Using Army Fitness Standards As An Objective Maintenance Fitness Goal

Fitness has a goal problem. Goals are great for achievement, but are terrible for living. If I want to run a half marathon under a certain time, I can back into the steps that I need to take everyday to achieve that outcome.

But unlike other life domains, it’s hard to find a good metric for just “being fit”.

With money, I can set a goal to save for a house, car, etc. I can then achieve that outcome. But then, for everyday living, as long as I’m spending less than I’m earning, I’m financially healthy.

But fitness is so personal and subjective, that I have found it hard to define and maintain “being fit” without continually setting a hamster wheel of goals.

There are plenty of trainers and training programs who will gladly shout personal opinions. But it’s rarely backed by science.

Recently, I stumbled on the Army Fitness Standards. And they are perfect! The Army is, of course, an institution that is very serious about maintaining readiness. And they don’t guess about it. They had the country’s best scientists and nutritionists decide what set of skills can define a Holistic Health and Fitness System. It doesn’t just test one or two physical skills – it requires strength, power, stability, agility, and coordination – all key parts of fitness at every age.

The Standards list 6 movements (with training recommendations!) that define fitness at every level.

So the goal is as long as you can do these 6 movements to your own level, you are fit.

It’s a great start to objectively measuring personal fitness. Go Army!