FitnessAge - Is Age Really Just a Number?

About 2 months ago, I had the chance to undergo a FitnessAge test. The results were nowhere close to my expectations – I had a fitness age that was far older than my chronological age. It was a slow, depressing drive back home that night. But more importantly… it was another turning point for me.
What am I talking about? Read on…

What is FitnessAge?
FitnessAge (www.fitnessage.com) is a number, or ‘age’ assigned to an individual upon completion of a number of fitness tests, measuring one’s fitness level. It was developed using data compiled by more than 56,000 individual tests, and the software’s diagnostic and computational algorithms have been granted a U.S. patent.

The tests will be administered by a fitness professional, who will then use the individual’s results with the FitnessAge service/software to derive their FitnessAge. Basically, you get all the detailed results of your tests presented in a manner that we can ALL easily understand and relate to – AGE.

For example, an inactive 30 year old may have a FitnessAge of 50, which means that his/her fitness level is comparable to that of a 50 year old (And believe me… it sucks when that happens). Alternatively, a 50 year old may have a FitnessAge of 30 – which means they are in the same great physical condition as a 30 year old. Easy right?

What Are The Tests?
To determine our FitnessAge, we will be tested on:
Body - Body fat percentage, Weight, and Body Measurements
Cardio - Resting Pulse and Recovery Pulse (using a 3-minute step test)
Flexibility - Sit and Reach (touch your toes)
Strength - Sit-ups (1 min) and Push-ups (until fatigue)

Just in case you’re wondering… the tests used in FitnessAge are not chosen randomly or for fun, but are in fact industry standard tests that are also used by the American College of Sports Medicine and the YMCA, the two leading authorities on exercise physiology.

Do I really need to know my FitnessAge?
Well, you won’t DIE if you don’t. But in my opinion… Yes – it would be good if you did. You will receive individual scores for the areas tested (cardio-respiratory, body composition, flexibility and strength).

A person who focuses solely on weight training, for example, may have an impressive strength result but a poor cardio-respiratory score. Based on these personalized scores, fitness professionals can use this information as a starting point and customize an exercise program for their clients that produce measurable results.

With any exercise routine, it is a MUST to measure progress – it is very fulfilling and exciting when one begins to see before their very own eyes the positive changes their body has undergone AS A RESULT of their hard work – in black and white on a piece of paper! I believe that FitnessAge is a great an easy way to measure progress – imagine being 40 today, and 35 in 6 months time (your FitnessAge!). If that doesn’t motivate you to reach for more, I don’t know what will.

FitnessAge allows us to evaluate progress from a more ‘informed’ starting point. Being aware of our FitnessAge can also motivate us to stop being lazy and become physically active rather than allow the gap between the chronological age and FitnessAge to increase. The results also highlight areas where one is doing well and areas that can be improved on.

My Conclusion?
Our bodies not only age because time passes by, but also by how we treat our body. The things we eat, the level of our physical activity/inactivity, the stressors in our everyday lives, all play a role in maintaining the condition of our bodies. FitnessAge is a powerful tool that can help us adhere to a healthier lifestyle and even totally change one’s outlook on health.

Just to share with you guys - my FitnessAge results revealed that I had the physique of someone over 40 (a FitnessAge MUCH greater than my chronological age.) – when in fact… I am only 28 years of age. Yes – I do my fair share of resistance training and I eat reasonably well, but I admit that I do neglect my cardio (I always have), and hardly focus on any endurance – all this added up and was reflected on my FitnessAge. Bear in mind that this is no ‘numbers game’ – if you get a great FitnessAge – it will serve as a confirmation on how well you’ve taken care of your body, but if you score otherwise, then it will be a realistic (and perhaps even painful) reminder of how unfit you are. Trust me when I say that it’s a horrible feeling… I know!

But today, I’m glad I did the tests, and I’m not embarrassed to share this with the whole world if that’s what it takes to make someone realize the importance of a complete fitness programme that addresses all key areas.

Now.. the good news!
You too can get a FitnessAge test done for you here in Malaysia – it is currently provided as part of the 2-day “Get Fit-Muscle Up” workshop conducted at Fitness Innovations Malaysia (www.fitthai.com).

The ‘not so good’ news?
Arrrgh!! The workshop is 2 days away!! January 26th – 27th 2008. I’m such a procrastinator and I’ve been wanting to announce this workshop for ages now… but then I forgot and got tied up with many things, and I did want to get this write-up perfect.

So.. to make it up to you
And to add icing to the cake, I will throw in a DOUBLE PASS for a 2-week complimentary membership to any Fitness First branch in Malaysia (valued at RM400, thanks to the good folks at Fitness First!) for every person that signs up for this weekend’s workshop. The workshop costs RM300/person, and is conducted by Jerrican Tan, an ACE Certified Personal Trainer & Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant. Jerrican is no stranger to the Malaysian Fitness scene – he’s a trainer of trainers, among many other impressive accomplishments.

The “Get Fit-Muscle Up” workshop is for health and fitness enthusiasts who are already exercising, and would like to identify and improve their existing workout routines to see better results. So basically, you’ll get 6 hours of a Personal Trainer’s time who will come up with an INDIVIDUAL workout routine for you with the right intensity, exercises, and your individual needs in mind. The FitnessAge test is part of the workshop - all this, for RM300.

The workshop is limited to a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 persons to ensure personal attention – so call Fitness Innovations at 03-7726 0030 now, and ask for Jerrican. Then, write to me at author [at] dailymuscle.com to request for your complimentary Fitness First pass.

I’ve also got more Fitness First freebies to give away (Yes, there’s more!!) – and I’ll be giving them away real soon! So sign up for my email update below if you’d like to be kept informed.

Read also:

1. GET FIT - Muscle Up Workshop at Fitness Innovations (FIT)
2. Strength Training Technique Workshop
3. Shaping Up Your Butt