Wednesday 5 November 2014

What's Your Fitness Age?


 

 
 
 

 
 
How old actually are you? Do you know your fitness age?

 

Almost every morning (even in rainy days), my husband and I see this man (in his mid-50’s) who runs around our streets over and over. We live in a suburb which is named “…HILL” so you can simply imagine how hilly the streets would be but he runs like almost flying (I am not joking). I have never spoken to him (as he runs too fast…. Haha) to know how old he is but, I am 100 percent sure that his fitness age will be far lower than his chronological age. He is truly inspirational.

 

He is not the only one. I can find many older people (chronologically) who have more stamina than the youngsters to pursue their hard-core exercise regime. I call my Pilate teacher ‘A machine’. She is far older than me (A mum of 4 grown-up kids) but I have seen not many people who are as strong as her. So, I am neither exaggerating nor making stories.

 

So, what is person’s real age then? Is age only number? How old really are you?

 

It is easy to pick up the number for our chronological age as it is unchangeable fact from the moment of our birth. However, do you know what will be your fitness age? Is it not easy to guesstimate? The good news is that modern technology and studies can help us to figure out our fitness age by answering a few simple questions.

 

The idea about fitness age has been developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, who have studied fitness and how it relates to wellness for years. Main idea of the study which I fully agree with is that a person’s fitness age is a better predictor of longevity than chronological age. I am not quite sure how our fitness level can help us to live and how much longer but I trust that our fitness level can help us to enjoy our life longer and more. The good news is that we can decrease our fitness age unlike our actual age. It sounds promising, doesn’t it?

 

If you want to know your fitness age, try this online calculator (https://www.worldfitnesslevel.org/#/). It asks a few simple questions for determining fitness age. I was nicely surprised by finding out my own fitness age is more than 20 years younger than my chronological age. No wonder how I feel so young and healthy. Please allow me to be proud of the result and show-off. Some people would be proud of their careers or wealth but for me, the most important thing in life is health so, I am very pleased to know my fitness level is higher than I expected.

 

Hereunder are what I have found out from the questions of the online fitness age calculator in order to decrease our fitness age. They are surprisingly simple and basic.

 

1.      Regular exercise

2.      More movement at work (reduce sitting hours)

3.      Keep a healthy waistline and weight/BMI(Body Mass Index)

4.      Reduce alcohol consumption

5.      Stop smoking

6.      Watch food what you eat (More fruits and vegetables, less sugar and fatty food)

7.      Control stress level

8.      Be happy with yourself and life

 

We already know these, don’t we? Unfortunately, knowing them will not help us unless doing them.

 

I often see young people who ignore their body and health. It truly makes me upset. We all have only one life and the life is finite. It should be the full reason to love and look after our body and mind. I seriously recommend you to find out your fitness age. There is nothing to lose. If you are happy with your fitness age, keep your life style. If you get disappointed (shocked) with the result, it is time to do something. Don’t forget that you own your life and only you can change your life. The good thing is you can decrease your fitness age. It is all up to you.

 

 


 

 

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