VO2 Testing

Your oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange are measured during a treadmill or cycle test. You wear a mask over your nose and mouth which is attached to a computer to make this happen. Your VO2 at anaerobic threshold and peak is identified and your correlating heart rate at every stage of the test. Total calories burned and type of calories burned are also identified at every stage of the test.

The test identifies your heart rate zones to train within for optimal performance. The customized interval heart rate training program is the most efficient, effective way to train for results.

Increasing your anaerobic threshold is one of the main goals of cardiovascular training. Your body has an intensity threshold; below the threshold it can supply adequate oxygen to your muscles, above it your body's metabolism changes and the workout becomes anaerobic.

The higher the intensity you train (near your anaerobic threshold) and are able to remain aerobic, the more calories you will burn with a higher percentage of those calories coming from fat. This is one reason why one of the main goals of cardiovascular training is to increase your anaerobic threshold.

Training in all 3 of your true heart rate zones, below AT, at AT, and above AT is necessary to continue to push your performance up.

VO2 Testing Results

A 2 page report is provided to you at the end of your test with all your objective and quantitative data on it. Your heart rate and VO2 at every stage of your test as well as total calories burned and type of calories at every stage of your test are included. The results also identify when you reach your AT and your VO2 at AT and peak. All this information is utilized to create your customized interval heart rate training program. An overall Fitness Score is reported along with your 2 minute recovery rate, and your body mass index. Check out our sample 2 page report. Jon Gilchrist, runner, and Alan Charley, cyclist, share their results online.