really bad VO2 max

cheers for the reply joe,

I hear what you're saying about not giving any specific numbers but I
suppose I had made the assumption that my vo2 max was at least at an
average level whilst I was exercising and now it is rather poor in the
space of only three months. I didn't think my fitness level would drop
that quickly.

Just got myself a turbo trainer so I can ride my bike indoors in front
of the telly so now to see how long it takes to get my vo2 max level up
to something a little more acceptable.

cheers,
gavin.
 >> Stay informed about: really bad VO2 max 

"blokedownpub" <gavin.DeleteThis@phatmoon.com> wrote in message
news:1162846636.938856.107590@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm 34 years old and just had a fitness assesment through work and
> they
> gave me a VO2 max test. It didn't involve exercise. It involved
> getting
> me to stand up and then measuring my heart rate. My score was a rather
> poor 24.
>
> What I don't understand is that earlier this year I trained for and
> then completed a charity cycle ride from Paris to the south of England
> (approx 240miles) in less than four days.
>
> Also I played squash and badminton once a week until about three
> months
> ago when I got tennis elbow.
>
> So for about 3 months I've done nothing.
>
> So my question is... can my fitness really drop off that quickly? I
> don't know what my VO2 max score was when I was doing exercise but I'm
> sure it can't have been that bad.
>
> Any advice greatly appreciated.
> Gavin.

Gavin, do a bit of reading on VO2 Max. You will find, e.g., that even
among world-class runners, some have a significantly higher number than
others, but those with a lower number are much more efficient in their
use of oxygen and thus the end result in terms of performance is
similar.

Second, one's fitness really does drop off quickly, but the good news is
that getting it back is usually not as difficult as acquiring it the
first time around.

Advice? The best training program is the one you actually do. Find
something you enjoy, take what steps you need to train intelligently
without overtraining and injury, and enjoy your good health.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com
 >> Stay informed about: really bad VO2 max 

blokedownpub wrote:
> I hear what you're saying about not giving any specific numbers but I
> suppose I had made the assumption that my vo2 max was at least at an
> average level whilst I was exercising

Maybe. Maybe not.

> and now it is rather poor in the space of only three months.

If you want a better estimate of your current VO2 max, you might
consider one of a number of tests that can be self-administered. See
"Aerobic Endurance - VO2 max" at
http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/eval.htm .

Among those tests, I think the Balke Incremental Treadmill and Rockport
Fitness tests require the least training since they are both walking
tests. I tried both today, and they yielded similar results for me.
(Surprise!) I think Balke is the less demanding of the two. But it
does require stong legs to "climb" the incline. Moreover, I reached
the treadmill inclination limit before I reached my physical limits, so
I had to stop the test early (but not by much). I performed Rockport
on a treadmill instead of an oval track, as the test protocol
specifies. I conclude that might not be valid. I could feel the
treadmill pull my legs sometimes when I might have eased up slightly.
(To avoid that, I added some inclination toward the end of the test;
not really part of the protocol.)

Of course, without respiration analysis, none of these tests are very
accurate. They all depend on statistical averages that were derived
using regression analysis of sampling data. But the two tests above
are certainly no less accurate than a non-exercise(!) test.

Having said all this, I confess that I think it is much ado about
nothing. VO2 max might be helpful for improving the performance of top
athletes. But for most of us, it is little more than an academic
curiosity.
 >> Stay informed about: really bad VO2 max