VO2max testing is very popular these days in the worlds of health, wellness, and longevity. This testing is also becoming increasingly popular for corporate professionals, leaders, and business owners looking to maximize their fitness and wellness investment.
What the heck is VO2max Testing anyway?
Think of VO2max as your body’s cardiovascular horsepower. The name describes its function clearly V=Volume. O2=Oxygen, and max=maximal. This means that VO2max is the maximal volume of oxygen your body can use during intense activity.
VO2max Testing is the Gold Standard in Cardiovascular Performance
VO2max has been the gold standard for measuring cardiovascular performance in athletes for many decades. However, recent research has provided new insights into the value of improving VO2max for every human being, not just elite athletes.
The good news is that previously, VO2max testing has been limited to the world’s top exercise physiology and testing labs, but now this gold standard testing is readily available to every person that’s willing to invest a small sum into their future health and fitness.
Most importantly, anyone who wants to have more energy, perform better in life, and life longer will benefit from knowing, understanding, and improving their VO2max. Check out our testing services here.
Dr. Peter Attia and VO2max TEsting
An avalanche of recent interest in VO2max by people outside the traditional elite athlete field was created by the influential physician and longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia. In his book Outlive, Dr. Attia discusses how VO2max is one of the strongest single predictors of longevity and is one of his 4 Foundations: Stability (The Foundation), Strength, Zone 2 (Aerobic), and Zone 5 (VO2max).
Dr. Peter Attia’s 4 Foundations align well with Pillar 3 of my own 4 Pillars of Performance. In order of importance, those are: Mindset, Habits, Movement, and Fuel. My Movement Pillar includes all of Dr. Peter Attia’s foundations. A detailed description of those is for another post, but you can learn more from my 4 book series titled, “The Fitness Curveball, How to Hit a Grand Slam in Health and Happiness, No Matter What Life Throws at You”. It’s also on Amazon. If video is better for you, check out my on-demand 4 Pillars of Performance video series at www.freshgroup.ca/learn.
The Science Behind VO2max
The science behind VO2max is very well established and more great researchers around the globe such as Iñigo San-Millán, and Olav Aleksander Bu have been shining a light on the benefits and training strategies for VO2max and aerobic performance, particularly zone 2 (aerobic endurance), and zone 5 (VO2max). The key is to ensure you have a strong aerobic base as well, and ideally prior to working on VO2max.
Boosting our zone 2 aerobic efficiency and zone 5 VO2max numbers can do wonders for our health, brainpower, and not just our longevity (lifespan), but the critical value of “healthspan”.
Healthspan refers to the wellbeing and quality of the life we live. There’s no doubt that people are living longer these days, but far too many people are spending those last years of their life ravaged by chronic (and largely preventable) health conditions.
Doing the work needed to improve your VO2max is kind of like having a supercharger for your body’s engine. Your heart and cardiovascular system become more efficient and resilient. This comes in handy in many ways, including when the stress and pressure are high in work and life.
I’m a firm believer that we are all athletes in “the sport of life”. We may just be “competing” at different levels and with different goals from life. Training your brain and body for health, fitness, and resilience allow you to tackle each day with more energy, less stress, and a clearer, more focussed mindset. That’s what improving your VO2max can offer. It’s not just about getting physically fitter; it’s about upgrading your overall performance, both within and outside of the office.
So how do you test your VO2max?
Well, there are lots of estimations and algorithms online and in fitness trackers that will provide you a ballpark for your VO2max. The downside is those numbers are gross estimates and are quite often erroneous. Additionally, these numbers on their own only show you a small portion of the health, fitness, and performance picture.
The best way to find out your VO2max is to conduct a lab quality VO2max test (like the ones offered at FRESH!). The test itself is pretty straightforward and takes less than 20 minutes within a standard one hour appointment. Most tests are done on a treadmill, but can also be completed on a bike, stair climber, or rowing machine.
The VO2max test is designed to take you from rest (slow walk) to maximum effort in around 10-15 minutes. This is long enough to make the increase in effort gradual, but short enough to ensure general fatigue doesn’t impact your peak output results.
The best part about doing a lab quality VO2max test is that you not only receive your accurate VO2max number, but also your unique “fuel mixture” at every heart rate level. By fuel mixture, I mean the ratio of fat to carbohydrates you are using at every heart rate level throughout the test.
This is definitely the most important result from the test because it shows you how efficient your aerobic and anaerobic systems are, what type of training program is best for you based on your goals, and highlights your specific and unique heart rate zones to optimize your training plan.
Between finding your unique and specific heart rate zones, determining your current VO2max, getting a highly personalized perspective on your health, metabolic efficiency, and customized training recommendations, a VO2max test can be one of the best investments you make in your health, wellbeing, and longevity…assuming you take action on the results and do the work needed to improve.
That work will depend on what your current “metabolic snapshot” looks like, and what your goals are. Remember, you don’t have to be an elite athlete to benefit from VO2max testing. As Dr. Peter Attia mentions, VO2max is a key indicator of health and longevity. Investing time in training VO2max is a great way to live a healthier, happier, more vibrant life.
Do you know YOUR numbers?
To learn more about VO2max testing, and the related RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) testing, check out the Metabolic Testing Services at FRESH!. We’ve been doing this type of testing for over 20 years and have helped thousands of people from elite athletes and corporate professionals, to health conscious seniors.
An exciting recent development is that companies are beginning to embrace VO2max and RMR testing for their employees and leadership teams as part of improving biometric awareness and leadership performance.
These smart companies are beginning to roll out wellness programs that go beyond the traditional passive programs. They are implementing proactive components such as VO2max testing that actually create positive, measurable change in human performance.
Why? Because these organizations understand that a team that’s healthy, happy, and full of energy is good for business! It’s about creating a culture where wellbeing (not just wellness features) is part of the success story.
Improving your VO2max can be a game-changer. It’s not just about preparing for a long, healthy life; it’s about being at your best right now, thriving in the daily bustle of work and life.
For those of us navigating the corporate world, measuring and tracking changes in your VO2max is an invitation to redefine what success looks like. To put yourself in a great position to enjoy the journey, tackle challenges head-on, and take control over strategic markers that are directly within your control.
Are you ready to make VO2max part of your strategy for a vibrant, energetic, and fulfilling life? Book your test here. Not ready yet? Learn more here.
Think, Move, and Be Well.
Tim Borys
CEO
FRESH! Group
Comments
I learned about VO2max when I was in college. It is very complicated, but you explained it so well. I wish I could measure my Vo2MAX. I will have to look into seeing if my insurance covers this testing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and for the feedback!