What exercise (or set of exercises) would you consider a gauge of all-round fitness?

OldAssDude

I would have to go with the military fitness test. Particularly the Marine's test because they have to do pull ups.

pondee629

"Or I could ask for some other goals.

Would that be OK?

Help me choose some other exercises."

Sure, what is it you would like to do now? What would those other goals be? What are you doing now that you would like to change?

TavistockToad

Scubdup wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

Scubdup wrote: »

pondee629 wrote: »

(I'm trying to come up with some new benchmark activities I can use to gauge my own progress)

FWIW, I gauge my own progress on how fast I'm running compared to last week, month, year; how much I'm squatting compared to the same time frames, benching, rowing, curling el. al. I don't see why you would need a special test to gauge your progress, it's staring at you each and every time you decrease time, increase distance/speed, increase weight/reps and all round just get better at what you're doing. Methinks you're looking for something to compare yourself to others. In my book, a fools errand.

I'm not after "special tests" or to compare to others.

As I said, I'm a bit bored of the existing benchmarks and would like some new ones.

Again, YOUR progress is gauged by the progress you make in your chosen exercises. Why would you want to see how fast you swim if you don't swim. If it is not your goal to power lift xxx pounds what difference does it make how many pounds you can power lift. If it is your goal, for example, is to run a fast 5K, the progress you need to assess is your 5K time. YOUR progress is gauged by YOUR progress in YOUR chosen workouts. Unless you're competing against someone else.

Or you can use the U.S.M.C. fitness test referred to above.

Or I could ask for some other goals.

Would that be OK?

Help me choose some other exercises.

do these:

Cassandraw3 wrote: »

-Deadlift between 120 and 420 pounds, depending on the individual soldier. You must do three reps in five minutes.
-Standing power throw. You’ll be required to toss a 10-pound medicine ball overhead and backward. You’ll have three minutes to make one practice throw and two for a grade. The longest distance is recorded.
-Hand-release push-ups. You lower your chest to the floor and lift your hands off the ground between each rep. You’ll be required to do the most reps in three minutes.
-Sprint-drag-carry. In four minutes, you will go 25 meters out and 25 meters back five times. Each iteration will include a different activity: sprint, drag a sled, run a lateral shuffle, carry two 40-pound kettle bells, then sprint again.
-Leg tuck. You will be required to hang from a pull-up bar and with your body parallel, then pull knees to your elbows for as many reps as possible in two minutes.
-Two-mile run on a track or a paved, level road, with a 20-minute maximum.