Fitness Experts

Health, Wellness, Fitness, & Sports Performance

Take the guess work out of weight loss!

Weight loss can be challenging.  People always ask us “How much should I eat?” or “How hard should I exercise?”, and most fitness professionals can only answer those questions by estimating your body’s metabolism and heart rate zones.

At PEAK Athletics we utilize a machine called the Cardio Coach made by Korr Medical that can remove all the estimating and guess work on weight loss and cardiovascular conditioning.  We can tell you exactly how many calories your body needs and exactly what heart rate you need to maintain to burn the most fat or to improve cardiovascular conditioning.

Indirect calorimetry (a measurement of metabolic rate) relies on the fact that burning 1 calorie (Kilocalorie) requires 208.06 milliliters of oxygen. Because of this very direct relationship between caloric burn and oxygen consumed, measurements of oxygen uptake (VO2) and caloric burn rate are virtually interchangeable. Oxygen uptake requires a precise measurement of the volume of expired air and of the concentrations of oxygen in the inspired and expired air. The process requires that all of the air a person breathes out be collected and analyzed while they rest quietly. The KORR™ indirect calorimeters contain a precision air flow sensor that measures the volume of expired air, and an oxygen sensor that measures the concentration of oxygen. Once the factors of humidity, temperature and relative humidity are accounted for, the KORR™ instrument provides the most accurate results available in a compact metabolic analyzer.

A complete VO2 Fitness test can give our trainers and clients the tools to set realistic goals and assess improvement. Studies show that previously sedentary people training at 75% of aerobic power for 30 minutes, 3 times a week over 6 months increase VO2 Max an average of 15-20%. Many people are inefficient exercisers, with no understanding of what specific heart rate, intensity or duration would best help them reach their specific goals such as fat burning, endurance training, or cardio conditioning. An initial VO2 Max test can clarify the specific target heart rates that will enable each individual to reach their fitness goals more effectively, with less fatigue and fewer injuries. Periodic retesting provides motivating feedback as the fitness program progresses.

The test also determines the number of calories burned during every level of exercise, providing valuable information when designing a weight loss program. And since CO2 is measured during the test, a Respiratory Exchange Ratio (RER) can determine the proportion of energy coming from carbohydrates and fats at various levels of exercise intensity. Since physical conditioning and exercise intensity affect these proportions, this information can be very helpful when we design a workout intended to burn fat.

Give us a call or drop a message to schedule your test today.

Ryan Gillespie – Owner

910-399-7220

Ryan@peakathleticsnc.com