Why My VO₂ Max Looks Lower on Metoprolol
A Be Simply Fit™ Explainer
I want to explain something important if you’re on a medication like metoprolol (a beta-blocker) and you’ve noticed your heart rate or VO₂ max numbers look lower than expected.
Metoprolol slows how fast my heart can beat during exercise. That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do. The problem is that many fitness tests and wearables use heart rate to estimate VO₂ max. When heart rate is intentionally limited by medication, the number they calculate looks artificially low.
This does not mean my fitness suddenly dropped. My muscles, lungs, and conditioning are still improving. The medication simply prevents my heart rate from climbing as high as it used to, which lowers the test result.
Because of this, I don’t chase heart-rate zones or VO₂ max scores. Instead, I train using how I feel, how well I can carry on a conversation, how steady my breathing is, and how my strength, balance, and endurance improve over time.
At Be Simply Fit™, we focus on what actually matters:
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Moving well
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Building strength
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Improving endurance
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Staying independent and confident as we age
Numbers are useful—but they’re not the whole story. How your body performs in real life always matters more than what a watch or chart says.
— Jim Burns, CPT
Be Simply Fit™