How to Test Your Fitness Progress

It's a good idea to test your fitness every so often and see how you're going towards your goals. Look back at your training journal and note how many repetitions you did in a set time, how you felt during and after the exercise and how well you recovered in your first session. That's your benchmark. Set a time to repeat that same workout and see how far you've come.

What counts as progress?

More repetitions in a set time is a good sign. But don't be disheartened if the number hasn't gone up. It could be that your technique has improved, which is a better result than numbers.

How you feel during and after exercise is also a great test. If you're more confident, have more energy in your workouts and recover quicker, that's a significant achievement. You're well on the way to your goal and probably ready to change your routine in intensity and endurance.

Listen to your body

Take advantage of the days when you feel great, and go easier on the days that are hard.

No matter how fit you are, each workout should be challenging. Some days feel harder than others, but as long as you put in your best effort you'll reap the rewards. The same goes for feeling sore afterwards: whether you are or not is no indicator of how hard you trained. It's the effort that counts. Challenging your body and being determined will get you fitter every time.