understanding your fitness metrics
When it comes to tracking health and fitness, numbers can tell an important story—if you know which ones matter. BMI offers a broad view of weight relative to height, though it can’t tell muscle from fat. Body fat percentage gives a clearer picture of body composition and progress over time. Hip-to-waist ratio helps assess how fat is distributed, which is closely linked to long-term health risks. Meanwhile, your heart rate—both resting and during exercise—reveals how efficiently your heart and lungs are working. Add in your daily calorie needs, which determine how much energy your body requires, and your 1 rep max, a measure of your maximum strength, and you’ve got a well-rounded snapshot of your fitness. These figures aren’t about chasing perfection—they’re about understanding your body, setting realistic goals, and tracking meaningful progress.