One of the most important concepts that you must understand before and even during your exercise program is your current level of bodily fitness. What exactly is meant by your "current level of bodily fitness"? Fitness level simply refers to your body's capacity to endure an exercise program or any physical work and its ability to recuperate in the time it would normally take the rest of the people of the same sex and age to recover from the activity.

As more and more people understand the benefits of exercise for overall health and weight loss, many have set themselves up to adhering to a regular fitness regimen. Some walk for health while others engage in weight training or bodyweight exercises to lose weight, tone muscle and develop strength.

The problem with most individuals, especially those who are still beginning their workouts is that they go to it blindly not knowing what their fitness level is before they engage in a workout program. Most often, they overdo or underdo their sets and reps or worse, suffer strain or injury as a result.

The importance of understanding your level of bodily fitness cannot be underestimated. First, it enables you to exercise efficiently. When you know where your stamina stands, you are able to gauge the kind of intensity with which to do your workouts. Obviously, those who are classified as advanced-level practitioners won't be able to maximize their workouts if they stay exercising in the level of the beginner. Another reason why you need to know your fitness level is that it prevents injury and strain. You see this often in the gym. Neophytes, who overestimate their abilities, head to the heaviest weight around and struggle with all their might to lift it from the rack. Naturally, they couldn't since they're still beginning and if not for the foresight of more seasoned gym buddies, the showoffs would have been rushed to the emergency room struggling for their lives (the more unfortunate ones really do have to make unprepared visits to the ER). Accidents like this could be prevented if a person had sufficient knowledge of his level of fitness (and actually had the humility to admit that he is really just beginning).

Your current level of fitness can be measured by your doctor whom you should pay a visit to if you want to begin working out. A simpler way of gauging your fitness level is by determining how much activity you usually do. Thus, if this is your first time to exercise or your have just started to get moving again after a certain period of time either because of injury or illness, then you are said to be a beginner. Choose beginner routines and never over-do your exercises.

You are said to possess an intermediate level of fitness if you have exercised regularly for the past six months-- even if it's just a couple of workouts every week. You can also be called an intermediate level practitioner if you workout two to three times per week for the past six months.

An individual who has advanced fitness level works out more than three times per week for the past six months or attends more than two fitness classes on a weekly basis. Those who belong in this category can engage in exercises without tiring easily and are said to be in the peak of health.