much more than a number
Join Max Your Life, our campaign to help the nation build fitness for life. Find your VO₂ Max, get active and discover what can change.
What is VO2 Max?
VO₂ Max is the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during hard exercise. It shows how well your heart, lungs and muscles work together when you’re active.
Your lungs move oxygen from the air into your blood.
Your heart pumps oxygen-rich blood around your body.
Your muscles use oxygen to help release the energy that keeps you moving.
Fitness for the life you want to live
Used by athletes for decades, VO₂ Max is associated with better long-term health and a longer life.
More capacity for your day
From climbing stairs to keeping up with the children, building fitness can make everyday activity feel more manageable.
More from the activities you enjoy
Swim, cycle, run or enjoy a class. Build the fitness to get more from what you love.
Keep doing life on your terms
Stay active, independent and able to keep doing the things you enjoy for longer.
Why your VO2 Max matters
What this number can tell us about our fitness, and why it matters for the lives we want to lead.
“More VO₂ max could mean more capacity for life, more energy to do the things you love.”
Everyone Active has partnered with HERO, a smartphone-based fitness app designed to help you better understand your body, track your progress and feel more confident about getting active. HERO offers VO₂ Max testing to its members.
We’re giving you the opportunity to Max Your Life by testing your VO₂ max in October and again in December. Find your starting point, build activity into your routine and see what has changed.
How it works
Meet HERO. Find your number.
HERO gives you a way to estimate your VO₂ max using your phone’s camera.
The app guides you through the setup, so you know where to stand and what to expect.
Take the assessment
Audio and visual prompts guide you through two minutes of high knees. The app tracks your movement as you go. Allow a little extra time to get set up.
See your result
You’ll receive your estimated VO₂ max score when you finish. This is your starting point for reviewing your fitness over time, and seeing what changes as you build activity into your routine.
Build your fitness with You+
You+ combines gym, swim and classes with personalised coaching and support across your health, fitness and wellbeing. Turn your starting point into a routine built around you.
Start with your check-in
Understand your current health, fitness and wellbeing, including your You+ Age and the areas you want to improve.
Get your personalised plan
Meet with a trained You+ coach to build a plan tailored to your goals. Find activity you enjoy and make it part of your week.
Keep moving with support
Access coaching, workouts and expert content in-centre and through the You+ app, with regular check-ins to review your progress.
Take part for a chance to win
Your first assessment is just the starting point. Testing again in December gives you an opportunity to see what has changed and think about your next step.
We’ve got six £250 Red Letter Days vouchers to give away to six lucky members who complete our Max Your Life challenge. Complete your first HERO VO₂ max test between 1 and 31 October 2026, then retest between 1 and 24 December 2026.
Eligible members who complete both assessments using the campaign’s HERO app will be entered into the prize draw.
Open to current Everyone Active members aged 18 and over, excluding colleagues. One entry per registration. Entries close at midnight on 24 December 2026. Winners will be selected at random.
Frequently asked questions
Your smartwatch estimate can still be useful. When reviewing changes over time, use the same assessment method consistently rather than comparing numbers from different methods as though they are identical. HERO gives you a guided assessment using your phone. To qualify for the Max Your Life prize draw, you’ll need to complete both campaign assessments through HERO.
A laboratory assessment measures the oxygen you use during exercise. HERO uses movement data to estimate your VO₂ max. It gives you a practical starting point for tracking your fitness without laboratory equipment.
After setting up your phone so the camera can see your whole body, you follow the app’s prompts through two minutes of high knees. HERO tracks your movement and provides an estimated VO₂ max score afterwards.
If you’re unsure whether you can complete the movement, speak to the team before starting. Follow HERO’s guidance on how to perform the assessment and any supported adaptations. You can also ask your centre about a group assessment session.
For the campaign, complete your first HERO assessment between 1 and 31 October 2026 and your retest between 1 and 24 December 2026. Eligible members who complete both will be entered into a random draw for one of six £250 Red Letter Days vouchers. See the full terms and conditions.
Find your starting point
Already a member?
Take part in Max Your Life and find out how to get started with your HERO assessment.
Not a member?
Discover You+ and an approach to wellbeing that brings movement and everyday habits together.
