Does staying healthy feel like a full time job?

The more you learn about health, fitness, and longevity, the longer your to-do list seems to get.

If fitness was your only job (and Nike was cutting you a check), adding more habits might be fine. But for the rest of us—those juggling careers, families, and everything else life throws our way—time is limited.

And… more is not always better!

So what should you actually be doing? What’s going to give you the biggest health impact in the least amount of time?

Most people don’t know. That uncertainty leads to two common outcomes: doing nothing or cycling through workout phases that burn you out without really getting anywhere.

That might not seem like a big deal right now. But what happens when “not getting anywhere” turns into years or even decades?

The Longevity Benchmark

Did you know that your VO2 Max, the measurement of your aerobic fitness, is the number one predictor of how long you will live?

It outperforms smoking, weight, BMI, and even diet when it comes to forecasting life expectancy.

That means that if you don’t get anywhere now and you become deconditioned, you have a much greater chance of a shorter lifespan and more importantly, a shorter health span – losing independence and functionality earlier than you would otherwise.

If your VO2 Max is high, you’ll have the energy and endurance to enjoy life on your terms—hiking, traveling, staying active with loved ones, etc.

If it’s low, the future looks very different. Loss of independence. Struggles with everyday movement. Relying on others to get around.

I’ve seen it firsthand in my work as a physical therapist. The difference between thriving and depending on others often comes down to fitness—specifically, aerobic capacity.

The good news? VO2 Max is trainable.

That leaves you with two choices:

1️⃣  Follow general exercise guidelines, hope your VO2 Max improves, and spend time guessing.
2️⃣ Measure it directly, see where you stand, and determine if it is something you need to address. If it is, use the results to train with precision to get the best results in the least amount of time. Then re-test as needed to confirm progress.

Until recently, only elite athletes had access to VO2 Max testing—it required expensive lab equipment.

Now, Embody to Empower is bringing this game-changing technology to Boulder at a price that makes sense.

If you want to maximize your health, performance, and longevity, this is where you start.

Precision Health Made Accessible

With Embody to Empower VO2 Max testing, you get professional level, precision medical testing for an affordable price.

Greater precision allows you to make training decisions based on personalized health data.

And decisions made with personalized health data will deliver better results in less time.

Here’s why this is a game changer for your health.

VO2 Max

Know Your Number

You’ll have a precise measurement of your VO2 max – the single most important metric in health and longevity.

Not only will you know your number, but your performance will be benchmarked against age and gender matched peers.

That way you’ll also know if your performance is above-average, or if you have some work to do.

Personalized Training Zones

Know YOUR Zone

To create an effective exercise plan, you need to determine your target heart rate zone for each workout.

But did you know that the zones programmed into your smart watch, or that you find online are just estimates.

They are reasonable guesses, but really they’re one size fits none.

In addition to VO2 max, our testing process will calculate the exact numbers for your training zones, which will eliminate the guesswork so you can get the most out of each training session.

VT1 and VT2 Measurement

Performance Thresholds

To maximize your fitness results, it’s useful to know two additional metrics providing insight about how your body responds to various intensities of exercise. These are both determined by changes in your breathing patterns through breath analysis. 

The first, your VT1,  is when you start to transition from using predominantly “aerobic” energy systems to an increasing reliance on the   “anaerobic” energy systems. Directly before this point your bodies fat metabolism is at it’s highest. This is the point where you start moving away from utilizing primarily fat as a fuel and begin relying more on carbohydrates.

The second, your VT2, is when your ability to sustain the effort becomes very difficult.

Knowing this number can help you in race situations judge how deep into fatigue you and push, while still being able to sustain your pace for an extended period of time. It is an indicator of your top end. 

This measures can directly guide how to build the most efficient and effective training program for your particular goals.

Dr. Cara Weisbach

Your Personal Wellness Guide

Cara is a doctor of physical therapy, but she isn’t your typical physical therapist. Her mission is to help high achievers like you make health your greatest asset.

She specializes in taking the cutting-edge testing and performance methods used by top sport scientists and pro athletes and adapting them for health, wellness, and longevity.

Her approach blends data-driven insights with tailored training plans, helping you work smarter while finding joy and empowerment in the process.

Not everyone is going to be a right fit for VO2 max testing

Who is VO2 Max Testing For?

You’re not a good fit for VO2 Max Testing if:

❌ You have a medical condition that makes strenuous exercise tests dangerous

❌ You kind of want to know where you stand, but you don’t really (because if you know, then you may have to do something about it!)

❌ You feel like you can reach your goal without personalized health data informing your training plan. 

❌ You don’t feel like you need a number this precise to benchmark your health and fitness. 

❌ You aren’t looking to maximize the efficiency of your training program.