VO2 testing and calorie burning

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WombatHat42
WombatHat42 Posts: 192 Member
edited March 3 in Fitness and Exercise
So I have a couple questions. My uni offers for free VO2 testing(as well as bod pod body fat test which I have done) and I am curious as to what I could use that data for, anyone know? I know it can be used to help make a more efficient workout, but can it be used to make calculating calories burned more accurately? If not, what is the best way to calculate calories burned(dont have the money for an HRM) since many say MFP's is on the high side.

In a couple weeks I will join a HIIT course, yoga and pilates and think I will get a trainer once I am cleared by my surgeon/physical therapist to do so. So at that time I will burn a lot of calories a week but for now I can only swim which I do for about an hour-1.5 via breaststroke/freestyle and backstroke. My routine that I do atm is 25yard lap pool 30-40second sprint with breaststroke/freestyle(legs used regular kick), 30-40 sprint back with backstroke(no legs used or frog kick), rest 90-120seconds and repeat for the full 1-1.5hours. and my HR is flying for that whole time since I havent been able to do cardio for a month or 2. MFP says 1hour is ~850 calories(freestyle @ light/moderate pace).

Replies

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    Dude. If you don't want to use it, can I?

    Lol.

    Ok, VO2 max is useful when training for endurance sports.

    The bod pod though? That's your Lean mass and body fat percentage. For anyone trying to lose weight and not end up skinny fat, that's useful data to have.

    Consider if benchmarking, and if it is free, do it once a quarter so you can chart your performance.

    As for swim burn, use your heart rate monitor, and then only consider about 80% of the burn. I can tool up pretty high calorie counts for 1 - 1.5 hour sessions in the pool, but my big mistake is eating in a manner that outpaces them, don't do that, eat less.

    Swimming is the balls, go to it man, that's going to pay in spades for the HIIT stuff.
  • WombatHat42
    WombatHat42 Posts: 192 Member
    I have done the bod pod(most accurate way for bf%) and I was around 38.6% -_- before my injury I was mid 20 range. This costs 20/time so I will go back at the end of october i think.

    Would knowing the VO2 help determine cal burned? I do not have a monitor, just got back to work and have credit card bills to pay so it would be a while before I can get one.

    Good Idea with the 80% i will keep that in mind. I have only swam 2x this week, sat/sun because classes and work started so I am trying to work that into my schedule, the lap pool is only open for a short period during the day so hard to find a hole in my schedule. The days I did swim I was either at orbelow my cal goal didnt go over.
  • abadvat
    abadvat Posts: 1,241 Member
    Assume that by having your VO2 max you can calculate your heart rate training zones.
    If you train with a HRM you will be able to manually calibrate it with specific data instead of assumptions.

    Eventually with your bod pod results you can recalculate the above based on fluctuations of your BF / LBM / overall weight.
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