how fit is fit enough ?
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I love this question. So much to unpack!
I agree that 'fit' is not a goal that you achieve and then say, "woohoo! i'm done!"
I also think that having some quantifiable goals is important so you can at least say, "Woohoo! Got that one! Now, what's next?"
I hit one of my big goals a few years ago (half-marathon), then had to set other goals. For me, the next one was more lifestyle (trying to get pregnant). That goal sidetracked my fitness for a few years (infertility treatment is intense y'all), and when I didn't hit the goal, I quit setting goals for a while and so here I am, back on MFP. I need some specific goals or I sort of just let things go and all of a sudden it's three nights a week of pizza and wine and Netflix.
I want some of my goals to be vanity goals (weight, inches, size of my clothes), some to be about health (resting HR, lower quantity of alcohol consumed over a week), some to be about performance (stop being the slowest hiker in my group of friends, be able to do a couple yoga moves that are hard and look cool), and some to be about confidence (feel less intimidated about picking up a new sport or activity). To get there, I might set goals like "Run a 10K in May and a half marathon in October"), but that's more of a way to keep my training on track than the real goals.
I need lots of goals because what motivates me today might not motivate me tomorrow...0 -
I'm 47 and I have a simple goal of health. I've lost almost 40 pounds but I still have a bit more to lose before I'll be a healthy weight, however I already feel much more comfortable and just plain better.1
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Fit enough would be when you can physically do the things you like to do while keeping injury to a minimum and not endangering your health. Granted age will affect performance. It's highly unlikely that someone who's 50 will be able to run the same sprint speed they did at 20. So make sure the goals are realistic.
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I'm to the point that there is no "fit enough". I want as fit as I possibly can be for my age, while avoiding injury and not making it a full time pursuit(ie, have a job and a life and other hobbies)1
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Fit for what? To play NFL football? To be healthy? To win marathons? Very different things and in some ways all mutually exclusive.0
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For the kind of fitness many are thinking of, can you? 3 fitness tests you should be able to pass0
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I am looking for a more tangible goal right now... training for a race is easy to quantify, you can either make the distance or not. Then you can do it in the time you hoped to or slower. With lifting it seems more arbitrary. I'd like to be able to do a lot of pull-ups, but I don't know what "a lot" is. I can do 9. I'd like to comfortably bench my body weight... I'm getting close, but only for a couple reps (I have a bad shoulder and have never been good at benchpress).
The Cooper Fitness test is used by the police around here to qualify for their academies: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/police/CooperStandards.pdf
I'd like to be able to get better than 90% in all of these events. I know I can do the running, but I have no idea how high I can jump and situps have never been that good.1 -
After running off and on for 30 years I finally decided (at age 46) to see how fast I can actually get. Now I'm 48 and still improving. At some point I will level off and then it will be on to a new goal (which I already know what it will be). That's years down the road so until then I train.
I guess my ultimate goal beyond getting faster/stronger/better is to be healthy when I'm an old man. I don't care if I die at 85 as long as I can wipe my own *kitten* the day before.
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Ha Ha fit by 50 is my mission. I have 2 1/4yrs to get my 6 pack back.0
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there will be done day soon- where I will just be as strong as I can and then no more.
that's true for everyone, isn't it? i'm not minimizing how you feel about it, just working out whether hitting that ceiling is a bad thing or a good thing from your perspective.
i'm coming at it from a different angle, where i didn't touch a barbell until i was 48. i'm finding i really dislike people eyeing me sideways and parroting specific predictions along teh lines of 'after x age, you lose yty percent of your strength every z, yanno' just because someone on pinterest sez so. i'm offended by the open-and-shut tone
. but as a concept, i do take it for granted that it is a fact.
so from my perspective, being able to get to 'this is the strongest i've ever been, ever will be, ever was going to be' before age does start to turn things downwards . . . that would be pretty neat in itself. because honestly, i can get 'strong'. but i probably can't ever get as strong as that absolute lifetime genetic max thing.
i realise that me saying this could have the sound of 'appreciate your spinach, because i never grew enough of my own', which was not my intent. i know it doesn't really work that way.2 -
My primary goal with fitness is to be able to ride my bicycle anywhere in the city I want to go. Fort Worth covers most of a whole county, so that requires a lot of riding.2
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"Better than I was last year. How long that can continue to be as I approach 35 and then 40-" OK so you're still a baby. BUT, all race distances have age graded results. You can always strive to go from 55% to 65% to 75%... And, maintenance CAN be a goal as we age and, "supposedly", can't do as much.
I know compared to some people I am yes. But I'm a weight lifter. and a woman. Sooooooo at some point- I won't be stronger and there will be a point where I will be "as strong as I've ever been" and that's it.
One day- that will literally be it.
This is something I struggle with. I started lifting at 43 and will be 53 this year. When I go through periodic strength troughs I wonder 'is this it?'. Is this the inevitable decline dictated by age? I'm still getting stronger but think I would have progressed more if I'd started when I was younger. The alternative is to just stop and I can't imagine that as so much of my life is taken up with lifting.0 -
My goal is to pass a Navy SEAL Fitness Challenge. It's pretty cool to know you are fit enough to try out to be a SEAL.
I looked it up and was surprised the minimums weren't harder. I have never tried swimming 500 yards so I have no idea how I'd stack up on that one... but I can easily meet the other items and I'm about to turn 50. Makes me feel more fit to see those.0 -
The relevant answer is as individual as the people answering. Everyone has their own definition of what fit is depending on their jam... Runners... lifters, cross fitters, athletes devoted to their sports... and people who have just picked up the desire to be better versions of themselves... the only true endpoint for enough is 6 ft under... until then I say we all strive for one more rep, one more mile, one more goal.3
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why is a 2 minute plank some sort of standard?For the kind of fitness many are thinking of, can you? 3 fitness tests you should be able to pass
I am in pretty good physical conditioning (IMHO) and I probably couldn't do a 2 minute plank. Why- because do anything for 2 minutes is not relevant to my needs.
