Do you feel like you're fit?

arditarose

When I'm doing body weight stuff or cardio, no. I don't feel that fit. When I'm lifting, yes. I also feel fit when I'm walking down the street. Mostly because my posture is better and there are some muscles showing now.

TheVirgoddess

I do - I feel fit for the first time in a very long time - that's based on my stamina, my energy levels, and what I can now do with my body (stairs, push ups, etc). That said, I'm not as fit as I want to be

GiddyupTim

I know I am fit when I am continuing to improve in some area: my lifts, my running, my tennis.
If you want to get relative about it, I have no idea where I stand next to the general population. I am not the fastest guy in the world, but I am okay. Younger people heal from injuries faster than I do. Some older people run farther than I do......But I understand those things and do not especially care.

nossmf

Since I started exercising, I've lost 50 lbs. and 6+ inches off my waist; before, I got exhausted hauling myself up a flight of stairs, now I'm not winded at all despite carrying half my body weight; before, my joints hurt all the time, now my knee only flares up occasionally if I sit for too long.

Bottom line is I'm fit compared to who I was. And I like it!

annekka

Much fitter than I was, nowhere near I would love to be though! It depends on who I'm with though--

When I feel fit--Out and about with my female colleagues and the local population of the area I live in and the Chinese grandmas waving their arms about in odd patterns, I'm arguably the fittest, and the least afraid of sweat. My male colleagues are all pretty fit, so I can't judge myself against them. Though I probably would be within the top contenders (male and female) if asked who were the top 5 fittest people on staff.

When I don't feel fit--When I'm at the gym and around some of the instructors and those of the like. Who could probably pick me up and throw me without a thought. And I'm talking about the women here. Or when I have to take the low option when others are still doing the high option.

BrianSharpe

I feel fitter now as I approach 60 than when I was 40, I sure couldn't run 21 km back then or consider an Olympic Duathlon and my resting HR wasn't 48........

tomatoey

rabbitjb wrote: »

What is it that tells you you're fit?

Depends on the criteria.
- Can you do the things you need to do in daily life with NO problems / exertion; do you have tons of energy for necessary and leisure activities
- If you're in a competition of some kind, obviously there are some standards there; other athletes
- Standards like this: http://www.exrx.net/Testing/WeightLifting/StrengthStandards.html
- Blood tests, medical indicators (ie you're not sick)
- Do you generally feel great; would you say you're at your optimal level of health and well-being

I'm not really fit by any of those

mommarnurse

Probably one of the best ways to measure fitness is by your resting heart rate. Mines now under 50bpm, meaning your heart can do more with less because it's conditioned. To me, that's "fit"; not based upon buldging muscles. Good muscle tone pretty much goes along with all of the things you'd be doing to lower that RHR anyway, though.

Noelv1976

SezxyStef wrote: »

Noelv1976 wrote: »

I'm fit because the Army says so. I pass all the required physical training tests and height/weight measurements. BUT I feel like i am the best shape of my life.

I've seen guys who were so out of shape pass what used to be the the battle fitness test...

When I was in the Canadian army we had to walk 13k with webbing/weapon and ruck then turn around the next day and walk 16k with just webbing and weapon and do a 50meter fireman carry and run 1 mile do some push ups and bam...you were fit for duty.

It also depends on the job. Special Forces, Rangers, infantry folks will always be in shape. Support units, ehhh not so much.

Serah87

I think I am pretty close to being fit, I weight lift and walk 6 miles (5-6 days a week). I really don't have much goals except to lift heavier and to continue getting stronger. Now if there were zombie apocalypse I would be in trouble!!

pianoplaya94

I do! I have been going to the gym on a consistent basis for 2 years. I did little exercise actually outside... most of it was at the gym. I remembered trying to go for a run outside about a year ago. I could barely make it 2k without dying. A few weeks ago I decided to try running again. I was unable to make it to the gym that day and it was nice out... so I decided to give it a go. I ran a 5k without any problems!

