Fitness, what is it and how do you measure it?

[Berksrover]

Since starting my C25K journey 102 days ago I feel fitter ( physically and mentally) did a 9k run last weekend compared to struggling to run for 60 seconds at the outset, but why is that, what has changed to enable that to happen? And as I am a numbers guy, what can I measure / monitor to keep an eye on my progress?

[Tasha99 Graduate10]

Interesting question. Was thinking similar myself earlier today!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

Hmmm...interesting thought. You see people at specialist centres running on treadmills with masks strapped to their faces - I think that looks at how well you make use of oxygen.

I guess improvements in resting pulserate might be one easier measurement to look at, but as someone with all their pulserate coming from a pacemaker, I accept my resting pulserate is my minimum setting of 60bpm, and has been for decades, so that’s not personally very meaningful.

If you have a normal pulserate and a HR monitor, then doing a standardized exercise test (eg on a set treadmill or StairMaster programme etc) and comparing what your pulserate does as you get fitter would also probably show interesting results. (I’d expect maximum rate to perhaps reduce, but more importantly, pulserate after you stop exercising to come down quicker?) Again, I’ve no normal pulserate, so probably not as relevant to me.

Will be interesting to see what others can suggest. I suspect how you feel when exercising will always be the “more relevant” indicator of progress, even if you can’t put an exact figure on it!

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Good question. I'm sure you'll get lots of interesting replies.

I had the Cooper Test once at a hospital but this might be hard to do at home yourself.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coo...

This is also a good test

active.com/fitness/articles...

I don't measure my fitness at all but I can tell by feel if I'm tired/weak/not so fit when I'm doing any kind of exercise. Not scientific but it works for me. As long as I'm breathing and I ache every morning when I wake up then I'm happy and know I've used my body well 🙂

[Berksrover Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks Irishprincess I may try the Cooper test one day, I have seen a reduction in resting heart rate and I believe my recovery rate is improving, after finishing running, as you say I feel fitter and that will do for now!

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

I was thinking more cardio fitness, but that 2nd link you found, Irishprincess, now has me “fondly” remembering doing standardized “bleep” tests with exercises sometimes during circuit training many years ago. You found what level you were at for each of many exercises by trying to keep up with a recording of gradually getting faster beeps. (I think it was a standardized test used by the military or something...) It always ended with us all collapsed on the floor! 😂😂😂

I struggle with knowing whether some of these things measure true fitness, or just how stubborn and bloody-minded we are, though. (eg I discovered a couple of weeks ago that I could do a 4 minute plank, having been challenged at the gym to beat the other guys in my exercise class. I don’t think it meant I was fitter, though, just more stubborn!!! 🙄)

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to mountaindreamer]

Haha 😂 yes I so get the stubborn thing! Methinks that's why I am always sore 😕

Well done on the four minute plank 💪💪

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Nope - seriously it was a bad idea. Couldn’t feel one of my feet all evening! Told the Physio running the class I could do stupid well enough on my own, thanks, and didn’t need encouraging! 😂😂

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Me neither 😁 I am same as you wake up, concrete legs for,the first few steps, then it’s on with the day. I try and keep moving at all costs 😁

However, having said that, i have treated myself to a set of new weight scales as my 30 odd year old Salter scales died on me last week. I got the swanky Nokia Cardio. They will tell me my resting heart rate, weight, take my pulse 👩‍⚕️, blood pressure, tell me my body fat, water content and bone mass. Only just started using them so no graphs yet, but once more data is logged

I dare say a graph will get populated The stats do get commented on eg normal,or,good, and I got a blurb about my heart rate being good for my age and what I can do to keep it that way, I was just gonna get some cheapo scales but my husband persuaded me to buy these so he can use them and link to his phone etc. He bought me a new pair of running shoes so I felt compelled 😁. He’s not been anywhere near them yet 🙄

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Blimey, those scales sound fab. Do they cook dinner too? 😂

I'm a bit hesitant about looking at too many stats as I think I'd become a bit obsessed about them. But a graph will be good.

[limberlou Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

I had some of those scales which use to link to my Withings watch ( which I loved until taken over by Nokia- had so many errors I gave up and was bought a Garmin for my retirement present). It measures all sorts of things though including Bodyfat ratio ( no idea how) but I was really offended when I got on it one morning and the readout just said “ FAT”!!

I think it was about to tell me my bodyfat ratio but that was it for me ☹️

[misswobble Graduate10 in reply to limberlou]

😁

The scales are accurate for weight but as for all the other measurements I’m not convinced 🤔.

The app completely died last week and it took several days to get it back up and running again

My husband still hasn’t used them. He doesn’t like bad news😉

[HoagyM Graduate10]

Heart rate (and HR recovery) is what I keep an eye on Steve.

Also, as a Strava premium user, you might want to have a look at the “freshness and fitness” chart, which measures your activity level and heart rate together (somehow!) into a single index.

Mine has steadily risen from 0 to 44 since starting C25k. What that number actually means, I’ve got no idea 😊... but I guess it’s a good thing!

[Berksrover Graduate10 in reply to HoagyM]

Thanks HoagyM will have a look at the Strava thing, not got anything linked to that yet that monitors my heart rate, but my birthday is coming up....

[mountaindreamer Graduate10 in reply to Berksrover]

As a heart rate geek, Berksrover, I can highly recommend Fitbits. Mine matches a hospital multi-lead ECG exercise test pretty much spot on.