What should be a minimum fitness level?

Clearly, in the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse, I'm toast, and after working out for a year. Uffda, what a list!

Minimum fitness standard for the Canadian Armed Forces. One standard, regardless of age, gender or occupation:

The FORCE Evaluation

​ Sandbag Lift
​30 consecutive lifts of a 20 kg sandbag to a height above 91.5 cm, alternating between left and right sandbags separated by 1.25 m. 3 minutes 30 seconds​

​Intermittent Loaded Shuttles
​Using the 20 m lines, complete ten shuttles (1 shuttle = 20 m there, 20 m back), alternating between a loaded shuttle with a 20 kg sandbag and an unloaded shuttle, for a total of 400 m. ​5 minutes 21 seconds

​20 metre Rushes ​
Starting from prone, complete two shuttle sprints (1 shuttle = 20 m there, 20 m back) dropping to a prone position every 10m, for a total of 80 m. ​51 seconds

​Sandbag Drag
​Carry one 20 kg sandbag and pull a minimum of four on the floor over 20 m without stopping. Number of sandbags being dragged depends on the type of floor. ​Completed without stopping

I think you are describing our current low expectations of fitness rather than the basic movements and activities the adult human body should be capable of.

I actually have pretty high standards when it comes to fitness, at least for myself anyway when setting goals- but that's another discussion. Let's just say they were talking about REAL pull-ups for argument's sake, not the modified ones. I don't consider doing 14 pull-ups a basic movement and activity that an average adult human body should be capable of, as well as being able to squat your own body weight. Sure it's entirely possible but it would obviously take time and lots of training, and that to me fits the criteria of 'above average'. Not everyone who is an active, healthy fit person is running laps everyday or seeing how heavy they can squat. In fact, if more people started squatting then that would suck for me because my gym only has 2 (joke). What I'm saying is there is no minimum fitness level that suits everyone across the board, within reason. Maybe America wouldn't be as fat of a nation if our standards of fitness were higher, but I don't think that list really proves anything...

Ahhhh hellll nahhhh that is crazzzyy!!:bigsmile: I dont know what some of those exrcises are LOL!
I would say this is a good fitness test....

Run a 8K in under an 60 minutes
Run 1 mile in under 9:30
Bench press your weight
Squat your weight
10 dips
3 pull ups

I think this would be a good gauge of your physical fitness.......What do you think MFP????

I think running 5 miles is more than I'd expect the average person just to be able to up and do. One mile, yes. 3 miles, pushing it, but most people can build up to that in 9 week.

:drinker:
OK How about 3 miles in under 30 minutes!!!??????

THANK YOU!
That list is crazy and made me feel totally inadequate. It must be for 18 year old boys. It's certainly not for women. A 12 minute mile is about my speed, too. But I can do 45 minutes on the Elliptical any day.

The original list is for 17 yr olds. However, nothing on it is particularly demanding for a fit adult, other than the misinterpretation of pull ups. Most people on this site are trying to lose weight, and aren't "fit", so it's reasonable to expect that these sort of standards would be difficult to meet. If you're significantly overweight, you aren't supposed to be able to do them.

I think you are describing our current low expectations of fitness rather than the basic movements and activities the adult human body should be capable of.

I actually have pretty high standards when it comes to fitness, at least for myself anyway when setting goals- but that's another discussion. Let's just say they were talking about REAL pull-ups for argument's sake, not the modified ones. I don't consider doing 14 pull-ups a basic movement and activity that an average adult human body should be capable of, as well as being able to squat your own body weight. Sure it's entirely possible but it would obviously take time and lots of training, and that to me fits the criteria of 'above average'. Not everyone who is an active, healthy fit person is running laps everyday or seeing how heavy they can squat. In fact, if more people started squatting then that would suck for me because my gym only has 2 (joke). What I'm saying is there is no minimum fitness level that suits everyone across the board, within reason. Maybe America wouldn't be as fat of a nation if our standards of fitness were higher, but I don't think that list really proves anything...

I disagree with this. I think that people who are active and fit should be able to do these movements.

Look at the women who carry water on their heads (http://freethoughtblogs.com/taslima/files/2013/03/carrying-water.jpg). They aren't elite athletes. They are average, ordinary women. And they aren't just doing a one rep max. They are walking with that water for miles. With a baby strapped to their back. And it's not like they're eating Gu to keep their energy up either.

THAT is what adults are capable of and holding ourselves to a lower standard just because our society makes it easy for us is doing our bodies and our health a disservice.

BRAVO!!!! I totally agree! Its amazing how many people hold themselves to such a low standard of fitness.....or hell they think being physically active the LEAST amount possible to be what good living is!!!?!?!?!
Our bodies were made to MOVE!!
CHEERS!

Your body type is going to effect how well you can or can not do some of these things, pullups are much harder for women than men because our chest muscles are built different. Doesn't mean that a female can't put in effort and try, it just takes a lot more effort. People with shorter legs have to work harder to run faster, my brother has strangely long/awkward arms and pushups are more difficult for him than it is for most males. He had military training, so he was doing them a lot, and it still took him a log time to be able to do the required amount. Anykind of upper body arm lifting that doesn't use my back has always been difficult for me, pushups, planks, etc. Doesn't mean I'm not working on it, it will just take me a log time.

I'm in the USCG (lots of military in my family) and we have physical fitness standards, so I'm pretty good with those. They are currently changing ours though. Still waiting on words on what will be offical, they are testing out one suggested set right now on a bunch of Coasties though.

The running may never happen for me either, I have bad knees. I bike though.