MOBILE HUMAN PERFORMANCE & HEALTH ENHANCEMENT LAB

San Diego’s Fit-Stop Human Performance Lab® is a mobile testing unit that provides advanced assessment services to fitness-minded organizations and individuals alike with programs that are designed for the novice as well as the experienced athlete. Our testing programs and exercise instruction provide practical information on how to manipulate your endurance energy system to optimize weight management, endurance performance and stamina gains. Fitness test results are intended to help you better understand concepts related to your energy metabolism, and to better utilize state-of-the-art training methods that can maximize your fitness while minimizing common stress-related occurrences like, overuse injury, illness or general fatigue.

Valuable information from the fitness testing will include recommendations to help you…

• reach your endurance and overall fitness potential with specific heart rate and energy zone training progressions and guidelines that are specific to your individual cardiovascular fitness level.
• identify systematic training approaches for long term success at weight management.
• learn how to maximize your fitness level by putting a high priority on recovery from intense training.
• learn the benefit of evaluating you own metabolic fitness to help keep your training on track.

The cost is normally $200 but is available to Breakaway Training Members for just $150 on the initial test and $95 for all follow-up testing. To schedule an appointment, please contact Ken Nicodemus at kjnico@fitstop-lab.com or call 760-634-5169.

The Assessment

The Cardio-Metabolic Profile takes place running or walking on a treadmill or cycling on a bike ergometer while a metabolic analyzer measures the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide that is taken in and extracted with each breath. From this unique information, objective markers for your current exercise capacity are mapped and evaluated. Outcomes reveal measures of your cardiovascular endurance and energy expenditure that can help you evaluate the proper progressions in, and effectiveness of, your training. You will want to schedule your appointment during a light week of training and following 24 hours without exercise. You will also want to be “healthy” (i.e., not ill) for at least one week prior to testing. For additional information on the VO2 testing and related concepts go to www.fitstop-lab.com.

Additional Testing Available...

Other add-on testing can include:

1. (1) Hydrostatic (underwater ) weighing (www.fitstop-lab.com/bodyfat.htm) for accurate body fat measurements. Using the principle that fat floats while muscle sinks, this procedure is considered by exercise scientists as the “gold standard” of body fat tests. This test requires weighing a person underwater as well as on land. Additionally, to reconcile the buoyancy factor of the air in the lungs, a person will need to exhale all the air from their lungs while submerged in water. Only those comfortable underwater should consider this test. 5 or more participants required for off-site testing or individuals by appointment at our Carlsbad lab location.
2. (2) Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) to determine your energy needs at rest for the purpose of setting up your dietary plan or to evaluate if you have a slow metabolism or not. Resting energy expenditure (REE) is the amount of calories needed to maintain the body at rest. REE typically comprises 60-75% of your total daily calorie expenditure. REE is also sometimes referred to as Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) or Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). REE can be calculated with lots of convoluted equations, usually determined from changes in body weight or lean body weight. By directly measuring an individual’s oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production a more accurate metabolic rate that is sensitive to current fitness levels and physiological changes can be determined. This information from your REE can provide useful information to help you balance your caloric needs (dietary) against your expenditure (BMR + activity). It also provides a marker for assessing the impact of your diet and exercise program.
3. (3) Anaerobic Power testing (www.fitstop-lab.com/Power.htm) to determine your peak power and average power output sustained in a short 30 second bout of all out exercise. Popular with cyclists, especially sprinters.
4. (4) Lifestyle Profile (www.fitstop-lab.com/LPQ.htm) with blood profile screening that includes total cholesterol, LDL and HDL levels.
5. (5) Muscle Function, Strength and Core Stability Assessments This is a 1-hour assessment which profiles your range of motion (flexibility), core stability, posture, functional strength and muscle endurance. Muscle function and core stabilization training have been proven to be a valuable asset in improving the strength, power, endurance, balance and agility. It is a fundamental element in sports conditioning and training. It is also a primary tool in the prevention of musculoskeletal injuries, particularly repetitive stress injuries. It is the hallmark of rehabilitation programs. Muscle function training can play an important role in improving posture and balance. It has become an essential ingredient of weight control programs. And in older adults, muscle strength helps determine how functional their life can be based upon their ability to do everyday tasks easily.