Fitness Test: Have you ever asked yourself this question: How fit am i? How do you answer such question? Fitness can be measured in countless different ways. While there are three major elements to fitness, including strength, cardiovascular fitness and flexibility, there are dozens of different styles of measuring each element of fitness. It is important to remember that weight is rarely a good indicator. Many overweight or even obese people can be very fit, while thin people can be very unfit.
Here are several fitness test that you can use to measure your own fitness.
- Resting Heart Rate: One of the best indicators of heart health and cardiovascular fitness is to check your own resting heart rate. Either with a heart rate monitor or with your fingers pressed to your pulse, count the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Do this while resting, ideally right after you wake up. Outside of any medical conditions, a lower heart rate indicated a higher level of fitness. By checking every month or so, you can see if your fitness is improving over time.
- Strength Exercises: Another simple way to track your strength over time is with strength exercises. You can track your pull-ups, push-ups or crunches. Time yourself for 2 minutes, and do as many of one exercise as possible give the time constraint. If you need to stop and rest, go ahead, but remember that the clock is still ticking. Just like with your heart rate, test yourself each month. By comparing your results of this fitness test to the months prior, you will be able to tell if your current fitness routine is improving your strength and fitness.
- Endurance: Another measure of your cardiovascular fitness is through endurance tests. Whether you run, bike, swim or walk, you can perform a simple test as part of your workout. If you began by jogging for a mile, you can visibly see how your fitness has improved if you are now able to jog 2, 3 or 4 miles.
- Flexibility: There are several simple techniques to help you track your advances in flexibility. At the beginning of your program, sit on the floor with your legs extended in front of you and reach as far as possible with your arms outstretched and keeping your legs straight. Remember how far you can reach, and then check periodically to see if you have improved. This is one of the simplest fitness tests you can do!
- Health Statistics: Although all the above tests to measure your fitness are great, some people still prefer to have medical tests do the work for them. Tests such as your Body Mass Index (BMI), body fat percentage and even your waist to hip ratio can both indicate health and physical fitness improvements over time.
Consider using one or more of these fitness tests as ways to measure fitness if you want to track improvements or see if a new fitness plan is proving successful.
