Resting Metabolic Rate Testing
What is Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)?
Metabolism, quite simply, is the conversion of food to energy. Metabolic rate is a measure of how much food, or fat, is converted to energy in a day. Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is the measurement of how much food, or energy, is required to maintain basic body functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and maintenance of body heat while you are in a state of rest. That energy is expressed in calories per day. So an RMR measurement shows how many calories you burn at rest, doing nothing more than sitting in a chair.
Synergy Fitness and Wellness offers metabolic testing to customize your exercise and weight management programs. We perform VO2 Max testing to precisely determine your specific target heart rates to allow you to exercise efficiently. A personalized cardio-aerobic exercise program is developed for you based on the results of the VO2 Max testing to improve your cardiovascular health and fitness, help you lose weight and maximize your results.
We also perform Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing to determine exactly how many calories you should consume a day to reach your weight loss goals. Based on the results of your RMR testing we will develop a personalized weight loss program including preference based Registered Dietician created daily meal plans and grocery lists which are available on your mobile device or computer.
How Metabolic Testing Works
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 you breathe out be collected and analyzed while you 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.
Why Test Metabolic Rate?
- For effective nutritional planning!
- Proof of “normal” metabolism: Taking a measurement accurately determines metabolism. Seeing that your body burns calories normally can be very encouraging and motivating.
- Stabilize weight loss: Regardless of the method used to lose weight your RMR will decrease after weight loss. This makes it very easy for you to re-gain weight.
- Pinpoint caloric weight loss zone: RMR holds great value when planning an effective nutrition program. When restricting calories, knowing a baseline RMR is invaluable. KORR Metabolic Analyzers calculate a “weight loss zone” to create a caloric deficit based on your baseline RMR.
- Detection and Diagnosis of slow metabolism: In cases where you have a clinically low metabolic rate, further diagnosis and treatment by a physician will be required before successful weight loss can be achieved.
- Assess the effect of weight loss treatment on metabolism: Once calories are restricted or an exercise plan has been begun, the human body will respond. This is especially true of significant interventions. The caloric goals of a dietary plan will rarely sustain you throughout an entire weight loss regimen. The result is the dreaded “plateau.” Periodic assessment of RMR will show the effects of the treatments and allow adjustments to your caloric goals.
Exercise Metabolism Testing
What is a V02 Max Test?
Utilizing the industry leading Korr CardioCoach CO2™, a VO2 Max Test is a measurement that reflects your ability to perform sustained exercise. It is generally considered the best indicator of cardiovascular fitness and aerobic endurance. The actual measurement is “milliliters of oxygen used in one minute per kilogram of body weight.” It can be used for a wide range of people, from the sedentary to elite athletes.
How is V02 Max Measured?
VO2 Max is the maximum rate of oxygen consumption that can be attained during the most intense exercise possible. The measurement requires that you breathe into an oxygen consumption analyzer during a graded exercise test on a treadmill. These tests involve specific increases in the speed and intensity of the exercise. While exercising, you wear a mask to collect all the air you breathe in and out for a measurement of the volume of exhaled gas and the concentration of oxygen in that exhaled gas. This determines how much oxygen is used during each minute of the exercise test.
Why Test V02 Max?
A complete VO2 Max Fitness test can give our trainers and members the tools needed 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 you to reach your 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. We measure CO2 during your test so 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 designing a workout intended to burn fat.