How to do a fitness assessment?
Are you feeling sluggish and out of shape? Are your pants fitting tighter than usual? Well, fear not my friend, you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we will guide you through how to do a fitness assessment like a boss.
The Importance of Fitness Assessments
Before diving in on how to do a proper fitness assessment, let’s talk about why it’s important.
First off, tracking your progress is crucial in achieving any fitness goal. Whether it be losing weight or building muscle mass – without regular assessments you may not know if what you’re doing is actually working. Plus, assessments help identify areas that need improvement so that adjustments can be made accordingly.
Secondly, having an accurate baseline measurement is critical when setting realistic goals. Without understanding where one currently stands physically – how can anyone set attainable targets?
Overall fitness assessments are just as important as knowing the difference between peanut butter and jelly, which leads us into our next point.
Choosing Your Method
There are countless ways to assess one’s physical condition but here are some of the most common:
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Body Fat Percentage
- Girth Measurements
- Max Rep Tests
- Cardiovascular Endurance Testing
Each method has its own strengths so feel free to choose whichever methods work best for your specific needs depending on these factors: time constraints and amount of equipment needed.
Keep in mind that even though there are more options than toppings at a frozen yogurt shop, they all ultimately serve the same purpose!
We recommend combining multiple tests for more comprehensive results in order for nothing slip by unnoticed (because nobody wants overlooked love handles).
When/How Often Should You Do It?
Once every 6 months minimum would benefit someone looking for long-term maintenance measurements regularly helps further monitor progress improvements along with helping formulate new target goals whenever needed.
Pre-Assessment Checklist
Hey, before we hit the ground running make sure we’re set.
Proper Equipment
In advance of starting your assessment, ensure that all needed equipment is present in order to avoid stopping midway. Gathering these beforehand may involve some initial effort and searching but saves time and headaches throughout when complete. Here are items necessary:
- Tape Measure
- Body Fat % Measuring Device (Calipers/Bod Pod)
- Stopwatch
- Blood Pressure Cuff Monitor
- Scale
- Box or Bench Step 18″
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Don’t forget workout clothes too!
Dietary Considerations
Beforehand assessments it’s important to keep dietary habits consistent from previous days as large food/beverage consumption fluctuations can drastically alter results only reflecting momentary changes rather than typical trends after being visually charted out.
Assessing BMI
BMI stands for Body Mass Index which compares an individual’s height-weight ratio giving insight into how much body fat percentage they have accumulated at onset of their fitness journey.
To calculate this rating there are few different calculations/calculators one can use. The easiest is just a quick formula:
(Lbs/(inch inch))703={insert final number}
As you insert in your measurements don’t be surprised if things don’t quite add up! There may need to adjust/tweak accordingly align with current bodily observations since BMI’s aren’t always completely reliable while assessing muscle mass onto end measurement / calculation.
Assessing Body Fat Percentage
Body fat % specifically analyzes amount of adipose tissue on someone’s physique so opposite from lost potential weight this method measures predisposed levels remaining.
There several ways to measure provide percentages including handheld devices operating electrical currents going through hand-to-hand contact areas like bod pod air density measuring chambers which require specialized medical equipment & personnel conducting test procedures official doctor/fitness professional led adherence flexible tape measures instructed measuring spots allowing variation no identifying by identity purposes on given sample day.
Don’t be tempted to use online apps or tools outside a doctor’s office or medical facilities as reliability, in those cases, varies greatly.
Assessing Girth Measurements
This test is quite simple! Using tape measure methods such as below, one can capture multiple body areas’ circumferences:
- Chest
- Mid-Arm
- Waist
- Hips
- Thigh
Tracking measurement changes in specific regions will give insight into how much progress has been made and what areas need more attention (because hello saddle bags).
Taking girth measurements should be done with assistance you’re wanting accurate numbers without mistakenly pulling measuring tape tighter / loosening at various points.
Max Rep Tests
A max rep test allows the assessor to determine one’s maximum amount of weight lifting repetitions that still manageable – showing strength work progression throughout even months and years later. Some common movements for testing are Bench Press for Upper Body Strength Endurance Trackers needing correct form like squat jumping speed adding resistance bands opening movement pool possibilities building increased understanding around particular muscle rope groups under load when overloaded phase motion path necessitates alternating tests tonnage.
Cardiovascular Endurance Testing
Simply put cardio endurance tests measure the extent someone able exert themselves achieve proficiency stamina cardio capacity leveled improvements over time length progressed extended periods example: run sprint distances effectively reduce average total time spend on task repeatedly trying do better longer distance/amount times achieved , beginners typically adhered lower-intensity exercises than veteran marathon runners make adjustments from level current abilities.
Here ends your journey so don’t hesitate start now plan out agenda accurately predict problems along way incorporating our tips where applicable never dissuaded keep pushing yourself limits monitored knowing always lines feel timid raise hand reminder schedule couldn’t hurt too!
Remember fitness assessments aren’t some daunting activity but rather insightful & engaging whether accomplished own accord take place setting professional guidance either ways attain valuable feedback deserve getting strengthened fitter happier thanks in part to this article!