One of the functions that the Apple Watch has, aimed at measuring our health, is called VO2 Max. I saw it for a long time within the tools that the app shows us, however, I didn’t know what it meant, or how to make my watch take that value, although it is very simple.
That is why today we are going to see what it is for, which is much more interesting than I imagined, and how to ensure that in just a few minutes this value is detected by the Apple Watch and can tell us a first piece of information so that we can have an orientation of this, and so know if we are in shape or not.
What it is and how to activate VO2 Max
The first thing we have to know before starting to analyze the data is what this value is and what it is for. Well, VO2 Max is a measurement that indicates the maximum amount of oxygen a person can use during intense exercise. Thanks to this we can know, in a way, if someone is in shape or not, and if their heart responds like that of a person their age, or if they really should do more exercise to improve it.
VO2 Max is considered one of the best indicators of general physical condition and the ability to perform endurance activities, such as running, swimming or cycling. The higher the VO2 Max, the greater the body’s ability to supply oxygen to the muscles during exercise, resulting in better athletic performance.
There are many studies that relate this value to the longevity of a personand the better the data, the more chances of not suffering heart problems or other health failures that shorten life expectancy.
Well, once we know the importance of this, how can we make the Apple Watch measure it? I have used the watch for months, however, and despite using it during my workouts at the gym, it has never activated, and, therefore, I did not really know this information.
It’s very simple, and even the watch itself tells you how, although the simplest way is to simply starting walking training. You should walk quickly and at a good pace for about 15 minutes. If it is more, the better, since the data will be more reliable. Once you finish the training, and depending on your breathing, heart rate, speed, etc., as well as values such as age, sex, weight, and so on, it will give you data, which will help you determine if you are above or below below people with your same conditions. The truth is that mine is not good, and that motivates you to improve it, since it is one of those values that we never look at, and that matters the most for health.
And you, did you know this value? Did you know that it was something so interesting? Leave us a comment with your opinion about it and how this information turned out for you.
