Six honest checks.
Two minutes each.

Simple self-checks for the over-50 body: strength, balance, readiness, and the numbers worth knowing. Nothing recorded, nothing sent anywhere. Just you and the truth.

The sensible bit first. These are rough guides based on widely used fitness measures. They are not medical tests and can't diagnose anything. If a result surprises you, or you have a health condition, pain, or dizziness, have a chat with your doctor. That's not small print; it's the plan.

1 · Ready to start?

Seven quick questions before you begin any new training

Answer honestly, a yes doesn't mean you can't train, it means a quick word with your doctor first is the smart move.

2 · The chair test

30 seconds, one chair. The classic leg-strength check

How to do it: sit in the middle of a sturdy chair, arms crossed over your chest, feet flat. Stand fully up and sit fully down as many times as you can in 30 seconds. Count your full stands. (Skip this one if standing is painful.)

3 · The balance test

One leg, one clock. Balance predicts a lot after 50

How to do it: stand next to a counter or wall (fingertips hovering, not holding). Lift one foot a few inches and time how long you hold it, up to 60 seconds. Stop when your foot touches down or you grab on. Best of two tries, either leg. Don't do this one alone if you've been falling or getting dizzy.

4 · The string test

Waist-to-height, a better quick check than the bathroom scale

How to do it: measure around your waist at the belly button, relaxed, not sucked in. The idea is simple: your waist should be less than half your height. Same units for both, cm or inches, doesn't matter.

5 · The morning pulse

Resting heart rate, your engine's idle speed

How to do it: best first thing in the morning, before coffee, still in bed. Find your pulse at the wrist, count the beats for 30 seconds, double it. (Or trust your watch if it does this.)

6 · How active are you, really?

Your week against the guideline that actually matters

The widely used target for adults: about 150 minutes a week of moderate movement (brisk walking counts) plus strength work twice a week. Be honest about a normal week, not your best one.

Whatever your results, the fix is the same.

Show up, workout, log it, repeat. My free app makes the boring part easy.

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