In the realm of Normal Guys, I fit right in. I am just over 5’ 9”, same as the typical US man. However, things have changed so dramatically in the past 10 years, I do now differ significantly from the average weight. A decade ago, I weighted around 185lbs, just under the average for a male adult. I am still around 185lbs, but the average weight has ballooned to just under 200lbs. No Bueno, America!
As the (almost) average American, there are other American things I do. While I abstain from all drugs, tobacco, and alcohol I do eat pop-tarts and Costco Chocolate covered almonds, enjoy pizza most weeks, partake in soda and brats, love lazy Saturdays (and Sundays, Mondays, or any day which ends with a Y), and will scarf handfuls of Starburst jelly beans. Also, I have a desk job. I don’t take protein shakes, pre workouts powders, ammino acids, definitely not steroids, and eat way more fatty foods than is necessary. Basically, I am not a health nut.
But I also love being active and fit. I ran cross country and track in both high school and college. I also played football, rugby, and la crosse in college, and was very nearly signed by a professional ultimate frisbee team.Now I want to be clear; what I do for workouts now is not necessarily “Normal.” But I do believe a normal person CAN do them given the appropriate application or effort. And, to be clear, I have mostly lived an active lifestyle my whole life. I have pursued fitness challenges for many years, and it took time to get to the point of success, and years of work to get to the point of excelling in some cases. Progress, not perfection, is necessary in fitness.
Men’s Health Published an article in 2015 which lists 10 things to denote physical fitness.
Bench 1.5 times your Body Weight
Run 1.5 miles in 10 minutes
Touch the Rim (score a 30 inch vertical)
Leg Press 2.25 times you Body Weight
Swim 700 yards in 12 minutes
40 pushups
.81 Waist/Hip Ratio [(Narrowest Part of Waist) / (Widest part of Hips and Butt)]
300 yards in under 1 minute
Bend over and Touch your Toes
Kneeling, Overhead basketball toss 75 feet
Looking at this list, there are a number of these thresholds I know I meet (bolded above), or a few I know I am at least close to meeting (italics). Again, progress, not perfection! Not meeting everything is a good thing for me, because it gives me concrete goals in things I typically would not consider. I am not a great swimmer, jump poorly, and am a bit stocky, so focusing on things like swimming, jumping, and a narrower waist will help me have a more versatile and well rounded workout routine.
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