Seems ridiculous.
Also- fox news is a cringe worthy source of anything.
indeed.juliewatkin wrote: »"Better than I was last year. How long that can continue to be as I approach 35 and then 40-" OK so you're still a baby. BUT, all race distances have age graded results. You can always strive to go from 55% to 65% to 75%... And, maintenance CAN be a goal as we age and, "supposedly", can't do as much.
I know compared to some people I am yes. But I'm a weight lifter. and a woman. Sooooooo at some point- I won't be stronger and there will be a point where I will be "as strong as I've ever been" and that's it.
One day- that will literally be it.
This is something I struggle with. I started lifting at 43 and will be 53 this year. When I go through periodic strength troughs I wonder 'is this it?'. Is this the inevitable decline dictated by age? I'm still getting stronger but think I would have progressed more if I'd started when I was younger. The alternative is to just stop and I can't imagine that as so much of my life is taken up with lifting.
I can't imagine not lifting- it's like my worst night mare. it's awful.
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That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.0
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That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.3 -
how fit is fit enough, for me it would be getting down to 6% to 10% body fat , thats fit enough for me, as of right now i weigh 250 im 73 inch tall, i have had 3 hydrostatic body fat test done and my lean body mass is 175 if i can keep my lean body mass at 175 i would be really ripped at 185 to 195, we will see what happens only time will tell0
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That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...5 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...
I'm a failure at fitness obviously. sigh. back to the drawing board- and now that I've been educated- I'm going to re-write my next 4 month dance training plan and take out all the drilling and just add in plank work. Because- clearly that's what I need.
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cwolfman13 wrote: »That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...
I'm a failure at fitness obviously. sigh. back to the drawing board- and now that I've been educated- I'm going to re-write my next 4 month dance training plan and take out all the drilling and just add in plank work. Because- clearly that's what I need.
I was going to do a 40 mile ride on Sunday, but I think I'm just going to plank instead...it'll save me a few hours anyway...2 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...
I'm a failure at fitness obviously. sigh. back to the drawing board- and now that I've been educated- I'm going to re-write my next 4 month dance training plan and take out all the drilling and just add in plank work. Because- clearly that's what I need.
I was going to do a 40 mile ride on Sunday, but I think I'm just going to plank instead...it'll save me a few hours anyway...
You definitely need to scrub that ride and refocus so you can go do your plank training.0 -
priorities son- priorities.1
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Once I get to a 2 minute plank, should I increase time or speed? I want to increase my plank speed, maybe I should do intervals? HIIT planking?6
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I think planking went from being a very underrated exercise to being extremely overrated. I do pushups...plank with some extra work.2
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cwolfman13 wrote: »I think planking went from being a very underrated exercise to being extremely overrated. I do pushups...plank with some extra work.
I cosign- it became a huge crossfit/functional bullsh*t thing. way to ruin everything "functional training"1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...
I'm a failure at fitness obviously. sigh. back to the drawing board- and now that I've been educated- I'm going to re-write my next 4 month dance training plan and take out all the drilling and just add in plank work. Because- clearly that's what I need.
I was going to do a 40 mile ride on Sunday, but I think I'm just going to plank instead...it'll save me a few hours anyway...
You definitely need to scrub that ride and refocus so you can go do your plank training.
Yep. And I'm not going to bother with my 10k, just gonna plank instead.2 -
BruinsGal_91 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »cwolfman13 wrote: »That didn't start with Fox, but the answer is that not being able to do a two minute plank is an indication that your fitness plan is deficient. There are two reasons for not being able to do it; poor ab/core strength and/or you are obese. If you lift free weights, not sitting in a machine, the core strength deficiency is absolutely relative.
I can squat almost double my body weight. I can do more pull ups than half the guys in my gym. I can DL double my body weight.
I can still run a sub 10 min mile- and I spend 15-20 hours a week dancing as a professional performer.
Telling me again how my fitness is deficit because I can't hold still for 2 minutes with my face 2" from my cat hair covered carpet.
Lol...
I'm a failure at fitness obviously. sigh. back to the drawing board- and now that I've been educated- I'm going to re-write my next 4 month dance training plan and take out all the drilling and just add in plank work. Because- clearly that's what I need.
I was going to do a 40 mile ride on Sunday, but I think I'm just going to plank instead...it'll save me a few hours anyway...
You definitely need to scrub that ride and refocus so you can go do your plank training.
Yep. And I'm not going to bother with my 10k, just gonna plank instead.
obviously you'll be more fitter for your wise choice and change of plan.1 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I think planking went from being a very underrated exercise to being extremely overrated. I do pushups...plank with some extra work.
I'm with you on that. I count push ups as core work. Having said that, I do actually do core work. I just include push ups as one part of it.1 -
RavenLibra wrote: »The relevant answer is as individual as the people answering. Everyone has their own definition of what fit is depending on their jam... Runners... lifters, cross fitters, athletes devoted to their sports... and people who have just picked up the desire to be better versions of themselves... the only true endpoint for enough is 6 ft under... until then I say we all strive for one more rep, one more mile, one more goal.
^^ this.
One of the things I've noticed is that people who are passionate about their chosen fitness activity don't seem to have an endpoint. For them, its all about the journey, not the destination.
As an example, we have a fair number of 60& year old members in our tri club who will be doing full Ironman distance races this season. Two of them are focused on qualifying for the World championships in Kona. This level of drive applies to both men and women. I've noticed the same attributes among some of the members of my gym who are weightlifters. These folks are just committed to "getting better" and their age or current fitness level doesn't really matter.
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