Exercising is essential to maintaining healthy body weight and sustaining energy levels throughout the day. Nevertheless, there are reasons why some people might not be able to go to the gym or work out in general. No matter the reason, not hitting the gym can make you feel demotivated and prone to laziness.

Even though this concept is compelling to contemplate, it is not entirely factual. According to research, our fitness levels are more determined by our diet and lifestyle than hours spent in the gym.

Would you like to know if your body is fit even if you do not engage in any rough exercise? Here are five signs that will help you determine whether your body is in good shape or not.

1. Mental Health And Emotions

There is no question that physically healthy people are mentally healthy as well. Researchers claim that those who exercise regularly have better mental health and are less likely to suffer from disorders such as anxiety or depression. Moreover, if you’re in good health, your positive energy is more likely to be in harmony as well.

One way to check out your energy is to perform a muscle test on yourself or the subject. This test relies on applied kinesiology, a pseudoscience that believes the subconscious brain determines illness and discomfort. The muscle test features some quick and easy movements that you can try in the comfort of your own home. This test will give you clues about what’s going on “behind the scenes,” i.e., what the status of your subconscious is. Once the results are in, you can decide how to proceed.

2. Heart Rate

Most people’s resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 120 beats per minute (depending on age, lifestyle, drug use, etc.). Anything above or below this range is dangerous.

However, if your heart rate is generally below 100 beats per minute, it may indicate good health. Having a lower heart rate means your heart is able to sustain homeostasis (stable function), something only healthy hearts can do.

Taking your pulse is a simple way to test your heart’s health. The best time to do it is in the morning. Another way to determine your heart’s health is to check your heartbeat after vigorous exercise.

If your heart rate returns to normal quickly, then your recovery time is excellent, and you are in good shape. If, however, your heart rate remains elevated even after a considerable time has passed, then you might want to reconsider that donut you’re having for lunch.

3. Ability To Do Work

Can you easily take up jogging? Do you find stairs easy to climb? You may be in good shape if you can complete your daily tasks without quickly getting tired.

Tasks can range from simple ones like doing the laundry, driving, and playing with your children to more complex ones like moving furniture around the house. Good health allows the body to release certain hormones that induce beneficial effects, increasing energy levels and pain tolerance.

An easy way to determine this is to assess yourself after completing a random task. Do you feel tired right away, or can you still store up a few boxes?

Have you been huffing and puffing on the first few steps of the stairs, or are you laughing at your friends for not keeping up? Strong stamina generally implies good health. You may also find that your body offers less resistance to strenuous activities like sports. Work will be less of a hassle, and things will seem less burdensome. As a result of this elevated energy level, you may need to constantly get up and move around.

4. Quality Of Sleep

Good health also depends on the quality of your sleep and your overall mood. An individual with a bad lifestyle is more likely to have mood swings. They are also more irritable than those with healthy lifestyles. Poor sleep is one of the causes. Sleeping less than 6 hours is considered insufficient, and if you wake up feeling angsty every day, then you might not be in shape.

Sleep is essential for recharging your batteries and eliminating all the toxins accumulated by your body during the day. An unhealthy lifestyle makes it difficult to sleep because it interferes with body processes and keeps the mind active when it should be resting. When you don’t get enough sleep, you may feel fatigued, be less productive, and exhibit poor cognitive function. Additionally, your memory may also suffer, and you may have difficulty recalling and memorizing things.

In contrast, people in great shape experience better moods, greater energy levels and higher productivity. They also report lesser instances of irritability and faster reaction times.

5. External Appearance

In general, being healthy can leave you with some visible indicators that can help you determine your level of health. The fact that you don’t gain belly or thigh fat when you don’t perform hefty abs and thigh workouts may indicate that your fitness level is pretty good, for example.

Clearly, genetic factors are also involved, as some people are naturally more prone to having body fat in certain areas. Comparing your progress over several months is a good way to begin when tracking your body’s fat levels. Use a measuring tape to determine your thigh and stomach circumferences.

Track the changes over time. Minor to no changes should be a good enough sign of good health.

Final Thoughts

You can use many tips and tricks to see if your body is in good shape. However, only a few are listed in the article above.

While it is possible to maintain a good condition without exercising, it is highly discouraged. Compared to someone who commits to a proper diet and exercise, your fitness level will be relatively low without exercise.

Even if for some reason you can’t hit the gym, try some low-impact exercises that will keep the blood circulating. For the best of health, try and maintain a proper balance of diet, workouts, and positive thoughts.