Measuring your fitness level is very important, irrespective of how fit you already are. Some people detest exercise so much that they don’t want to have anything to do with it at all, irrespective of their fitness level. There are other people who think they are fit enough and do not need to engage in any more exercise, if you fall in this category, it is best you measure your fitness level to know where exactly you stand. On the other hand, if you are a fitness buff, it is also important that you keep a constant check on your fitness level, to know if you are improving or not, or if to change your workout routine.
Below are ways you can measure your fitness level.
1. Check Your Weight and BMI
To know your health and your fitness level, the first important thing to take note of is your total body weight. Being underweight or overweight can have a great effect on your health, so it is important that you keep a constant check on your weight and ensure you are fit. Overweight has a greater adverse effect on your health, as it opens the individual to a lot of risks like diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Get a regular weighing machine to weigh yourself or you use the bathroom scales, divide your weight by the square of your height to get your Body Mass Index (BMI). The normal BMI ranges from 18.9 to 24.9. If your BMI is higher than 25, it shows you are overweight and if it is less than 18, you are underweight. Make it a habit to check your weight often to assess your fitness level. To get the best result, check your weight very early in the morning, without clothes, to ensure it is accurate.
2. Check Your Resting Heart Rate
The resting heart rate is to test how healthy the heart is, and the normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100. To check your resting heart rate, find your pulse at your wrist, on the radial artery or at your carotid artery in your neck. Do this using your index and middle finger and count the number of beats felt in 10 seconds, then multiply it by six, to get the number of beats in 60 seconds. It is usually advisable to check your pulse after you have rested or lied down for about an hour or preferably when you wake up in the morning.
Although 60 to 100 is the normal range for adult, a heart rate lower than 60 can also imply efficient heart function, but if it is higher than 60, you will need to work on it.
Above are 2 easy ways to measure your fitness level. This is important for those already in one workout routine or the other and those who are not involved at all. Knowing your fitness level will help you to know how serious you should take workouts or the percentage of health risk you are opened to.
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