low fitness score

mattylevan

Hi,

I've just signed up to this site as I have a fitness question. I just took a fit test using the stationary bike at the gym and it gave my score as low, which surprised me. I'd like to think it was machine error but I've got the same result several times.

I do
interval training on the stationary bike or treadmill 3x a week
running outside 2x a week
hillwalking 8-12 miles 1x a week
weights 3x a week
yoga class 1x a week

I would have thought that would be enough to get me to at least a moderate level of fitness but apparently either it is doing me no good at all or without it I would be getting out of breath each time I stand up. What is going on?

Azdak

The most likely answer is that your max heart rate is higher than the standard number estimated by a "220-age" formula. The sub max test looks at your HR response to a set workload and from that, projects your VO2 max.

Since the age-predicted HRmax is considered the end point, of your actual HRmax is higher, it will assume the exaggerated HR response is due to a lack of fitness. There's nothing wrong with you -- you just have to realize that this type of test will always underestimate your fitness level.

mattylevan

Thank you that makes sense. I'm 36 so my maximum should be 184 and I'm sure I've got up to 190 a few times with no ill effects.

Azdak

I have had this conversation more than a few times with clients after their assessments. It can be frustrating because everyone wants a "score", but the body is not always accommodating.