SUPERMEDIUM Calculator
Optimal body weights for peak fitness and the SUPERMEDIUM life
Post summary
We’re investigating the optimal body size for different fitness activities.
Using your height, you’ll be able to calculate the ideal weight for your goals. Think of it as a SUPERMEDIUM calculator.
Why it matters: Finding the right body size and balance between strength and endurance is a key to performance and living longer and better.
Housekeeping
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Audio/podcast edition
The post
I’m preparing for a long hike through the desert (more on that in a couple of weeks). Part of the challenge in training has been finding the sweet spot between endurance and strength.
I’ll hike 20 to 30 miles daily carrying a pack that holds all my gear, water, and food. On the one hand, I need to be big and strong enough to carry a heavy pack all day. On the other hand, I can’t be so big that I’m carrying extra weight on my frame and hurting my endurance.
My conundrum isn’t unique. Finding the balance between strength and endurance is a great challenge for anyone who has a body and uses it. The two fitness qualities are often at odds with each other. For example:
If you max out your endurance, your strength will plummet. You’ll be able to cover ground efficiently, but the minute you have to lift or carry something, you’ll be crippled by the weight.
Meanwhile, if you try to get as strong as possible, you’ll pack on muscle and will be able to lift and carry, but your endurance will suffer, and you’ll gas out quickly.
Hence, performing well requires finding a body type that balances the two.
This is why “What’s the ideal body weight for my sport?” is one of the most common questions among athletes.
With that in mind, one of the top training labs in the country decided to answer that question. They began collecting data on their athletes and validating it against research.
The training lab mainly works with outdoor athletes—mountaineers, ultrarunners, Special Forces soldiers, mountain guides, backcountry hunters, wildland firefighters, etc.
And that’s a good thing for all of us, even if we don’t spend much time outside.
Outdoor sports and the physical skills and body types they require are ideal for overall health and longevity. They help us balance size, strength, and endurance, leading to better health and function in the long-run.