{"id":226299,"date":"2023-11-10T17:11:02","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T17:11:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-the-importance-of-body-composition-testing-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T15:46:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:46:28","slug":"blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Improve Your Aerobic Capacity with VO2 Max Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=&#8221;50px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Open Sans||||||||&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; ul_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Aerobic capacity is a great indicator of your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/biostrap.com\/academy\/aerobic-capacity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">overall health and fitness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">. Not only is aerobic capacity linked to better athletic performance, increased stamina, and a decreased risk of certain diseases, but it\u2019s also positively correlated with other areas of fitness such as muscular endurance, strength, and flexibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Since it\u2019s such a great all-around data point, it\u2019s important to understand what aerobic capacity is, as well as how we can work to improve it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at exactly that, as well as how you can use <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> to work towards improving your aerobic capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_aerobic_capacity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">What is aerobic capacity?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#What_is_aerobic_capacity\" >What is aerobic capacity?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Aerobic_vs_anaerobic_exercise\" >Aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#What_are_the_benefits_of_high_aerobic_capacity\" >What are the benefits of high aerobic capacity?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#How_do_you_assess_aerobic_capacity\" >How do you assess aerobic capacity?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#How_does_the_VO2_Max_test_work\" >How does the VO2 Max test work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#What_can_a_VO2_Max_test_tell_me\" >What can a VO2 Max test tell me?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#How_long_does_it_take_to_improve_aerobic_capacity\" >How long does it take to improve aerobic capacity?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#How_to_improve_your_aerobic_capacity_with_a_VO2_Max_test\" >How to improve your aerobic capacity with a VO2 Max test<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Step_1_Measure_your_baseline_VO2_Max\" >Step 1: Measure your baseline VO2 Max\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Step_2_Train_at_a_steady_state_to_improve_fat-burning\" >Step 2: Train at a steady state to improve fat-burning<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Step_3_Incorporate_high-intensity_workouts_to_boost_aerobic_capacity\" >Step 3: Incorporate high-intensity workouts to boost aerobic capacity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Step_4_Re-test_after_6-12_months_to_assess_improvement\" >Step 4: Re-test after 6-12 months to assess improvement\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/#Kickstart_improving_your_aerobic_capacity_with_a_VO2_Max_test_at_My_Vital_Metrics\" >Kickstart improving your aerobic capacity with a VO2 Max test at My Vital Metrics<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Aerobic capacity, also known as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, is the point at which the body uses the most oxygen it can, as efficiently as it can.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Aerobic capacity is closely related to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/veloforte.com\/blogs\/fuel-better\/what-is-aerobic-endurance-and-how-do-you-improve-it\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">aerobic endurance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> \u2013 the ability to exercise at a moderate intensity for an extended period. This means that aerobic capacity is a great way to estimate our overall cardiorespiratory fitness, and how intensely we can exercise before having to do so anaerobically (without oxygen).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Aerobic_vs_anaerobic_exercise\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Aerobic vs. anaerobic exercise\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Aerobic exercise, as the name suggests, is any exercise in which your body effectively processes oxygen to produce energy for your muscles. Steady-state cardio exercises such as walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling are examples of aerobic exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Anaerobic exercise, on the other hand, occurs without oxygen being used to produce energy. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/fitness-exercise\/anaerobic-exercise#benefits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Anaerobic exercise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> involves a short amount of high-energy activity, such as sprinting, weightlifting, HIIT, jump squats, etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Our anaerobic systems can generate fast bursts of energy \u2013 without oxygen \u2013 for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nuffieldhealth.com\/article\/what-is-aerobic-vs-anaerobic-training\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">intense exercise lasting roughly 0-120 seconds<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">. Since we aren\u2019t able to sustain anaerobic exercise for very long, it\u2019s advantageous to be able to maintain exercise aerobically for as long as possible \u2013 that is, to have a high aerobic capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_benefits_of_high_aerobic_capacity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">What are the benefits of high aerobic capacity?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A high aerobic capacity is indicative of increased cardiovascular performance. Some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/veloforte.com\/blogs\/fuel-better\/what-is-aerobic-endurance-and-how-do-you-improve-it\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">benefits of having a high aerobic capacity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Higher overall fitness level<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Increased stamina<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Better regulation of blood sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Better-controlled blood pressure<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Lowered cholesterol<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Increased fat-burning efficiency\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Boosted <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-benefits-of-fitness-testing-for-athletes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">athletic performance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_assess_aerobic_capacity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How do you assess aerobic capacity?