Why I Care So Much About VO2 Max For Physicians

One reason I strongly believe physicians should approach their health more like elite athletes is because performance is not just physical.

It’s cognitive.

Focus. Decision-making .Stress resilience. Mental endurance. Recovery between demanding days.

One of the concepts Peter Attia discusses frequently is VO2 max — essentially your body’s ability to utilize oxygen during exertion.

Most people hear “cardio” and immediately think:

• weight loss,

• suffering,

• or endless treadmill sessions.

But improved cardiovascular fitness can also impact:

• energy levels,

• recovery,

• stress tolerance,

• cognitive performance,

• and overall resilience under pressure.

Which matters enormously in professions requiring sustained concentration and decision-making under stress.

Elite athletes train conditioning because fatigue changes performance.

I would argue physicians are no different.

The goal is not becoming a marathon runner.

Sometimes even brief intervals, consistent walking, short conditioning sessions, or intelligently programmed cardio can create major improvements over time.

A very simple physician-friendly VO2 max protocol on a stationary bike:

5-minute easy warm-up

Then:

3-6 rounds of:

• 15-30 seconds HARD effort

• 60-90 seconds easy recovery pace

Then: 5-minute cool down

Total time: Under 20 minutes.

The goal is NOT to destroy yourself.

The goal is controlled exposure to higher intensity while remaining consistent and recoverable.

One important note:

As we get older — especially high-stress professionals carrying accumulated fatigue, tightness, poor recovery, or orthopedic wear and tear — trying to do VO2 max work through all-out sprinting on a treadmill can become rough on the body very quickly.

That’s one reason I strongly prefer lower-impact conditioning modalities for most people:

• stationary bike

• incline walking

• elliptical

• rower

• swimming

You can still train the cardiovascular system aggressively without constantly beating up joints, connective tissue, and recovery capacity.

One thing I’ve learned working with high performers:

Short, repeatable, sustainable conditioning sessions usually outperform extreme “hero workouts” that people can’t maintain consistently.

Especially for professionals already bathing in high cortisol environments.