Also, I have noticed that I increased my speed on the elliptical. I used to do 4 mph for my fastest and 2 for my cool downs. Then I upped it to 5 and 4 and now I run 6 mph and do about a 4.3 (the slowest it can go without running) for "cool-downs"

beachhouse758

no

MamaBirdBoss

PeachyCarol wrote: »

I don't think resting heart rate is a good measure! Some people naturally have high resting heart rates, even if they're very fit. I just had this conversation with a doctor the other day.

I measure my fitness progressively. I don't think I'm objectively fit compared to some other people, but compared to what I used to be, I'm much fitter. I plan to keep working on it. The way I see it, there's always going to be a new goal I want to reach, so I don't know that I'll ever think of myself as having arrived at fitness since I'll always be reaching. I'm okay with that.

When I WAS fit, my RHR would be in the low to mid 60s. It's down from the 80s now. So for me, my current RHR is indicative of crappy fitness.

jimmmer

I have minimum strength, flexibility and speed standards that I would want to be within shouting distance of. Excepting being injured, of course.

Sometimes training focus in one area can detract from another, but I shouldn't get so far away from certain things that a concerted effort on a specific quality for 2-4 weeks won't get me back.

But yeah, by my own standards I'm pretty fit. If you define general fitness as hitting certain minimum levels in certain key qualities, I suppose.

MostlyWater

Yes, I do, and thanks for asking!

bubaluboo

No but I'm probably fitter than the average 40 something woman and certainly fitter than I was 2 years ago!

RNGRZulu

Fitness is defined by the task or activity the individual seeks to pursue.

An Olympic wrestling champion would be considered fit for that event. However, he probably wouldn't be considered fit for platform diving.

It's a matter of determining what your goals are in terms of activity and proficiency level before you can define what fit would be.

cwolfman13

Noelv1976 wrote: »

SezxyStef wrote: »

Noelv1976 wrote: »

I'm fit because the Army says so. I pass all the required physical training tests and height/weight measurements. BUT I feel like i am the best shape of my life.

I've seen guys who were so out of shape pass what used to be the the battle fitness test...

When I was in the Canadian army we had to walk 13k with webbing/weapon and ruck then turn around the next day and walk 16k with just webbing and weapon and do a 50meter fireman carry and run 1 mile do some push ups and bam...you were fit for duty.

It also depends on the job. Special Forces, Rangers, infantry folks will always be in shape. Support units, ehhh not so much.

very true

omma_to_3

Yes, I am most definitely "fit" even though I'm still overweight. Doesn't mean I can't improve, but by every health measure, I am fit.

omma_to_3

MamaBirdBoss wrote: »

PeachyCarol wrote: »

I don't think resting heart rate is a good measure! Some people naturally have high resting heart rates, even if they're very fit. I just had this conversation with a doctor the other day.

I measure my fitness progressively. I don't think I'm objectively fit compared to some other people, but compared to what I used to be, I'm much fitter. I plan to keep working on it. The way I see it, there's always going to be a new goal I want to reach, so I don't know that I'll ever think of myself as having arrived at fitness since I'll always be reaching. I'm okay with that.

When I WAS fit, my RHR would be in the low to mid 60s. It's down from the 80s now. So for me, my current RHR is indicative of crappy fitness.

Yes, there are exceptions to every rule of course. But in general, it's a great measure of cardiovascular fitness. Mine went from 84 to mid 50's.

999tigger

I wonder if there are objective measurements for fitness? Run 5 miles or 10 miles? Lift x weight, do Y pressups?

lulucitron

Well I'm 46 and still plug in a good workout and am lean but fitness is more than just physical appearance. My cardio isn't what it used to be but then again I don't stretch my cardiovascular fitness like I did when I swam and played sports constantly. I am definitely stronger than I was. So, yes, I consider myself fit but a different fit than I was in my younger years.