Active Metabolic Rate Testing
Forget generic training plans and guesswork about exercise intensity—discover exactly how your unique metabolism responds to physical activity with precise, scientific measurement.
Our AMR testing reveals what's happening inside your body during exercise, showing everything from your VO₂ max and recovery capacity to your fat-burning efficiency across different intensity levels. Think of it as your personal metabolic roadmap for optimal training.
By understanding how your body uses energy during exercise, you'll know exactly which heart rate zones deliver maximum fat burning, endurance building, and performance gains—without wasting time in ineffective training zones. The test also reveals your biological fitness age, oxygen circulation, and precise recovery metrics.
If you want to optimise your training with precision rather than following generic advice, AMR testing provides the performance blueprint you need. Our comprehensive reports translate complex data into actionable insights about your heart fitness, lung capacity, and cellular health that can transform your approach to exercise.
Key Benefits
-
Personalised Training Zones: Discover your exact fat-burning, aerobic and anaerobic thresholds based on your unique metabolism - far more accurate than age-based formulas
-
Performance Metrics: Learn your VO₂ max, recovery capacity, and biological fitness age compared to your chronological age
-
Efficient Training Guidance: Identify the precise exercise intensities that deliver maximum results for your specific goals, whether fat loss, endurance or performance
-
Science-Backed Programming: Receive a customised training programme with optimal workout types, durations and intensities based on your metabolic profile
-
Overtraining Prevention: Understand your recovery capacity and metabolic limitations to optimise rest periods and prevent burnout or injury
Why it helps
Have you ever followed a training programme that promised results but left you feeling exhausted or stuck on a plateau? Or wondered why the heart rate zones that work for your training partner don't seem right for you?
An AMR test cuts through the confusion by revealing exactly how your unique metabolism responds to different exercise intensities.
This data goes beyond generic training advice, showing you precisely where your personal fat-burning zone lies, when you cross into anaerobic territory, and how efficiently your body recovers between efforts.
When you understand your true metabolic response to exercise, training becomes less about following arbitrary zones and more about precision—helping you make confident decisions about workout intensity, duration, and recovery to finally achieve the sustainable performance gains you've been working for.
What happens during your test?
Unlike cookie-cutter fitness assessments, our AMR testing provides precise, personalised data through a structured exercise protocol tailored to your fitness level.
You'll perform an exercise ramp test on either a treadmill or stationary bike whilst wearing our specialised metabolic mask. The test begins at a comfortable intensity and gradually increases until you reach your maximum effort—a challenging but revealing process that typically lasts between 9-12 minutes.
Throughout the test, our advanced equipment measures your oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, heart rate response, and ventilation patterns in real-time. This comprehensive data collection allows us to identify exactly how your body responds to increasing exercise demands.
The test is challenging by design—we need to observe your metabolism across your full range of capabilities—but it's also efficient and conducted under expert supervision to ensure your safety and comfort throughout.
What you get
-
Comprehensive Performance Report: Receive a detailed analysis of your metabolism during exercise within 2 working days, including your precise VO₂ max, fat-burning thresholds, and recovery capacity written in clear, easy-to-understand language
-
Personalised Training Zones: Get your exact heart rate training zones based on your unique metabolic profile, not generic age-based formulas, ensuring every workout is optimised for your specific physiology
-
Biological Age Assessment: Discover how your fitness age compares to your chronological age through advanced metabolic markers that indicate your overall health and athletic potential
-
Custom Training Recommendations: Receive a tailored exercise prescription with specific recommendations for workout types, frequencies, durations, and intensities based on your metabolic strengths and limitations
-
Recovery Insights: Understand your body's unique recovery capacity and learn optimal rest periods between high-intensity sessions to prevent overtraining and injury
-
Optional Specialist Consultation: For those wanting to dive deeper into their results, book an extended session with our performance specialist to explore the nuances of your report and get personalised advice for specific training goals
Absolutely! While the test is physically challenging, it's conducted under expert supervision with proper monitoring throughout. The exercise protocol is tailored to your current fitness level, making it safe for anyone from beginners to elite athletes. The test simply measures your breathing and heart rate patterns during exercise—there are no invasive procedures involved.
For the most accurate results, we recommend:
-
Fasting for at least 4 hours before testing
-
Abstaining from alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine for at least 2 hours
-
Engaging only in low-intensity exercise 24-36 hours before testing
-
Getting a good night's sleep
-
Wearing comfortable exercise clothing and appropriate footwear
-
Arriving 15 minutes early to prepare and warm up properly
-
The actual exercise test typically lasts 9-12 minutes, though it will feel longer as you reach higher intensities! With preparation time, warm-up, cool-down, and a brief review of preliminary findings, you should allow approximately 45-60 minutes for your appointment.
Most people adapt to the mask quickly during the test. It's lightweight and designed to fit securely without feeling overly restrictive. While it may feel slightly unusual at first, you'll soon focus more on the exercise intensity than the mask itself. For those concerned about claustrophobia, we can demonstrate the mask beforehand and ensure you're completely comfortable before beginning the test.
Not particularly!
Our testing is valuable for all fitness levels, from beginners to elite athletes. The exercise protocol is customised to your current capacity, making it appropriate regardless of your starting point. In fact, those new to structured exercise often gain the most significant benefits by establishing proper training zones from the beginning.
FAQ
What Our
Clients Are Saying
"Before my test, I was blindly following heart rate zones from a magazine. Turns out I'd been training in no-man's land for months! The AMR showed exactly where my heart rate thresholds actually were. Three months later, my 10K time dropped by nearly 3 mins. The science doesn't lie."
Rachel S.
"Bit skeptical at first—thought it was just for pros. Had the AMR done before my first Oly and it was eye-opening! Found out I'm actually quite good at burning fat, so I could dial back on the gels. Made fuelling so much simpler. Finished in 2:15"
Sarah K.
"Tried everything to improve my cycling—new bike, fancy wheels, lighter kit. Then got my zones tested. Turns out my 'tempo' rides were actually threshold efforts! No wonder I was always knackered. Six months with proper zones and I'm really getting somewhere. Best money I've spent on my cycling, hands down."
Andy R.
"Thought I knew my body until this test. Mind blown—now training smarter, recovering better."
Tom McN.
Still have questions?
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have - just complete the form and we will be in touch within 24 hours.