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 Lactate Profile
The lactate profile is the most important single physiologic marker. During a Lactate Profile we measure several of an athlete's responses to a range of exercise intensities. These include heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, blood lactate levels, and the intensity at which the athlete reaches the lactate threshold (LT). We then evaluate all of this information to give the athlete appropriate training zones. Training at the appropriate intensity can greatly improve your LT, which is an important predictor of sustained endurance performance. Multiple testing of LT can assess the effectiveness of your training over several months. VO2 max VO2 max (aka maximum oxygen uptake) is an excellent indicator of aerobic fitness. VO2max is the fastest rate at which your body can use oxygen to make energy. The higher your VO2max is, the better your potential for endurance performance. Serial VO2 max testing can also help assess the effectiveness of your training on aerobic capacity. The FUEL Test--Fuel Use Evaluation with Lactate Profile Have you ever wanted to know how many calories you actually burn when you exercise? The number of calories you use depends on how hard you exercise: the higher the intensity, the more calories you burn. But as the intensity changes, there is also a shift in the percentage of carbohydrate and fat used. The FUEL test measures how many calories your body needs for exercise at different intensities, as well as the proportion of fat and carbohydrat e burned. This test includes a lactate profile and VO2max, so we can assess your fitness status, and prescribe training zones. As your fitness changes, so will the amount and type of fuel your body uses at any given effort. Therefore, repeat testing will help you scientifically monitor your progress. Your FUEL results will assist you in developing a personalized nutrition strategy to meet your goals for improved fitness, weight loss or to gain a competitive edge. Calorie Needs Test (CNT) The Calorie Needs Test is a sub-maximal exercise test that measures how many carbohydrate calories you need while training and racing. Too many athletes competing in longer events run out of energy well before the finish because they underestimate how much food they need to take in during their race. This test begins with a gentle warm up, then gradually gets harder, but stops before maximal effort. Our metabolic equipment will determine the total calories you use at each exercise intensity, as well as how many come from carbohydrates and how many from fats. The appointment lasts about two hours, and includes a results discussion with our registered dietitian. Anaerobic Power (Wingate) Anaerobic power is assessed during a 30-second test on a cycling ergometer. (The longest 30 seconds of your life!) Peak power output and average power output are determined during the Wingate test. This test measures your peak anaerobic sprinting performance. Exercise Metabolic Rate (EMR) Measurement EMR is for individual who want to use exercise as a part of their weight loss program, but are not training for a specific sport. Their emphasis is on exercising to become fit and healthy; they are not interested in learning specific training zones. BCSM offers another test, the "F.U.E.L evaluation" (see above), that can provide that information. The EMR measures the number of calories burned at three different exercise intensities, which you choose. This will give you a better understanding of how many calories you would need to eat ot reach your energy balance. This service can be part of nutrition packages including RMR, body composition, and nutrition evaluation (3-day diet record analysis). The EMR can be done on an exercise bike, treadmill (walking or running), rowing machine, or elliptical trainer. You will meet with an Exercise Physiologist who will conduct the EMR. Results will be discussed with a Registered Dietician to show you how many total calories you burned per hour at each exercise level, and the corresponding heart rate and rating of perceived effort. (Click to see an example of the results you will receive) Metabolic Assessment The Metabolic Assessment is the combination of a Resting Metabolic Rate Measurement (RMR) and Exercise Metabolic Rate Measurement (EMR) (see above). This is a 2.5-hour appointment. We first measure your RMR, then begin the EMR protocol. The combination of these two tests gives us a complete picture of your daily caloric expeniture. Results are discussed with our Registered Dietician where you dicuss in detail your daily caloric needs according to your weight loss or weight gain goals. Supplemental Oxygen Training The goal of supplemental oxygen training is to allow an athlete to train at the same intensity that they would do at sea level. Athletes use supplemental oxygen training sessions to improve their performance during interval training sessions, without suffering from the effects of higher altitude. Many athletes use supplemental oxygen training to prepare for sea level competitions or help peak their fitness.
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