How Fit Are You?

By Sara Butler

Most people judge how fit they are by the number on the scale, but that’s not a measurement you can rely on to give you a picture of your overall health and fitness. Whether you’re a seasoned fitness maven or just starting to work on living a healthier lifestyle, you need to know how to check your progress. There are simple fitness assessments you can do to see where you’re at with your fitness so you know where you should focus in order to become fitter and healthier.

You Can Touch Your Toes

This one is pretty simple -- can you touch your toes or not? A great workout regimen will include exercise to increase coordination and flexibility. Periodically test yourself to see how flexible you are by touching your toes or stretching your arms across the front of your body. If your muscles pull or tighten when doing these, then you know you need to work on your range of motion.

Holding a Plank

A plank is a simple exercise that requires a lot of core muscle strength. If you can hold one for 60 seconds (or more!), then your core muscles and lower back are strong. If you can’t quite do it, then work on building up to holding a plank for a minute or more by starting slowly at just 10 seconds and adding a little more time each day.

You Sleep Well

You probably think that how fit you are is only visible through physical exercise, but how fit you are impacts how you rest too. Increased sleep and sleep quality is a sign you can use to understand if you’re in shape or not. This is due to the fact that exercise impacts your circadian rhythm, which helps you fall asleep and wake up each and every day. If you notice the quality of your sleep is suffering and you’re not active, then try to include moderate activity into your day to help.

You Can Do Push-Ups

Push-ups may bring back memories of sixth-grade gym class, but your gym teacher used them for a good reason: They’re a great indication of how fit you are. If you can push your own body weight up 27 times in a row (yes, that’s the magic number), then you’re doing pretty well on your quest to become fitter.

Being fit isn't just about muscle mass or nutrition. If you need more information about how to get fitter, discuss it with the chiropractors at The Joint!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Downey, Calif.

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