Give yourself the following points for each question in the assessment:
1. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
2. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
3. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
4. a, 2; b, 1; c, 0
5. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
6. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
7. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
8. a, 1; b, 2; c, 0
9. a, 0; b, 1; c, 2
10. a, 1; b, 2; c, 0
Add up your score and check the key below.
0 to 6: Fit to Survive.
You're barely Mentally Fit to Live. You survive day to day by jumping from one crisis to the other, and you're winging it with your self-care. The day-to-day stresses of life keep your mind so cluttered and overwhelmed that you can't imagine actually having time to enjoy your life, much less take on a challenge like losing weight or getting a promotion.
Having higher depression is associated with a 29 percent increased risk of acquiring excess fat in the inner abdomen and Toxic Belly Fat Syndrome (metabolic syndrome) over time. Higher anger scores were associated with a nearly 50 percent increase in risk of the full syndrome--Toxic Belly Fat, heart disease, and diabetes. If left untreated, high levels of anxiety and depression put adults of all ethnicities at a two- to threefold greater risk of developing hypertension serious enough to require medication. Clinical depression is associated with increased risk of heart disease and heart attack for men.
7 to 13: Fit to Enjoy.
You're the typical model of the Mentally Fit to Live man or woman. You've been banking some precious Body Dollar reserves by continuing to show enough stress resilience to make it through the day. For the most part, you manage to carve out time to exercise, spend time with your family, and enjoy what matters most. You adapt and adjust to daily stresses, and you hit your mark 70 to 80 percent of the time. Because of this, your chance of avoiding or minimizing the impact of disease is excellent. You're in great shape to live your full life span.
Your strong network of friends and confidants significantly reduces your risk of premature death. Men and women with the strongest network of friends were 22 percent less likely to die in a given time period than those with the weakest network of good friendships. Friends may exert a healthy influence on risky behaviors, like smoking and drinking, as well as have important effects on mood, self-esteem, and coping with stress.
14 to 20: Fit to Challenge.
You are the Mentally Fit to Live super-achiever. You feel in control of your life and your destiny. You have a better handle on the meaning of your life and what gives you joy. You embrace adversity and see each stress as another opportunity to challenge your stress resilience skills and to learn. Fit to Challenge men and women are banking the largest amounts of Body Dollars. This super-achiever reserve will shorten healing time when you experience a medical condition, and maximally optimize your life span. Many Mentally Fit to Live to Challenge folks are highly spiritual--and people who attend religious services at least once a week are less likely to die in a given period of time than people who attend services less often.
You're the typical model of the Mentally Fit to Live man or woman. You've been banking some precious Body Dollar reserves by continuing to show enough stress resilience to make it through the day. For the most part, you manage to carve out time to exercise, spend time with your family, and enjoy what matters most. You adapt and adjust to daily stresses, and you hit your mark 70 to 80 percent of the time. Because of this, your chance of avoiding or minimizing the impact of disease is excellent. You're in great shape to live your full life span.
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Fitness Assessments are reprinted with permission from Fit to Live by Pam Peeke. Copyright 2007 by Pamela Peeke, MD. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc. Emmaus, PA 18098. Available at the Discovery Store, directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735, or wherever books are sold.
