VO₂ max and longevity

You’re beginning to read and hear more and more about VO₂ max, and there’s a good reason for that: it isn’t just a a bunch of letters and a number (or a fitness buzz word), it’s been shown to be a strong sign of how well your body is working and how long you might even live.

A higher VO₂ max means your heart, lungs, and muscles are better at taking in and using oxygen, which supports your endurance and overall health.

People with higher VO₂ max tend to have a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and early death, and studies link it with longer life expectancy compared with those who have lower VO₂ max.

Higher cardiorespiratory fitness often predicts longevity even more reliably than traditional risk factors like cholesterol or blood pressure!

Here’s a simple example of how to increase VO₂ max using a rowing machine:

*Start with intervals.

*Row at a hard effort for about 1 minute, where you’re breathing heavy and can barely talk, then slow it down to an easy pace for 2 minutes to recover.

*Repeat that cycle 5–8 times.

That mix of hard and easy pushes your heart and lungs to work harder and helps your body adapt so it can use oxygen more efficiently over time. Doing that kind of interval work a few times a week as part of your rowing routine builds your aerobic fitness and boosts VO₂ max.

#dowork for your future self.