Is fitness testing useful?

distinctlybeautiful

I have access to free wellness center services. I've had my body composition analyzed multiple times and had my metabolism tested once, and now I'm wondering about fitness testing. I might do it just for kicks, but I'm wondering if there's real benefit as described on their website. This is how they describe the service:

"FITNESS TESTING

There are four components of physical fitness: cardiovascular fitness, muscular fitness, flexibility, and body composition. The Fitness Test at AWC Bavaria assesses all four components and gives you a comprehensive overview of your current health status.

What are the Benefits?

Using state of the art testing such as direct gas VO2 max, the AWC staff can determine when your body burns fat and when it transitions to burning carbohydrates. A personalized exercise regimen based on true VO2 max is essential to optimum cardio training. If you have ever wanted to run faster or longer, we can tell you exactly what you need to do and where you need to train. Knowing the unique anaerobic threshold will be used to design a workout plan that will improve fitness and maximize calories burned.

What will the test consist of?

Your fitness assessment will consist of either walking or running test on a treadmill, or a cycling test on a specially designed exercise bike. The test will last approximately 8-12 minutes, and will measure the amount of oxygen you use while you exercise. By monitoring your heart rate while we measure the oxygen you are consuming, we can then tell you what your optimum heart rate for exercise is, and how many calories you burn at that heart rate. In addition, we will measure your body composition, back strength, grip strength, and your flexibility. Then we will give you all the results in a comprehensive report and give you recommendations based on your goals and the assessments."

Azdak

If you have access to this type of testing, and it sounds like you have an interest in these things, then there is benefit to having this data. Not necessarily the way it's described, but you can gain insight into how your body works.

Is it absolutely necessary? Of course not. Will you get life-changing information? Likely not. However, it will allow you to fine tune your training, esp if you have an actual HR max that is substantially different from your age-predicted number.

The only issue is the that it sounds like they will try to push the "fat burning" idea at you. Just keep in mind that the fuel you burn during exercise has no effect on weight loss.

That being said, knowing your "fat burning zone" has value. Optimal training consists of workouts at a variety of intensities. People have a tendency to work too hard on their endurance days. So knowing your endurance training level and your threshold levels will have some value.

sijomial

I had a VO2 max test and found it useful and interesting.

Useful:
Allowed me to set up training zones accurately.
Allowed me to customise my HRM settings, calorie counts for suitable cardio became pretty accurate (when judged against power meters).
Knowing what my max HR really was gave me confidence on big hill climbs that although I felt like death was imminent I still had a safety margin.
Knowing the HR where my fuel ratio was 50/50 fat/carbs gave a good guideline for what is a sustainable level for all day cycle rides. (It was c.130bpm by the way, my min is 48, max was 176.)

Interesting:
Just found the process and subsequent data analysis interesting, a chance to learn something.
I like a challenge and pushing to your absolute maximum is a real challenge (exercise induced asthma and felt like I'd been hit by a truck for next three days.....)


By the way if you are a runner do the test running, if you are a cyclist do it on the bike. I'm a bit wary that some places stop the test early and then try to make a projection. Mine was to failure with no time limit (took 23 minutes which means I should have started at a higher level than I did as fatigue starts to have an influence).

Body composition analysis I'm less enthused about - all methods have pros cons and variable accuracy.

distinctlybeautiful

Thanks! Regarding body composition analysis, I understand it's not totally accurate, but I figure even if it's not exact it's a fairly good measure of progress if I'm using the same method every time.

Bakins929

I am a data geek, so I would totally go for it. As @sijomial said, you can get some useful information out of it. And the fact that it is free, gives you really nothing to lose.

NorthCascades

If it's free, do it. For the experience if nothing else. You'll be able to chat with the techs while they perform the tests and ask questions that are important to you.

Your VO2max "is" your fitness in the cardio realm. Which means it's a good thing to test, but that also means it's not a stable thing like your height or eye color. I have mine quasi-measured every time I run or ride my bike. I don't really do anything with the number, but it's interesting to chart over time and see how the exercise I'm doing actually affects my fitness.