How Fit are You?

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This is a great question to ask yourself, whether you are someone who follows a strict exercise regime, a senior with age-related health issues like arthritis or you are interested in starting an exercise program for the first time. If you are 18 to 30 years old without any major health issues, most doctors agree you can safely begin an exercise program however like the of the population, it is extremely valuable to make certain assessments of one’s fitness level to determine strengths and weaknesses, as well as to record a starting point from which to measure progress.

Fitness is divided into two categories. Performance-Related Fitness applies to athletic fitness, demonstrated in professional or Olympic athletes, as well as in your own neighborhood softball team or pickup basketball game players. Skills related to this type of fitness include speed, reaction time and coordination and are demonstrated in abilities such as pitching a fastball and performing a routine on the parallel bars.

The second type of fitness is Health Related Fitness, the purpose of which is to lower health risks like high blood pressure, diabetes and joint pain. This type of fitness is measured by aerobic strength, muscle strength, flexibility and body composition, among other criteria. Health related fitness is necessary to perform everyday tasks like carrying groceries, doing house and yard work and lifting boxes of paper for the copy machine at work.

There are several methods of testing levels of the different components of fitness, many of which can be found online. One of the most established tests is The President’s Challenge, which many adults may remember taking in grade school. A specific test for adults can be found on www.adultfitness.org and presents simple exercises to test four components of fitness which represent a base standard of fitness. It tests four principles that enable individuals to measure their fitness levels against the wider population. This information acts as a tool, allowing a person to make healthier changes in his or her life and set personal fitness goals
 
Aerobic fitness is tested by a 1-mile walk or 1.5 mile run. Half sit-ups and pushups assess muscular fitness. A half sit up with restrained legs measures flexibility and body composition is determined by calculating BMI (Body Mass Index). (The calculation for BMI and the interpretation of your number is available on the above web site.) In addition to encouraging you to record your results and retake the test periodically to reassess your fitness level, you can send in your results for a professional assessment.
   
No matter what your age or weight, don’t get discouraged if your initial scores are not ideal. Keep in mind that even the most elite athlete must begin at the starting line. Building good fitness is one activity in which hard work is guaranteed to pay off with concrete results.

Here's to your wellness,

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