What's the definition of "out of shape"?

How do you know when you're out of shape? How do you know when you're in shape?

"I'm in shape. Round is a shape."

 

 Kenneth Cooper though he had an answer to that question based on how far you could run in 12 minutes.
 
 It's been close to 40 years and we've only now begun to dispel the fallacies behind Cooper's reasoning - for some strange reason Cooper's harebrained ideas became ingrained into mainstream consciousness when it should have been left on history's scrap heap along with hippie culture, mood rings, tie-dye clothes and other sixties fads without roots in reality.

 Fitness is not that one-dimensional - the question you've gotta ask yourself is "fit for what"? Cooper thought that all you needed was to be fit for one sort of middle-distance running, but both a sprinter and a marathoner would flunk Cooper's test - so even Cooper's misguided notion that aerobic fitness was of special importance can't properly be tested with the method he chose.

 So... what do you want to be in shape for? Can you do that activity reasonably well? Then - you're in reasonable shape for it, neh? 

Well, studies have shown that 30 minutes of moderate excercise a day is all you really need for good cardiovascular health. I guess if that is impossible or very difficult for you then you would be out of shape.

i agree with somnolence. it depends on your age and medical condition somewhat... but i guess you should be able to take a flight of stairs, walk to the store, lift a child, carry a box of kitty litter... things like that.

one of my co-workers looks great and trim and fit... but can't lift 30 pounds. not that she struggles with it - she simply can't. i don't think her aerobic endurance is that great either. she looks fine, but i consider her out of shape.

Wow - just because we have new data now doesn't mean that we need to throw stones at Dr. Cooper's ground-breaking work!  He was a revolutionary in his time.  Remember that his time coincided with women not being allowed to run marathons because they were considered "too delicate" to be up for the task!

But to the point, Covert Bailey has written some sensible ideas in "Fit or Fat?" that might be helpful.  There are also a number of little gimicks people use based on how many sit ups you can do or how long you can hold a plank position.  For me, it's about can I do what I want to do?  Can I go hiking on a moment's notice and not get winded in the first 20 minutes?  Can I keep up with my active kids?  Can I go for a run with my buddies and it doesn't matter if it is 5 miles or 15 miles?

There are a lot of measures to answer this question.  It should at a minimum include BMI, a blood panel, and a simple test of aerobic fitness, whatever that test looks like.

I do agree with melkor, "Fit for what?" because it has been my experience -- very surprisingly, since I was completely uneducated and inexperienced when I started. 

I started with swimming and after maybe two months of 3X a week was quite proud of myself for being able to swim 2kms.......so I thought, hmmmmm, let's start running.

When I started running it was as if I had done nothing at all in the past two months!!  I was astounded and quite disappointed.  But now I can run 10kms after 10 months.

So, then my husband started getting "in shape" and, being the supportive wife I am, I decided to follow his routine -- which included the elliptical -- I can manage maybe 10 minutes on it and I am DRIPPING sweat!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I have found that being "good" at one thing in no way (or in small ways only) prepares you for the next thing!

The best way one thing translated into the other was in my confidence to improve.  At least now I'll take risks but not be ashamed of the results.  So maybe it is my mind that is "fit".

Technically/Scientificall (which is perhaps what kind of answer you were looking for???)  I guess I feel like I have a decent cardio and muscle "fitness" to me, but in no way do I feel done.  I realize (and this was a big realization for me who was previously unfit for life) that there is no "done", there is only "getting better and going farther".

With that, I think I'll go out and swim tonight (after a 9 month hiatus) and see how far I can swim!?!?!

on_my_way: Best reply EVER.  in the history of EVER.  k.  done. bye!

:blush:

I like the Cooper method, means I'm in very good shape! But I agree with  - fit enough for what? My experience was like on_my_way's.... I can run forever it seems, but I hurt my ankle last week (playing soccer) and decided to swim laps at the gym instead of running. WHOA! What a work out.... it was sooooo hard! Now I'm am going to change up my routine a little.  

Original Post by melkor:

  So... what do you want to be in shape for? Can you do that activity reasonably well? Then - you're in reasonable shape for it, neh? 

 That's it in a nutshell.   

When you can't walk a mile ,touch your toes, or keep up with your children , thats when you are out of shape.  I'm still trying to get in shape.