Assessing how fit a person is can be done in a few simple ways:
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Cardiovascular Endurance
- VO2 Max Test: This test checks how much oxygen your body can use when you exercise. For women, the average is about 35 to 40 mL of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute. For men, it’s about 40 to 45 mL.
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Muscular Strength
- One-Rep Max (1RM) Test: This test finds out the heaviest weight someone can lift one time. Around 85% of people can lift their own body weight in major exercises.
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Muscular Endurance
- Push-up Test: This test measures how many push-ups you can do in one minute. The average for men is 20 to 30 push-ups, while for women it’s 10 to 20.
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Flexibility
- Sit and Reach Test: This test checks how far you can reach while sitting. The average reach is about 12 to 15 inches for men and 10 to 12 inches for women.
Using these tests gives a good look at a person's overall fitness.