VO2max and Resistance Training

Training Q&A [Moderated]
1

Hello Doctors, et al,

If you’re already cringing, I apologize in advance.

I recently undertook measurements for body fat, resting bp, resting heart rate, and a 3 minute step test for VO2max. I didn’t really care what the VO2max test said, but I was slightly curious, and there’s an intern at my gym that was looking for volunteers, so I went ahead and submitted myself for testing.

Results:
VO2max: 73.9, (post-test heart rate of 89) – (I’m skeptical of the accuracy here, but meh)
(for reference my bf came out to 16.1%, rbp 115/70, rhr 69, I’m 36 years old, male, 6’1")

Assuming the VO2max result is remotely accurate, does this mean a damn thing? i.e. is this information useful, in practical terms, for resistance training programming in general, or for me specifically? – I’m just a guy who was a life-long fat kid, who’s a couple years into serious training, and who’s looking for “general jackitude” and good strength development.

Thanks,

Shawn

2

So, there’s probably no way your VO2max is 73.9. For reference, that’s about 10 less than Lance Armstrong’s best VO2max reading ever and +40 over the average young male. Seems kind of unlikely, right?

I would expect a trained male to have a greater than average VO2max, but not by much unless they had a significant amount of conditioning in their training.

3

Fair enough. I suspected the testing was not well executed.

Or I’m an untrained (and natural) Lance Armstrong, we just never knew it.