The physical condition continuum has four major points: Sick, Well, Fit, Sports-specific. Each of these points has unique aspects to it that deserve attention during physical conditioning.
THE 4 WELLNESS LEVELS OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONING
1) Sick
The American culture focuses on beating illness (as opposed to promoting wellness). As a result, there are many levels of sickness. They have labels like mild, moderate, severe, acute, and chronic. Each category has its own unique aspects. A general, but not rigid, rule of thumb is that if it doesn't stop you from going about your day, it's mild. If you have to spend a day or two in bed, or 
you recover in less than a week, it's moderate. Any time hospitalization is involved, it can be considered severe.
2) Well
Technically speaking, this is the state of not being sick. In practical terms, it's more than that. Well also includes a sense of well-being that often comes from not feeling pain and not being sick. Well people usually take care of themselves, physically, mentally, and emotionally. They make healthy eating choices at least 80% of the time, engage in moderate exercise, and address potentially stressful issues before they become major problems. Wellness is a state of mind in which individuals do regular life activities when they want for as long as they want. Their bodies can pretty much keep up with them.
3) Fit
This level of physical conditioning is more intense than wellness. Fit people have more muscle mass (resistance exercisers) and/or less body fat (distance runners) than most people who focus on wellness. They usually train and participate in a sport, although not at a professional or competitive (entering contests or competitions) level. Fitness involves working out at a certain level of intensity on a reasonably consistent schedule. Fit people also make healthy eating choices almost all the time and make their physical and mental fitness priorities in their lives.
4) Sports-specific
There are those who would argue that sport-specific training is closer to sick than fit, mostly because of the high risk of pain and debilitation involved. Athletes and serious competitors of all kinds who engage in heavy-duty training sessions fall into this category. Risk of injury is higher with sports-specific participants. Think of a football or soccer player's head and neck, or the knees of just about any seriously competitive athlete. Sport-specific athletes push their bodies to perform at the highest level they can attain. This includes pushing a joint past its natural range of motion (for example, a baseball pitcher's shoulder, or a gymnast's lumbar spine). Eating programs are strict, designed for sport-specific results. Winning is one of the highest priorities in this category.
