HOW TO Boost Your Health Span

HOW MUCH WEIGHT you can lift isn't just a practical matter: It turns out that being able to carry 75% of your body weight for a minutesometimes referred to as "the carry test"-can tell you a lot about your fitness level and health.

- STACEY COLINO

"Being able to carry 75% of your weight is an indicator of muscular strength, grip strength and core strength," says Pete McCall, M.S., an exercise physiologist and personal trainer in San Diego. "It's a good test for muscle endurance and strength."

Having strong muscles helps with daily activities, McCall says, and it promotes health span, the amount of time you spend in good health and free from chronic diseases and age-related challenges.

To assess your strength, try this basic challenge, at right.

Kettlebells are easier to carry than dumbbells, but if you don't have a set, you can do the test with heavy dumbbells.

THE TEST

How much can you carry?