Post summary
On Monday, we ran 6 fitness tests that predict disease risk.
Today we’re running 6 performance tests that suggest you’re “fit enough.” If you can complete them all, you’re in great shape for whatever life throws at you.
Think of them as “Two Percent Fitness Standards.”
Housekeeping
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Audio version
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The post
Today we’re covering six practical “Two Percent Fitness Standards.” They measure endurance, strength, power, coordination, and movement—useful capacities for an awesomely active life as you age.
This is part two in our fitness test series. Part one covered six tests that are linked to disease risk. I.e., “Here are tests you should be able to do to not die early.”
Today is about living and performing well.
These posts were prompted by a text from my friend Brian Koppelman. Once Brian started exercising, he wanted goals but found that many fitness standards published by trainers were rather extreme and seemingly designed for professional athletes. I call this the “clinician’s illusion of fitness”—trainers often work with professional athletes, skewing what they think is normal for the average person.
Brian asked, “Your strength and fitness standards would be useful to see. Strong and fit enough—what is that to you?”
This post is the answer. The better you do on these six tests, the more well-rounded your fitness and prepared you’ll be for whatever life throws at you.
They won’t win you any gold medals, but you don’t have to live in the gym to hit them, and they suggest you’re “fit enough.”
From here you’ll learn:
-A philosophy of fitness testing. Why it matters.
-How I developed these tests.
-The 6 Two Percent Standards.
-Ways to adapt each test to your goals.
-How to apply each test to your life as you age.