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VO2 Max Essentials: The comprehensive guide to aerobic fitness, how to improve it, and what it means for health, performance, and longevity.

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Are you ready to unlock the secret to a longer, healthier life? Discover the groundbreaking science behind VO2 max – the new key to vitality and longevity.

"VO2 Max Essentials" delves into the fascinating history, cutting-edge research, and practical applications of aerobic fitness.

VO2 max has emerged as the single most critical "vital sign" for health and longevity, and in this eye-opening book, we explore why, by taking a look at the history of VO2 max and its profound implications for elite-level performance, health, and longevity.What exactly determines your VO2 max and how does it influence your overall health?Which factors play a role in determining your VO2 max and how do age, exercise, and genetics impact this vital metric?Is VO2 max the only important variable for successful endurance performance?All of the questions, and more, are answered in "VO2 Max Essentials."

The information in this book will guide you in the measurement of your VO2 max and how to estimate it with precision, whether you're a best-in-class road runner or a "weekend warrior."

Ready to boost your performance and embrace a healthier lifestyle? Inside, you'll find guidance on the most effective science-backed protocols to improve your VO2 max to reach your health and performance goals.

"VO2 Max Essentials" could revolutionize the way you approach health and aging; it's your comprehensive guide to unlocking the immense power of VO2 max – your gateway to a longer, more fulfilling life.

125 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2023

146 people are currently reading
81 people want to read

About the author

Brady Holmer

1 book1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Profile Image for J.
1,563 reviews37 followers
April 3, 2024
The topic of VO2 Max and how it's a great indicator for longevity has been a hot topic for a while, now, so I decided to give this book by Brady Holmer a go. The author publishes the Substack Physiologically Speaking, and has a great deal of knowledge about the intersection of sports and health.

The first 75% of this book is fairly technical stuff, and not being a science guy, I had to re-read some parts to fully understand them, but that's on me and my substandard American education. The last 25% is more about what most people are really interested in, which is how to improve your personal VO2 Max. The conclusion from the research suggests that higher intensity training (HIIT) is more effective than moderate, Zone 2 exercise in increasing your VO2 Max. Furthermore, longer training periods (4-12 weeks) of higher volume sessions (>15 minutes) of longer intervals (>2 minutes) was the gold standard of increasing VO2 Max, with the primary driver of success being the longer sessions.

I have a lot of highlights from the Kindle edition posted if anyone is interested in reading more of the protocols.

Short book, well written, and recommended to athletes and non-athletes alike.
Profile Image for Rohr.
2 reviews
August 13, 2023
Nice book, written clearly with rigorous arguments. However, if the sentence “A discussion on how to structure your exercise training program — implementing aerobic exercise and strength training — is beyond the scope of this book” had been on the cover, I wouldn’t have bought it.
Profile Image for Carles Carrera.
54 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2023
A very short book (think of it as a very long blog post instead of a book). Which is kinda cool as most books are unnecessarily too long. In this case I’d like it to be longer and to include more detail.

VO2 Max, often used as the “gold standard” for assessing endurance performance potential, is also a good predictor of how long you’ll live, recent research showed. And this is new for me. Brady Holmer insights really make you think differently about athletic performance and longevity. I often associated a short long span to elite athletes, as their bodies are punished by constant and hard exercise. Maybe this is the case, but this book shows that improving VO2 Max would not only positively affect my cycling performance but my longevity. And being 48, longevity is starting to get prime display time in my daily thoughts.

My full book summary can be found at my personal website
Profile Image for Oleg Gavryliuk.
49 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2023
Nice short manual for improving VO2max

Nice short manual for improving VO2max.
Great structure that covers most aspects of VO2max from its origin to modern science.
Lack of examples of detailed training plans.
Lack of examples of supplements for improving training VO2max.
Lack of section with most common mistakes for training VO2max
1 review
August 5, 2023
VO2 Max primer

I follow Brady's Substack feed and enjoy his writing style and topic selection. This ebook did not disappoint. I learned a great deal about how VO2 max is measured and what can be done to improve it.
16 reviews
July 7, 2025
Quick easy summary on the benefits of VO2max training

This was a good primer on the history of VO2 max and how training can effect changes. It is written for the layperson with no specific educational prerequisites.
50 reviews
December 8, 2024
Informative

Great book for understanding VO2 Max, its importance, and ways to improve it. I will follow the recommended exercises and check if my VO2 Max improves.
Profile Image for David Roesener.
143 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2025
Excellent and worth another read (read on kindle)
Detailed explanations on VO2 max and how to improve it, essential for any endurance athlete
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews

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