Bio-Energy Test

Went for a Bio-Energy Test at Vitamin Research with the Mrs.

What is the Bio-Energy Test? According to the write up, bio-energy test (BET for short) measures energy production. A decrease in energy production is the first step in the onset of disease and aging.

After a torturous 12 hours of fasting, reached the office of the famous Vitamin girls. There, I was attended to by our very own Megahunk aka IMD aka Ben. After putting on the heart rate strap, I sat down on a very cushy sofa set (yo.. ladies ask your boss to change to OSIM massage chair can relax more) for the very first test - Resting Heart Rate. Had to suck on a scuba like thingy and breath in and out through it instead of the nose. Damm uncomfortable and nauseating. After 10 minutes, Ben returned and explained the figures on the monitor to me. (Note he pointed out and explained - will come back to this point later). Then it was on to the stationery bicycle still wearing the breathing apparatus. The resistance was increased until I hit the VO2 limit (whatever that is). It took me 10 minutes to achieve that. Then another 2 minutes of 'recovery breathing' and on to the final test - the lung capacity test. Alamak, guess I got no lung power - no power how I try - still cannot do it. In the end, after numerous tries until the face turns blue and the lung or whatever is inside me burst, Ben gave up.

Finally, I can have my first cup of coffee! Wrong.. for some unexplainable reasons, the computer failed to capture my resting heart rate reading. Strange thing right ? remember Ben pointed and explained the reading to me earlier on?? Anyway, they stopped me from drinking my coffee to redo that part.. wah can die. So weak already. This time Karen aka Golden Retriever did the test. She also decided to redo the lung test again. No dice.. maybe I am an alien - got no lung. Breath through gills. Anyway, that still didn't work and after another few attempts of huffing and puffing, she gave up as well. Come to think of it.. is that why I can never blow a balloon?

The results and what they mean:

Resting heart Rate - indicates how efficiently the heart is pumping. Acceptable range 55 - 72 Me? 52 acceptable if I am a highly conditioned athlete (am I?) or sign of thyroid deficiency, adrenal deficiency:(

Resting respiratory rate - measures chest wall breathing how efficiently one breath and easily relax. Inefficient way of breathing will results in decreased energy production and often causes feelings of anxiety. Acceptable range - < 10. Me? 21 very bad. Is that why I don't know how to relax?

Breathing Factor - measures the amount of carbon dioxide present towards the end of exhaled breath. Optimum range: 100 - 115. Me 114 heng ah at last something within the acceptable range but on the high side. Relates to resting meaning I cannot rest well.

Adrenal Factor - I think this one measure 'stress' level. Acceptable >100. Me lucky 105 ha ha

Heart Factor - Measures how strong is the heart. Acceptable range >100. Me 135 yeah!

Lung Factor - Measures how strong the heart. Acceptable range >100. Me? got no lung remember? 0 for this :(

Body Composition Analysis - body Fat I think. Ideal weight for my height 67 - 72 kg. My weight 72.5kg but hor if I go down to 67, I think sure become skeleton. Better stay above 72. Body Fat me 17. So now got 3 set of body weight measurement 13 from CGH, 22 from SATA and now 17 from here. Which one is the real one??????

Fitness Factor - tells how well the body convert energy to power. Optimum >100 Me? 93 alamak no wonder cannot carry heavy weights!

Optimum Caloric Intake/Fat Loss & Optimum Caloric Intake/Longevity - supposed to work out ideal calorie intake based on my test results but mysteriously again the computer clonked out on me or I alien no need calorie intake because the report came out with O(zero).

Metabolic Factor - measure energy production at rest and overall metabolism. Ideal 100 - 120. Me? 97 not so good leh.

C-Factor - this one serious stuff - if result no good means carbo intake is interfering with energy production and can subsequently leads to diabetes (am I correct ladies?) Acceptable range >100. Me? 86. So I supposed to cut down on bread, rice, bananas, pineapple, raisins, melons, mango, papaya,fruit juice, sweet stuff including honey, and everything ending with a 'ose', root vegetables like potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, beer and wines. Errr like that I think I will starve to death everything also cannot eat.

Fat Burning Factor - how efficiently the body convert fat to energy. Optimum >100. Me? 170 yeah yeah! No wonder I so skinny.

EQ - Energy Quotient not emotional quotient. measures maximum amount of energy the body can produce aerobically from oxygen. good is above 100. Me- 140 high five!

Biological Age - Based on the test - how old biologically instead of chronologically. like that I am a 30 year old man in the body of a 43 year old man (or is it the other way round?) For this, I can go to www.realage.com to find out as well.

Last but not least - Fat Burning Heart Rate - rate at which the body burns the max amount of fat possible. based on the test. This combines with ATR (Anaerobic Threshold Heart Rate) will give the idea optimum exercise zone. For me it is FBHR 120 and ATR 135. If I exercise at this rate, I think I will take 4 days to finish a marathon.

Anyway, I am amazed at the amount of information the test can generated from just breathing into a stupid apparatus. Still it is useful information and a good indication of one's health and fitness level.

Now for the commercial:

If you have a little bit of money to spare instead of chunking it on whether Italy or France will win, why not spend it on the test. Benefits:

1. You get to know your body better
2. You can take the necessary measures to improve your fitness level
3. You can find out whether you are an alien like me
4. You get to be manhandled by the beautiful ladies at VR (you can pretend you don't know how to wear the heart rate strap and get the ladies to do it for you - er sorry ladies, according to the rule, Megahunk is not allowed to do that for the ladies, unless you are a certain lady from our friendly neighbouring country)


Finally, I like to thank the beautiful ladies of VR and one megahunk for being so patient with me this lorsoh and naggy uncle.