Metabolic Test Results

So this morning i had my second round of metabolic testing completed.  The first was in early October last year.  The two big tests were the RMR (resting metabolic rate) and VO2 Max (or peak) which is the maximum volume of oxygen your body absorbs per minute at your threshold.

I saw improvements in both areas, my RMR went from 1891 calories per day to 1992 calories per day at the same weight (within one pound, 238).  This is how many calories per day i will burn without doing anything else (i.e., lay in bed all day).  The increase is indicative of increased lean muscle mass.  I was pretty happy with this.  With an adjustment for light activity (as i have a desk job), my daily caloric goal without exercise is now 2590 calories per day.  I typically track anywhere from 2100 to 2600 calories today, so i feel pretty good about that.

On the VO2 max front, i went from an anabolic threshold of 161 beats per min in October to 169 beats per min this morning, and my VO2 max went from 48 ml/kg/min to 53.6 ml/kg/min.  This was a pretty good jump and represents a jump from the 70th percentile in October to > 90th percentile in my age category today.  I attribute this to my longer training and intervals, the only way to increase your aerobic capacity is to increase your intensity, the easiest way to do that is via intervals or repeats.

Overall i feel great about the results, and it is pretty important to know your stats if you would like to focus on improvements vs. generally being fit (which is an incredible goal in itself and i DO NOT want to downplay general fitness in the least).  Also, knowing your RMR is important piece of information in your arsenal if you are struggling with maintenance.

Bill

Congrats on the improvements!

And thanks for enlightening me on these topics.  I'm definitely curious now.  Did you do these tests at the gym or with a physician?

Sue,
Just found this in Middletown, CT

http://www.charlescoaching.net/PhysiologicalTesting.html

i did it at my gym (Lifetime Fitness), to be honest, this is the only gym that i've been a member of that did this type of testing (other than the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, NIFs in Indy).  I'm sure there are medical facilities/universities in most areas that do this type of testing for a fee.

Very cool info Bill,

Congrats on your improvements.

If you don't mind, what are the charges like for this testing?

Scott

the first round was more expensive as i had to buy the mask (which is reusable), it was in the 200 to 300 buck range all-in.  this round was around 100 dollars (they gave me a 2 for 1 as well on the tests).  it's an investment for sure, but worth it for my personal piece of mind.  as an insight into my head, i'm a very data driven kindof guy (being in the IT and business world professionally) so i feel uncomfortable with blind trial and error, i'm much better with base information and then trial and error.

Great stuff Bill... Congrats on the tremendous gains!

I had one of those done when I was on assignment in Seattle in 2005.  It was pretty interesting.  Had by body fat % done at N.I.F. last summer...that place rocks doesn't it?  Need to get back there and have it tested again.

Duane