Why Blood Testing May Be a Helpful Part of Your Fitness Strategy
When you’re working on improving your fitness — whether that means getting stronger, feeling better, or simply being more consistent — most of the focus naturally goes to your workouts and your nutrition. But there’s another layer that can sometimes add helpful insight: your internal health markers.
That’s where blood testing comes in. And while it's not essential for everyone, it can be a useful tool for individuals who want to gain a deeper understanding of how their body responds to training, nutrition, and stress.
What Blood Testing Can Tell You
Even if you feel pretty good day to day, your body may be sending subtle signals that something’s off. Standard blood tests with your primary care provider are a great starting point — and for many people, they’re all that’s needed.
But depending on your goals, lifestyle, or concerns, more advanced blood testing can reveal details that typical annual labs may not catch.
Some examples of what advanced blood panels can uncover:
Low-grade inflammation: Chronic stress or overtraining can elevate markers like hs-CRP, which aren't always tested in routine labs.
Micronutrient deficiencies: You may be eating well but still have low vitamin D, B12, iron, or magnesium — all of which can impact energy and recovery.
Hormone fluctuations: Testosterone, thyroid function, and cortisol levels can affect sleep, metabolism, and mood.
Blood sugar trends: Glucose and HbA1c can provide early insight into how your body is handling carbs and stress over time.
You don’t need to be sick to benefit from this kind of information — but it’s especially helpful if you’ve hit a plateau, feel “off” without knowing why, or are experimenting with different nutrition or training strategies.
How Often Should You Test?
If you're just getting started, once or twice per year is often enough to establish a baseline and track changes over time.
That said, you don’t have to do advanced testing to be successful. Many people make great progress with consistency in training, balanced eating, and the occasional doctor visit. Blood testing is just one more tool — not a requirement.
Where to Get Blood Testing (Beyond Your Doctor’s Office)
Your primary care doctor can run important labs, and you should absolutely take advantage of that — especially if you're working with a medical condition, have specific symptoms, or want your results reviewed in a clinical setting.
But if you're looking for a broader or more proactive view, there are a few direct-to-consumer services that go deeper into performance, recovery, and preventative health.
Here are a few options to consider:
Function Health – Offers a full-body lab panel with over 100 biomarkers, reviewed by a physician. Great for people interested in prevention and long-term optimization.
Thorne – Advanced Health Panel – In-lab testing of 89 biomarkers, including hormones, inflammation, and nutrient status. A good fit for athletes or anyone wanting a detailed snapshot.
InsideTracker – Combines bloodwork with performance-focused guidance for aging, recovery, and training.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means we may receive compensation if you sign up through them. We only include services we believe provide meaningful value and transparency in health tracking.
Final Thoughts
Advanced blood testing isn’t necessary for everyone, but it can be a useful option — especially if you’re someone who likes to measure progress, fine-tune your health, or better understand what’s working (and what’s not).
Think of it like tracking your workouts or using a heart rate monitor — not required, but sometimes helpful for gaining deeper insight and staying one step ahead.
If you’re curious, the options above are a good place to start exploring.