Why take a metabolic assessment?

Guessing is not an intelligent choice if there is a better alternative available. Trial and error is not a sensible strategy if time is of the essence.

What happens in a metabolic assessment?

There are two basic types of assessment available, an RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) and various types of Exercise assessment. The two assessments can be done separately, or together as a ‘full assessment’.

RMR Assessment:

You will be asked to put on a soft, pliant neoprene mask and sit quietly in a comfortable chair for about fifteen minutes. All you have to do is breath through your mouth naturally and relax. The mask has a breathing tube that is attached to a gas exchange analyser, and that in turn to a computer that records and analyses the measurements taken (the amount of oxygen you are using and the amount of carbon-dioxide you are exhaling)

The Exercise Assessments:

The exercise assessments can be done on a bike, a treadmill, a cross-trainer or a rowing machine. You wear the same mask you did for the RMR and it is attached in the same way. The duration of the assessment depends on the type of test chosen (see ‘Prices’ for details).

What information is gained from an assessment?

The RMR assessment measures the daily calorific requirement for the maintenance of your present weight. From here targets can be agreed depending on your goals. It also establishes your metabolic type-whether you are predominantly a FAT burner at rest or a CARBOHYDRATE burner, the implications of which will be discussed in the consultation.

The Exercise assessments provide complete metabolic profiles of your bodies varying responses across a range of intensities. They map heart rate, oxygen uptake, carbohydrate usage, fat usage, total calories, lung function, lactate build up and recovery rate (among other things). They provide the recognised Gold Standard evaluation of aerobic and cardiovascular fitness.

What happens next?

At the end of the practical part of the assessment, time is allocated for analysing and interpreting the results in the context of your own goals, aims and objectives, be they quite generic in nature (successful weight management, reduction in body fat and good fitness levels) or be they very targeted and specific (how best to prepare for the E’tape du tour or your first triathlon/marathon, calculating sustainable race pace, going sub-ten hours at Iron man etc).

You will have chance to ask any questions you want, talk about diet, training, rest, race schedules, or just discuss things you have always wondered about and have wanted to corroborate. We will articulate specific calorific guidelines in order to meet your needs and advise of fueling issues for racing and training. We will talk through specific training prescriptions and strategies based upon your results, the time you have available and your primary aims.

You will be given bespoke training zones, your lactate threshold and tolerances, anaerobic threshold, lung capacity, highest heart rates, VO2max/sub-max, total calories used at all intensities, fat calories versus carbohydrate calories at all intensities and a number of additional measurements.

What do I get?

As well as all of the above, you will have access to the full assessment data, along with a detailed report, covering everything discussed during the assessment and presented in an easy to digest format. Included in the price, we also offer you post assessment email support, in order to assist with any questions or queries you may have further down the line as you start to implement the reports suggestions and findings.