How do I compare to others my age, physically?

aippolito1 · August 2010

"Very poor", apparently. I had a mini-fitness assessment yesterday and my strength was tested based on how many sit-ups and push-ups I could do each in a minute. I did better than I thought but still placed "very poor" compared to girls my age. I managed 22 push-ups in a minute and 24 sit-ups in a minute. It's more than I've ever done consecutively in my LIFE so I still count that as a success!!! I placed "good" on the flexibility test which made me happy 'cause I don't consider myself flexible at all. Pilates and Ab Ripper X have definitely helped with that, though!

I also got re-measured and ended up dropping another % of body fat since last month, lost 2 inches each off my thighs (the biggest part, different part than I've been recording on MFP - so I haven't updated it, will update it once it gets down to the current measurement which is another part of my thigh. Confusing, sorry), half an inch off my boobs, half an inch off my abs, waist went up (just got off TOM so I don't think it's accurate), my calves stayed the same, arms went up (it's all muscle, baby! lol j/k) and I think my hips were the same.

Overall, I feel successful. I asked the girl what I can do to move up from "very poor" and we'd discussed my exact fitness routine and she said she thinks I'm doing well, that I should keep doing what I'm doing and I'll keep seeing results. She did say she's concerned that I haven't lost more weight than I have in the amount I've been there. I explained my 2-month plateau and some of my laziness which has attributed to maintenance. I haven't GAINED weight, so I feel successful!!!

iplayoutside19 · August 2010

Sounds to me you were making progress in every measurement that matters. Good Job. You lost an entire percentage point of BF in one month? That's amazing. That's the number I'd be really excited about. Forget about the weight.

I'm not sure how measuring sit-ups and push-ups measures anything but sit-ups and push-ups in relation to an overall fitness level.

aippolito1 · August 2010

Yeah, I've been losing about 1% every month for the past 3 months or so :happy: Push-ups and sit-ups are your strength... so the stronger you are, the better in shape you are. I do know my arms are pretty weak. I've started lifting heavier weights 'cause the dinky 5 lbers aren't doing it anymore!! I've been trying to lift my 8 lbs for every arm exercise I do and the 10 lbs for two-handed overhead stuff is getting too light so may move up to a 12 or 15 lb. Hopefully that builds up my strength and in a few months, I can do 50! Ha.

EKarma · August 2010

You're doing great Arielle! This reminds me that I should probably do my push ups and a lil but of some crunches right now. Thanks for the motivation! xo

00trayn · August 2010

Now I'm curious how many of each I can do in a minute. I'm finally up to doing manly push ups during Chalean Extreme, but I can only do about 10-12 of those slowly. I'm sure I could do more girly pushups in a minute. I can't do actual situps tho, it kills my tailbone from an old softball injury (slid into home, hadn't rained in a month... well you get the idea... hahaha). If I wasn't in my office, in a dress, I'd drop and try it now! Perhaps after my workout tonight I'll do it.

raymj61 · August 2010

I agree with iplayoutside. Quantifying situps and pushups has it's purpose I'm sure but I don't think it's a very comprehensive way to measure overall fitness. The important thing is you seem to be heading in the right direction. Everything else will take care of itself if you keep grinding away at it. Congrats on your progress and good luck

TnTHawkins · August 2010

That is excellent. You have had so much success and looking great. And I'm not sure how anyone could think that you are pregnant. You are doing so well, keep it up, ignore the stupid comments and use it has motivation.

I wish I had gotten all of my measurements and gone to the doctor before I started this weigh loss venture to get everything checked and then again at my goal. I'm planning on going to the doctor once my reach my goal, hopefully before my half marathon in Dec.

Todd

antiadipose · August 2010

holy moly! i cant do that many pushups! i actually have been trying! and this morning while i was working out i got 10 push ups in. thats my current PR! i was so proud of myself. now i look like a whimp next to u lol

i think ur doing great!!! keep it up. i gained an inch on my arms and calves in like 2 months when i first started working out. i felt like i had big guns! and i told everyone hahahah

good luck

aippolito1 · August 2010

Oh, hon. Don't be intimidated. They were girly push ups! haha I didn't ever think girly push ups could have such a burn, though! I've never really been SHOWN how to do push ups so I've always felt my form was wrong but she showed me, I mimicked and my sides under my armpits are SO sore today. WOW. I'm feeling it.

antiadipose · August 2010

ohhhhh lol sry... i was thinking "holy #$^%$^... im so weak"
either wat... u rock! keep at it. i think ur doin so well & most of all.. u look like such a happy girl!
i love ppl who are taking it slow, enjoying it, and not depriving themselves of anything! and return are HAPPY!
u look like that.
keep it up

kath711 · August 2010

I'm kind of embarrassed to ask this, but what is a "girly pushup"?

Azdak · August 2010

"Very poor", apparently. I had a mini-fitness assessment yesterday and my strength was tested based on how many sit-ups and push-ups I could do each in a minute. I did better than I thought but still placed "very poor" compared to girls my age. I managed 22 push-ups in a minute and 24 sit-ups in a minute. It's more than I've ever done consecutively in my LIFE so I still count that as a success!!! I placed "good" on the flexibility test which made me happy 'cause I don't consider myself flexible at all. Pilates and Ab Ripper X have definitely helped with that, though!

I also got re-measured and ended up dropping another % of body fat since last month, lost 2 inches each off my thighs (the biggest part, different part than I've been recording on MFP - so I haven't updated it, will update it once it gets down to the current measurement which is another part of my thigh. Confusing, sorry), half an inch off my boobs, half an inch off my abs, waist went up (just got off TOM so I don't think it's accurate), my calves stayed the same, arms went up (it's all muscle, baby! lol j/k) and I think my hips were the same.

Overall, I feel successful. I asked the girl what I can do to move up from "very poor" and we'd discussed my exact fitness routine and she said she thinks I'm doing well, that I should keep doing what I'm doing and I'll keep seeing results. She did say she's concerned that I haven't lost more weight than I have in the amount I've been there. I explained my 2-month plateau and some of my laziness which has attributed to maintenance. I haven't GAINED weight, so I feel successful!!!

Strength norms are not very good or current--that's my experience. I think they are all based on 20 yr old athletes.

It is difficult to test strength because strength training results are so specific to the activity being performed. Unless you decide to specifically train for one of the test activities (e.g. pushups) and train to do them the way they are performed on the test, the rankings/ratings for your strength results are pretty useless. I would ignore them.

I would caution against doing body fat measurements too soon--it sounds like you only waited 1 month in between. The methods we used to estimate body fat (skinfolds, bioimpedance are the most common) are not that precise--they have 3%-6% standards of error, so any change you measure in a short period of time could just be within that standard of error and not represent a real change.

How do I compare to others my age, physically?

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