Garmin VO2 max

amsuraj

What does VO2 max of 38 mean?

sweetdaisy13

If you're using the Garmin Connect App, go to: Menu / Performance Stats / VO2 Max and then click on 'Help' and there should be a description on there explaining what it means.

The range of readings is based on whether you are male/female, your age and the activities you do etc. Also, your VO2 Max may differ depending on whether you are running or cycling.

I'm assuming you are male from your profile picture (apologies if I'm wrong), but without knowing your age I don't know what a VO2 of 38 means for you. But it's on the Garmin Connect App and should tell you if it's average, good, excellent etc.

sijomial

Remember that true VO2 max is measured (by breath analysis while exercising) - the maximal amount of oxygen you can uptake, over time, by body weight to get a reading so Garmin is just trying to estimate that.
It's using your exercise performance to back estimate roughly what oxygen uptake capabilities you are likely to need to achieve that performance.
For cycling it needs a power meter. I find it a reasonable track of my fitness but you can maniplulate it to a degree by the intensity at which you exercise, last month was predominantly endurance focussed for me and doesn't really push my score up according to Garmin as much as high intensity work.

As a fitness rating it's also age related, 38 wouldn't be very good for someone in their 20's but would be great for someone in their 70's.
If you look at the Garmin Connect app on your phone (under Performance Stats) it will give you an age related rating.

Three ways to improve your score:
Maintain your fitness and get older (as I turned 60 my rating went from Good to Excellent overnight!)
Maintain your fitness and get lighter (same oxygen uptake for less bodyweight = higher score)
Improve your fitness / exercise performance.