what are three ways you can measure your fitness level without focusing on weight?
I do not often talk about my body image , but just like a 99.8% of the population, I have good days and bad days with it. As my body has been changing, I am slowly learning the importance of what “fitness” really means. So, as opposed to seeing how sweaty you can get after a workout or how defined muscles might look on a certain day, I encourage you to pivot your focus to these three weight-agnostic goals:
- Cardiovascular health: what is the body's ability to sustain physical activity over an extended period? You can gauge this by monitoring your heart rate during a specific exercise, such as a timed run or a step test, and evaluating how quickly your heart rate recovers after exertion.
- Fitness metrics/goals: perhaps you experiment by setting a “weight-lifted” goal - how many reps can you do in 30 seconds? This can be done through exercises like push-ups, planks, squats, - using weights. Keep track of the number of repetitions or the amount of weight you can lift comfortably to gauge progress over time.
- Everyday activities: probably most importantly, can you climb up stairs more easily? Do you feel less achy pains upon waking? Are you able to play fetch with your dog or run with your kids whilst exerting a minimal amount of effort?
