Are You in Shape? How to Figure Out Your Level of Physical Fitness

Unless you work out regularly, you should try to figure out what your level of physical fitness is before jumping into a workout program. This is especially important if you are middle-aged, or if you have health problems that might contraindicate an intense fitness regimen. If in doubt, make sure you clear things with a doctor.

Your doctor will screen you for common health problems that might interfere with your new fitness routine. These include (but are probably not limited to) high blood pressure, heart arrhythmia, and any sort of family history of cardiovascular irregularities.

Once you are medically cleared to engage in an intense workout, you can use these benchmarks to figure out your level of physical fitness:

First, determine how capable you are when it comes to cardio. Without sufficient stamina, you won't be able to improve your fitness levels because your workouts will suffer. You should be able to work out at your chosen intensity level for a minimum of 15 minutes straight.

Second, take some time to think about your body composition. If you know your body fat percentage, that's an excellent way to determine whether you are fit or not. Anything above 20% for women and 15% for men may indicate that you need to skew your workouts towards fat loss, at least initially. Further, if excess fat is impacting your quality of life, it's something you should address through training.

Third, test your flexibility. If any of your joints doesn't easily move through a full range of motion, you are not physically fit. Make sure you have sufficient levels of flexibility before you begin a heavy weight-lifting program.

Finally, determine if you have any muscular weakness that affects your daily routine or your intended workout plans. Strength is relative, but you should be able to perform some simple body-weight exercises like dips, pull-ups, and pushups. If not, you need to work on your strength level (and your body composition, perhaps) before you can really call yourself "fit".

So, always remember that information and knowledge is the first step towards making progress towards your goals. Don't jump into a fitness program blind. Figure out where you are, and you'll be on the track to getting where you want to be.