Your appointment
How to prepare for your VO₂ Max test
You're booked. This is the gold-standard measurement of your aerobic fitness, and a leading marker of longevity. Here's everything you need to arrive ready to perform, and exactly what to expect on the day.
What your test will tell you
Your VO₂ max
The single best measure of cardiorespiratory fitness, and a powerful predictor of long-term health.
Your training zones
Personalised heart-rate zones so you train with precision, not guesswork.
Your fat-max zone
The exact intensity where your body burns fat most efficiently.
The gold-standard way to understand your aerobic limits, then break through them. Train at the right intensities with objective data, not guesswork.
First: complete your medical questionnaire
We've emailed you a medical questionnaire that's unique to your booking. Please complete that one. It links your answers to your appointment automatically.
- Check your inbox for it, and don't forget your spam / junk folder, as it can sometimes land there.
- Complete it as soon as possible, and before your test. We can't proceed with your appointment until it's done.
- Can't find it? Contact us and we'll resend your link straight away.
What to expect on the day
Your appointment lasts around one hour. The maximal test itself is short, just 15-20 minutes. Here's how it flows:
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Welcome & waiver
You'll review and sign your testing consent form.
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Your briefing
We explain exactly what's going to happen, walk you through the test, and cover all safety guidance. Questions welcome.
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Heart-rate monitor & warm-up
We fit your chest-strap heart-rate monitor and you warm up on the treadmill.
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Your protocol
The test is programmed specifically for you, based on your profile, not a one-size-fits-all setting.
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Mask on
We fit the face mask that measures your breathing.
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The test
You walk, then run at gradually increasing intensity until you reach your limit. We also capture your recovery data in the minutes immediately after. You're in full control the whole time, and fully supervised from start to finish.
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Your debrief
Before you leave, we share your preliminary VO₂ max result and talk you through some of your data on the spot.
A note on your environment: depending on your location, your test may take place in an open, working gym rather than a private room. It's still fully supervised and your results stay completely confidential. You may simply be testing alongside other gym members. Prefer a quieter slot? Just let us know.
Your results
You'll get your preliminary VO₂ max figure and a first look at your data at the end of your test. We then take your data away to analyse it properly, and your full, detailed report lands in your inbox within 48 hours.
Your prep checklist
Your physiology shifts through the day: sleep, caffeine, hydration, recent meals and training all move the numbers. Standardising your condition before each test makes sure your result reflects your true fitness, not a short-term fluctuation. Follow this:
What to wear & bring
Wear
Comfortable exercise clothing and proper running trainers, as you'll be on a treadmill at full effort.
Bring
A water bottle, a small towel, and your inhaler if you use one.
Please tell us if…
Your safety comes first. Let us know, before or on the day, if any of these apply:
- You feel unwell or have any infection. If you wake up ill, contact us to reschedule rather than push through.
- You're carrying an injury.
- You take beta-blockers or heart / blood-pressure medication. Don't stop any medication. Just tell us, as it can affect your heart-rate response.
- You have a heart condition or any history of chest pain.
- You are pregnant.
Your confirmation email has your specific location, address and arrival details.
Any questions before the day? We're here to help.