Resting Metabolic Rate
Testing

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) testing measures the amount of energy (calories) your body burns while at rest. It reflects the number of calories required to maintain basic bodily functions, such as breathing, digestion, and circulation, when you are not physically active.

Understanding how your body uses energy is crucial for maximizing performance, optimizing nutrition, and enhancing recovery.


  • Your RMR provides a baseline for how many calories your body burns at rest. By knowing this, you can accurately calculate how many calories you need each day to meet your nutritional needs.

  • The test provides accurate calorie needs for weight management, ensuring that you can lose or maintain weight while still supporting muscle growth and training performance. A calculation will be made based on your RMR, goal of weight gain/loss, and activity level to calculate the amount of calories you need in a day to reach your goals.

  • An RMR test is essential for runners looking to optimize their performance and recovery. By measuring how many calories your body burns at rest, the test helps you fine-tune your nutrition to meet your energy needs without overeating or under-fueling. With this data, runners can improve endurance, maintain an ideal racing weight, and recover faster, leading to better overall results and sustained performance in training and races.

  • An RMR test using the VO2 Master involves a 10-minute rest phase followed by 10 minutes of testing while wearing a mask that measures your oxygen consumption at rest. You will be sitting or lying down in a relaxed position for the entirety of the test.

    • At least 5 hours of fasting prior to the test (no/limited water intake either ideally)

    • No intense exercise (greater than 1 hour) 24 hours before the test

    • No caffeine, tobacco or stimulating drinks for at least 5 hours prior to the test

    • You can continue medications as usual