PERFECT

Remember that awful, REALLY awful, movie "Perfect" starring Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta? It centered around the 1980's aerobics craze. ( Full disclosure: I was an aerobics instructor at Elaine Powers !!) you should watch it if you like Jamie Lee or need a good laugh. Best line: "She's the most used piece of equipment in the gym."


But, I digress. What I want to discuss briefly is maximal aerobic power. Max aerobic power (MAP) is the maximum rate at which oxygen can be used during a specified period of time. The more oxygen that can be used, the higher the intensity of exercise that can be achieved. MAP is often expressed as maximal oxygen consumption ( VO2max) or in metabolic equivalents (METS). You may have seen METs on the fitness equipment in your gym. More on METs in a future post.


VO2max can be improved in healthy individuals anywhere from 10-30% through endurance exercise. You can have your VO2max measured in a medical facility, or you can have your independent fitness professional use a formula to get a reasonable estimate. You need this number because cardiorespiratory guidelines use a % of VO2 max to prescribe appropriate levels of exercise intensity. An you're going to need LOTS of endurance to make it through "Perfect." Trust me.