Outside Magazine’s latest issue has a little quiz to see if you’re fit. I can’t do at least two of these categories, so I’m not fit, according to these standards. But wow. Something to point towards.
Chest Do push-ups on a stability ball, feet on the floor. Do 3 sets of 20. If you’ve never done these, they’re killers.
Shoulders/Back Do 3 sets of 5 pullups with 10% of your bodyweight strapped onto you. I can’t do 1 regular pullup, unweighted, yet.
Arms Curl 1/2 your body weight with a barbell using both arms, one rep. I can do this one.
Abs Do 3 sets of planks, 30 seconds each time. Easy cheesy.
Quads Do a two-legged standing broad jump. You should be able to clear 120% of your height in distance. (You get that, right?) I have no idea. Not one for hopping.
Ankles and Calves Stand on one leg, holding the other foot against your knee, and get up onto your toes. Stay up there for 50 seconds. Ditto. No clue.
Forearms Take a 45 pound plate and hold it by your side with just your fingers for 25 seconds. I want to try this one.
These are all fairly neato measures, eh? They are mostly functional, too, to what someone might do outside or during a sport of some kind. Think mountain climbing, maybe.
(See how this all fits into the idea of wanting to be Batman, or Jason Bourne?)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Oooh, this is awesome! The ones that you can’t do are definitely good things to be striving towards. And the ones that you can do are still damn impressive.
And by the way, Chris, I have total faith in your ability to become Batman.
That foot against the knee sounds like a yoga pose (without standing on the toe). I had trouble balancing on my flat foot, so I’m sure 50 seconds on my toe would be tough.
OK, I’m printing this out to try later. And I still say Spiderman can kick Batman’s butt any day.
Hey, dude, Former Fat Guy here again having a look around.
Just got my new training program from my trainer.
[one] part of it has me doing 3 sets of 40 pushups on the stability ball and I was just looking at your arm curls. Last night I did 1/2 my body weight for 4 sets of 5. Yay… It’s cool getting stronger and more fit!
as for the grip strength / forearm one, Yep, I want to tray that too.
ps, don’t know if you joined my e-zine yet, but I just advertised in it that I’m going to be interviewed on Monday Dec 20 at the becomeyourbest site.. a free coaching call. go to http://www.formerfatguy.com/go/?become-your-best for more info