low-impact exercise because it's easy on the joints. Pick one or two activities that will get you moving. The important thing is to find something you enjoy doing so you will stick with it. You don't have to go to the fitness center to be active and work out. Doing your own thing can be just as good as the traditional work out, so enjoy!