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The most accurate method of assessing aerobic capacity is through a type of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-the-power-of-health-and-fitness-testing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">health and fitness test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> called the VO2 Max test.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a graded exercise test that measures your maximal oxygen uptake. The VO2 Max measures the maximum rate of oxygen that your body can use during intense exercise, measured in mL\/kg\/min.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_does_the_VO2_Max_test_work\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How does the VO2 Max test work?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The test takes approximately 20 mins to complete and can be carried out on either a treadmill or a stationary bike. The test-taker wears a face mask which measures the percentage of oxygen in inhaled and exhaled air throughout the test.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">After a warm-up, you will exercise at a gradually increasing intensity. This allows the test to assess how well your cardiorespiratory system adapts to working at different intensities. As you complete the test, you will reach a point at which your body transitions into working anaerobically \u2013 how quickly or slowly this occurs depends on how well your body processes oxygen during exercise.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Once your body hits this anaerobic threshold, you can continue to work at a higher intensity, but the amount of oxygen that is processed by your body won\u2019t increase. Shortly after reaching the anaerobic threshold, you will reach your VO2 Max, after which the test will conclude with a cool-down period.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_a_VO2_Max_test_tell_me\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">What can a VO2 Max test tell me?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A standard <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellfit.com\/what-is-vo2-max-3120097\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> can provide data about your cardiorespiratory fitness, including your maximum heart rate, respiratory rate, anaerobic threshold, maximal oxygen uptake, and aerobic capacity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Depending on the equipment used, some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">more advanced VO2 Max tests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> will also be able to give you information about your training zones and how your body processes fats and carbohydrates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">This information can be used to inform your training routine and how best you can work towards goals such as improving your aerobic capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_to_improve_aerobic_capacity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How long does it take to improve aerobic capacity?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The length of time it\u2019ll take you to improve your aerobic capacity and overall aerobic performance will depend on your training regime, your existing level of aerobic fitness, and the time you\u2019re able to dedicate to working on your aerobic capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">It\u2019s typically recommended to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">re-test your VO2 Max<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> after a period of 12 months \u2013 6 months if you\u2019re a professional athlete. This is to ensure you have sufficient time to train in a way that could lead to a marked improvement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_improve_your_aerobic_capacity_with_a_VO2_Max_test\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">How to improve your aerobic capacity with a VO2 Max test<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Now that we\u2019ve outlined what aerobic capacity is and how to test it, it\u2019s time to look at how you can get started improving your aerobic performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Measure_your_baseline_VO2_Max\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Step 1: Measure your baseline VO2 Max\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re looking to improve your VO2 Max, you will first need an accurate measurement of your aerobic capacity at present. The best way to achieve this is through a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, which assesses your body\u2019s ability to process oxygen during exercise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019ve already got a recent measurement of your VO2 Max, then you have the data you need to proceed to the next step. Otherwise, you can assess your VO2 Max by booking a VO2 Max test with a trusted provider or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">sports performance lab<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you don\u2019t have access to VO2 Max testing, you can get a rough estimate of your aerobic capacity by completing a test such as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellfit.com\/fitness-test-for-endurance-12-minute-run-3120264\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">12-minute run test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.topendsports.com\/testing\/tests\/20mshuttle.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Beep test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, neither of which requires any specialist equipment to complete.