What's VO2 max?
What's VO2 max?VO2 max, basically, is how efficiently you use oxygen when you're exercising. It is a person's maximal oxygen consumption -- determined by the volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute, the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, the amount of muscle you have, and the ability of the muscle to use supplied oxygen. The average 40-year-old female with no endurance-training experience may have a value of 30-35 ml/kg/min. Elite endurance athletes typically have VO2 max in excess of 80 ml/kg/min. With consistent endurance training, maximum oxygen consumption can be improved.
At the beginning of her Weight-Loss Diary, Renee's VO2 max was 24 ml/kg/min, which puts her aerobic fitness level in the "poor" category. Watch it rise as she challenges herself with her new trainer!
It's tricky to determine your VO2 max rate on your own, but someone at your gym (or your doctor) may be able to help you find a testing facility nearby.
