The first step to finding a better fitness level is knowing that level.

Some folks want to get “toned” or “tighter” or lose weight. Others are more specific, knowing they want to get to 9.9 percent body fat or compete in Tough Mudder.

Knowing what we want is up to us. It is difficult for the fitness professional to help with that.

How the fitness professional can help is figuring out where our fitness level is now. Knowing where we are and where we want to go makes it much easier to prescribe a plan.

Do not underestimate the importance of the assessment. This is like taking a car to the mechanic. When the car is running badly, what does the mechanic do? He runs a diagnostic.

The fitness professional needs to run a diagnostic on the body to be as exact as possible to create the best plan for getting the body running better. No matter where we are — in better condition than we thought, or worse — knowing what the plan is to reach the goal provides a peace of mind.

There are numerous assessment “tests” or protocols.

It is not too late to join us on Facebook. Type “Year of the Challenge” into the search engine. We started Jan. 1 with the first of two monthly challenges. This week we will go over several means of self-assessment. Although it is highly recommended that a fitness professional do the assessment, some of us will shy away.

Self-assessment isn’t the most accurate appraisal when it comes to fitness, but it’s better than training without knowing anything concrete.

SparkPeople (sparkpeo ple.com) has a 4-step test that includes muscular endurance, strength and aerobic fitness. SHAPE magazine (shape.com) has a 16-step assessment overing strength, balance, flexibility and power.

All of my clients receive a functional movement screen (functionalmove ment.com) before we do a single exercise. A movement screen tells the fitness professional how the body is moving — if there are any asymmetries (one side of the body moving more efficiently than the other) that we need to correct before training.

After the movement screen, I know what needs to happen first. Maybe we can jump into an exercise program with a few crazy, sexy-cool exercises. Or, maybe there are some corrective exercises we need to get the body prepared for the work it is going to do. Either way, it will be a great start toward that goal.

Next: Arrrgh! So boring!

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Bryant holds several national training certifications, is an author, lectures internationally and is the founder of C.L.A.Y. — the Coalition for Launching Active Youth. His fitness tips appear bi-weekly in Health and Wellness.