Getting physically fit can transform your life, being and feeling strong can make you more capable in your day-to-day life. And there are some jobs that demand a certain level of fitness, such as policing, fire and rescue, construction work and personal fitness trainers to name a few. Civil and defence fitness equipment is designed to ensure you achieve the very best fitness levels you can.

Civil and Defence Fitness Equipment – Be the Best

HaB Direct is a major supplier of fitness equipment, sports performance monitoring equipment, rehabilitation equipment and laboratory analysis systems to civil and defence services, sports associations and fitness professionals. Investing in civil and defence fitness equipment, whether you are a commercial gym or individual looking to equip your own home gym, is one way of ensuring you're keeping on top of your fitness training.

In the Army with Defence Fitness Equipment

The official British army fitness test is a good place to start to ascertain your current level of fitness before you start using any fitness equipment. There are a series of straightforward tests that can tell you how far to push yourself on the track, doing sit-ups and press-ups or on dedicated fitness equipment. You can monitor your improved fitness levels using specialist fitness equipment that includes performance monitoring equipment. When it comes to increasing fitness levels it's crucial that you keep pushing your body and changing your regime so it doesn't get too used to a certain fitness regime, leaving your fitness levels stagnating.

The Army Fitness Test

Before you use any dedicated fitness equipment, take the army fitness test. Make sure you warm up, cool down and stretch before any exercise. Do the following fitness tests with a two minute break between each test. Keep a note of your scores. Then, every four weeks, re-take the fitness test to monitor your improvement.

The press up test – You don't need specialist fitness equipment for press ups, although you can invest in weight training equipment to improve muscle strength. The press up test is simply counting how many press ups you can do in two minutes. Note your score.

The sit-up test – Do the same process doing sit-ups. Make sure you are doing sit ups correctly so you don't damage your neck – you can invest in specialist fitness training equipment to ensure you undertake exercises properly.

You can hit the road or use a running machine – time a 1.5 mile run and note the time.

The sit and reach test, which can also be carried out using fitness testing equipment such as the Sit and Reach Box or Acuflex – sit on the floor, stretch out your legs and flex bare feet against a wall, keeping your legs 8 inches apart. Then reach forward by sliding your fingertips along the floor to the furthest point you can manage and hold for three seconds. Mark the spot.

Another indication of fitness is your waist-to-hip ratio. Measure your waist in cm and divide it by the measurement of your hips. Men should have a ratio of 0.90 or under, women 0.85. Dividing your body weight (kg) by your height (metres) will give you your BMI – between 18.5 and 25 is a healthy weight.

HaB Direct is one of the UK's leading suppliers of fitness equipment across the UK and we pride ourselves on the high calibre of all the fitness equipment that we provide. Whether it's commercial fitness equipment, civil and defence fitness equipment, educational fitness equipment or private fitness equipment that you require, HaB Direct is sure to have the product and expertise to exceed your expectations. Offering everything from treadmills to heart rate monitors, HaB Direct has an unparalleled selection to choose from. To find out more about the fitness equipment available from HaB Direct just give us a call on 01926 816100 or send us an email on sales@habdirect.co.uk.

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