1. Plank it Up!  Get into push-up position on the floor.   Now bend your elbows 90 degrees and rest your weight on your forearms. Your elbows should be directly beneath your shoulders, and your body should form a straight line from your head to your feet.  If you can’t hold this Plank position for 2 minutes, AFC doctors warn it could mean you are carrying too much weight.   The physicians say improving your core is important for your overall movement stability and strength.  
2. Sit, Rise, Stand: Based on Brazilian research, this test examines how well you get up from a seated position on the floor.   Sit Down, try to get up  without using your hands or knees. The idea is to use as few body parts, as possible, testing your strength, balance and flexibility. 
3. Bad Breath Barometer:  Bad breath can turn into more than just an awkward situation, halitosis could be a sign of a serious health problem.  AFC doctors say Scrape your tongue with a spoon. Put the spoon in a plastic bag, close it and smell it.   A fruity odor can point to diabetes, a fishy smell may indicate kidney failure, sour mouth could be tied to sleep apnea. 
4. Test of Time:  How sharp is your mind? Swedish researchers developed a clock drawing test to screen for cognitive development and dementia. Simply start with a blank piece of paper, draw a clock, put in all the numbers and set hands for 10 and 11.  This test taps into a range of cognitive abilities and can set off a signal if impairment is developed or developing.   
5. Track your pulse: How strong is your heart rate? Did you know a weak pulse could not only be a sign of heart disease but a blood clot in your arm or leg.

• Place 2 fingers, not using your thumb, on your wrist, press lightly until you feel a pulse.  Using a watch or clock, make note of how many heartbeats you feel in 15 seconds. 
• Your pulse = (total beats in 15 seconds) X 4 = (your heart rate).    A normal resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 beats a minute.  
• WHY DO IT?  See how well your heart is working, in an emergency situation, a pulse rate can help determine if your heart is pumping enough blood.  Check for blood flow and get a gauge on your general health and fitness level.

Right now, doctors at American Family Care, the nation’s largest primary and urgent care network with clinics in our area,  are ready to walk a reporter through these tests to show people how to get in tip-top shape in 2016.