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Some fitness trackers such as Garmin or Apple will have a predicted VO2 Max figure. How accurate this figure is will depend on how similar you are to the original population which was used to create the correlations. Unfortunately, because each company considers this a trade secret, it\u2019s impossible to know how accurate these figures are unless we \u2018calibrate\u2019 them against a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">lab-based VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Train_at_a_steady_state_to_improve_fat-burning\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Step 2: Train at a steady state to improve fat-burning<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Low-intensity steady state (LISS) training involves maintaining a steady rate of exercise over a long period \u2013 for example, walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling at a rate you can easily maintain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In addition to lowering the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.everydayhealth.com\/fitness\/liss-cardio\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">LISS workouts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> are accessible for beginners and help to build endurance for higher-intensity workouts. Low-intensity workouts also tend to need less recovery time and enhance the body&#8217;s ability to use fat as a fuel source \u2013 which both promotes weight loss and allows the body to use carbohydrates as fuel at higher intensities efficiently.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">So, while they won\u2019t directly improve your aerobic capacity, aerobic training workouts such as LISS can be a great way to pave the way to high-intensity workouts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Incorporate_high-intensity_workouts_to_boost_aerobic_capacity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Step 3: Incorporate high-intensity workouts to boost aerobic capacity<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acefitness.org\/resources\/pros\/expert-articles\/6464\/8-things-to-know-about-aerobic-capacity-and-how-to-improve-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">High-intensity workouts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> \u2013 such as HIIT (high-intensity interval training), running, speed walking, circuit training, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/foreverfitscience.com\/exercise-science\/how-to-improve-your-aerobic-capacity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">sprint interval training<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, Tabata training, jump rope, and stair-climbing \u2013 are essential to increasing your aerobic capacity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">High-intensity training that requires you to work at, or nearly work at, your anaerobic threshold, will help you to improve your VO2 Max by improving all the pathways by which your body takes on and processes oxygen. From your lungs getting better at taking in air, to your heart pumping more blood around your body, the effects of high-intensity exercise will improve all the systems responsible for producing energy for your muscles as you work out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">One way of incorporating high-intensity training is through <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/fitness-exercise\/a-z\/high-intensity-interval-training-hiit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">high-intensity interval training (HIIT)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, which incorporates short bursts of exercise punctuated with brief rest periods. These bursts of high-intensity exercise \u2013 performed at 80-90% of your max heart rate \u2013 have been shown to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17414804\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">improve your aerobic capacity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, improve blood flow, and lower your resting heart rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re trying to assess the intensity of a workout, a good rule of thumb t is the talk test \u2013 at a high-intensity level, you should only be able to speak a few words at a time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Re-test_after_6-12_months_to_assess_improvement\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Step 4: Re-test after 6-12 months to assess improvement\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">When it comes to checking in on your progress, wait at least 6-12 months before re-assessing your aerobic capacity with a VO2 Max test.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">6 months may be an appropriate time frame if you\u2019re training professionally, or have significant time and energy to dedicate to working on your cardiorespiratory fitness. Otherwise, 12 months is a great time to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">book a re-test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> and see the results of your hard work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Kickstart_improving_your_aerobic_capacity_with_a_VO2_Max_test_at_My_Vital_Metrics\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Kickstart improving your aerobic capacity with a VO2 Max test at My Vital Metrics<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Whether you\u2019re an athlete looking to boost your cardiovascular performance or at the start of your fitness journey, getting an accurate assessment of your cardiovascular fitness is a great way to plan your next move.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Here at <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">My Vital Metrics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, we offer the gold standard in cardiovascular and body composition testing, designed to give you the data you need to unlock your body\u2019s full potential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">To get started with improving your aerobic capacity, reach out to My Vital Metrics to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">book a VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> or to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">schedule your free fitness and nutrition consultation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> today!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aerobic capacity is a great indicator of your overall health and fitness. Not only is aerobic capacity linked to better athletic performance, increased stamina, and a decreased risk of certain diseases, but it\u2019s also positively correlated with other areas of fitness such as muscular endurance, strength, and flexibility.\u00a0 Since it\u2019s such a great all-around data [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":807462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[59,37,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-226299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-and-fitness-testing","category-performance","category-vo2max"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=226299"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":807463,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/226299\/revisions\/807463"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/807462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=226299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=226299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=226299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}