There’s amusing statistics that show that if you’re out of shape and a smoker, you get a bigger bang for the buck from getting in shape first than quitting smoking. Disclaimer: not an endorsement of smoking.
Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
11–20 of 556 posts
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#12So the sicker you are the less in shape you are in? Seems obvious to me.
The less in shape you are, the sicker you can possibly get.
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#13Slightly related: I have been engaging in powerlifting/weightlifting for over a decade. In my initial years, I was in the "just do weights, don't need cardio" camp. However, around 2018, I started doing cardio mostly to cut body weight as I wanted to hit my personal bests on squats, deadlifts, and bench at a lower body weight. I personally experienced that my weights moved much better, especially when I was doing mor…
I see a similar effect too. I usually do just lifting but I recently started doing a bit of cardio (rowing and that resistance treadmill thing) and it improved my lifting even at 5 reps. Granted my cardio was pretty bad but I felt more steady and felt like I could do more volume.
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#14There’s amusing statistics that show that if you’re out of shape and a smoker, you get a bigger bang for the buck from getting in shape first than quitting smoking. Disclaimer: not an endorsement of smoking.
[deleted]
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#15So the sicker you are the less in shape you are in? Seems obvious to me.
That's what you hypothesize. Research like this affirms your hypothesis with fact. There are historically lots of things that "seemed obvious" but couldn't hold up under research, which is why we do research. It confirms what you think or maybe it forces you to question what you think. Either way, it is good. Case and point, there is a rising opinion lately which Trump has promoted that your heart only beats a set, f…
Weird though since you can get your resting heart rate much lower by exercising.
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#16The Apple watch has a decent cardio fitness monitor. The absolute values aren't precise (since it uses VO2Max estimates, which is really only accurate if you're doing a metabolic stress test), but it's good to keep an eye on trends.
I wonder how it estimates VO2Max and how often depending on the model. On my Series 3, it seems to make a data point two or three times a month and it’s concerning to me because it seems like it isn’t trending up even though I have started to do more cardio exercises. Instead, it has consistently reported a range that it says is below average.
Could it be that it’s just pretty difficult to improve VO2Max in general? Some people’s hearts have to beat harder or they breathe in less than fitter people?
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#17I am disappointed by how poor primary care is in the developed world. It could easily be made better by including a VO2Max test and a DEXA scan every few years. On my own dime, I took both (cost was ~ $150 total from a private provider) and the DEXA scan revealed I carried too much visceral fat and my cardiovascular fitness was only average, things that never came up in my yearly physical. The same applies for basic strength testing, another predictor of morbidity and mortality.
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#18The Apple watch has a decent cardio fitness monitor. The absolute values aren't precise (since it uses VO2Max estimates, which is really only accurate if you're doing a metabolic stress test), but it's good to keep an eye on trends.
The poor VO2Max estimates on the Apple Watch is why I'm phasing out of wearing one.
I track my actual VO2Max measurements in Apple Health via a shortcut, and I don't need a daily made-up number messing up my data.
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#19The Apple watch has a decent cardio fitness monitor. The absolute values aren't precise (since it uses VO2Max estimates, which is really only accurate if you're doing a metabolic stress test), but it's good to keep an eye on trends.
VO2 max is also exercise dependent. If you trained riding bike for 3 months, then went to run down the street, your VO2 max would not transfer over.
That's why there are separate Cycling and Running VO2 indicators
You won't be a 55 Vo2 runner if you're a 55 Vo2 Cyclist, but cardiovascular fitness does cross between those activities to an extent
Re: Cardio fitness is a strong, consistent predictor of morbidity and mortality
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
VO2 max is also exercise dependent. If you trained riding bike for 3 months, then went to run down the street, your VO2 max would not transfer over.
Is that true? Back when I was a crew gremlin, my VO2 max as measured via erging was off the charts. But I could apply that cardio capacity to things like running/biking/swimming pretty effectively.
It's true in the sense that you'll be better optimized towards the activities you train in most intensely in regularly, but you do develop transferable gains as well. It's just not 100% transferable.
I think the GP's comment is just easy to misread.