Square One.

I’ve always been a firm believer when starting a new fitness regime that it’s important to focus on fitness goals and progress.  I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t have another motive, and I’m tracking that too, but on days when maybe inches or pounds don’t seem to be progressing the way I’d like I’m confident that my fitness goals will continue to move forward.

So, the measurements, the things to track: I’m going to track both basic physical measurements as well as some fitness measurements.  Naturally, I’m not anxious to publish certain details like my weight or my waist size.  But here we are, at the beginning, so I’m going to start at zero and tell you about my progress in plus/minus terms.  I’ll be more forthcoming with the fitness stuff, because I hope that it will be less embarrassing! ;)

Physical Measurements

• Weight: 0 (Ideal @ my height and age could be anywhere between 135-175lbs)
• Measurements (Bust/Waist/Hips): 0/0/0 (Obviously depend a lot on the weight!)
• Resting Heart Rate: 0 (Average is 72bpm, normal is anywhere from 50-100, and should decrease as my fitness level increases)
• Blood Pressure: N/A (not yet measured!) (Should be in the 110/70 to 120/80 range)

So, let’s just say that I need the weight and measurements to show up in this blog as big minuses, and a little minus action in the resting heart rate and blood pressure categories would be alright but I’m quite comfortably in average/healthy ranges there.

Fitness Measurements

My super-awful workout earlier this week was my fitness testing baseline, which I hope means amazing progress soon since I felt so crappy the whole time.  I did five fitness tests to measure strength (2), flexibility (2), and endurance (1).  I’ll do the tests again in two weeks – the tests were:

1. Strength: Core Strength Test
2. Strength: Push-Up Test
3. Flexibility: Sit & Reach
4. Flexibility: Shoulders
5. Endurance: One Mile Run

I did (1) terribly in the core strength test (making it through only 30 seconds of a 3 minute test), (2) so-so in the push-up test (able to do an acceptable number of modified push-ups), (3) so-so in the sit & reach test (which I’m not really measuring the way you’re supposed to ’cause I’m definitely not buying a box to do the measurements properly, hah!!) and (4) fine in the shoulder flexibility test.  I did terribly in the one mile run, which I will chalk up to being so low energy lately.  I’ll give some more detailed info on these tests in two weeks when I try them again on hopefully a less asstackular day.

My plan for tomorrow is to hit the gym for some strength training and light cardio before an evening obligation (weather permitting).  Friday will be a rest-day as it’s the end of the week, and on the weekend when I have far more time and hopefully energy get some solid work-out time in (including, I hope, an early a.m. run on Sunday with Coach H., CT and CB – aka Coach’s Sunday Run Club).

 

What are your fitness goals?  How closely do you monitor your progress?