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Today I want to talk about assessments (it may sound boring but it's not; it's the most important part of a good fitness program–and I'm not exaggerating).
Richard Feynman, the quantum physicist once said,
"the first step is realizing that you must not fool yourself; the second step is realizing that your the easiest one to fool."
This couldn't be more true. (though I imagine he was talking about something less tangible like quantum physics, but it still really works well for health & fitness)
How do you really know if what you're doing to stay healthy and fit is really working? Are you (or your personal trainer) objectively measuring things to determine you're not just getting tired but actually getting better?
It's quite common for a new client of ours, who has hired a personal trainer in the past, to comment on all the assessments we do in the beginning saying something like,
"no one's ever taken this much time to determine my needs before."
Assessments are key. They must be done at the start, and then every 4-8 weeks thereafter to determine progress. Otherwise, how do you know if you're improving in the direction you want to go?
Some people say it's by the way they feel… but I can tell you that doesn't work. How often are your "feelings" wrong? Feelings are influenced by so many things (including your own prejuduce's, the outside environment, other people's suggestions, etc.), they can't be relied upon to give objective data as to whether you're physically improving or not.
Do you "feel" your cholesterol improving? Do you "feel" your spine coming into better alignment (after it's been out of alignment for 9 years)?? Do you "feel" your lack of left hip internal rotation (which is now causing your right shoulder impingement pain) improving???
No, these things must be measured objectively and then shown to you with a comparison to previous numbers and "typcial human norms."
When the numbers change, you know that you're changing, objectively. And that means a lot. You don't have to wonder if you're just "fooling yourself."
Here are just a few things that should be measured on the body mass/aesthetic side of things:
- Body fat %
- Circumferences
- And of course, a little less scientific but still very effective is last year's photographs and jeans! Can you fit in 'em or not?
On the fitness side of things you should be measuring your improvements in:
- The number of consecutive push-ups you can do, and sit-ups,
- Your one-mile time (walk or run),
- Your vertical leap for a power measurement,
- Your hamstring flexibility.
- And your ability to accomplish some of the primal movement patterns (see below)
These are just some of the measures we take on an on-going basis with our clients to help them KNOW that they're improving.
However, one last important point that George Beckham always makes (one of our trainers in Athlon Elite known for being a stickler on form and technique and body mechanics), "every session is an assessment."
Every session in Athlon Elite we're both, subjectively and objectively, monitoring your body and performance and providing you "real-time" feedback to ensure that you are constantly moving in the right direction and GETTING BETTER!
All you have to do is listen.
If you're interested in learning more about our assessments, or would just like to have us do an assessment we're here for you.
Click here to get on our schedule and start tracking your progress.
Until next time,
Ryan
