IF JUDGING how fit you are is by how long you can last in a game or running, your definition of fitness is likely to be stuck in the cardio-centric era, when burn-baby-burn aerobic workouts were on the forefront of fitness exercises, but the question, how fit are you?
The answer “fit for life”, not just fit to run around the track, play a game or do something that you think will make you fit. To meet today’s standards, exercise physiologists recommend a total-body approach that does not only include aerobic endurance but also anaerobic (muscular) endurance, muscular strength, power, agility, balance, speed and flexibility, to include healthy eating habits and strategies for dealing with daily stresses.
Exercise experts measure fitness by putting people through a series of tests, each test is designed to assess a specific component. These tests are needed so as to know someone’s current fitness status and are important in designing programs that will bring the individual to the next level.
With all the tests that exercise physiologists and expert conduct for power, agility, speed, flexibility, muscular strength, and balance etc., the eating habit test will see if you are healthy inside and to see if your nutrition habits add up to healthy or heinous.
Try answering this test to see if your eating habit may be excellent, moderate, or poor. Scoring: 3 points for a; 2 for b; and 1 for c, rate yourself if your total is 25-30 (excellent) your mom would be proud. 16-24 (moderate) you are not doing so badly. 10-15 (poor) diet is surely slowing you down.
On a typical day; 1. Do you eat in accordance with the food pyramid? a) yes b) usually c) what food pyramid? 2. How many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat? a. 7 or more b. 3to 6 c. 1or 2 on a good day. 3. How many servings of dairy do you eat/drink? a. 3 or more b. 2 c. Does chocolate count?. 4. How many servings of protein do you eat? a. about 2 b. 1 c. I use protein shampoo. 5. How many 8-ounce serving of water or juice do you drink? a. 8 or more b. 5-7 c. A few diet soda. 6. What is your typical breakfast? a. whole-grain cereal b. Bagel/bread c. Danish. 7. What usually accounts for fat in your diet? a. Olive oil dressing b. Butter c. Junk food. 8. When it comes to snacks, you tend to go to? a. an apple b. Popcorn c. chocolate bars. 9. Do you skip meals? a. never b. Sometimes c. i eat standing up.
10. Do you choose food based solely on its caloric content? a. no b. If my jeans are tight c. who doesn’t?
Like weighing yourself a thorough fitness test shows you where you’re at, what you need to improve and how to measure future progress, so why not try yourself.
