The Problem
Why Swimmers struggle - even when they train hard
Swimming is one of the most energy-demanding sports. Cold water suppresses appetite, sweat is invisible, and hunger cues are blunted after a hard session. The result? Most swimmers — from club level to competitive — are in a chronic calorie deficit without knowing it.
The consequences go beyond tiredness. Underfueling disrupts hormones, stalls adaptation, increases injury risk, and can lead to RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport) — a serious condition that is far more common in swimming than most coaches and parents realise.
Performance plateau
Training hard but not improving? Your body cannot adapt to a training stimulus it does not have the fuel to recover from.
Scales will not shift
Eating less and exercising more but weight stays put? Chronic under eating causes metabolic adaptation - often the solution is to eat more, not less.
RED-S risk
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport affects bone health, hormones, immunity and performance. It starts with not knowing your real calorie needs.
Poor recovery
Persistent fatigue, disrupted sleep, and slow recovery between sessions are common signs your body is not getting the fuel it needs to rebuild
What RMR Testing reveals
Real numbers. Not estimates.
An RMR test measures the exact calories your body burns at rest using indirect calorimetry — the gold standard method. Combined with your training volume, it gives us a precise picture of what you actually need to eat every day. Not a formula. Not an app calculation. Your actual metabolism.
01
Performance plateau
Training hard but not improving? Your body cannot adapt to a training stimulus it does not have the fuel to recover from.
02
Scales will not shift
Eating less and exercising more but weight stays put? Chronic under eating causes metabolic adaptation - often the solution is to eat more, not less.
03
Metabolic adaption signals
Whether your metabolism has downregulated in response to chronic underfueling - and by how much
04
Training fuel strategy
How to distribute your nutrition before, during, and after sessions for maximum adaption and recovery
VO2 Max Medical testing - Aberdeen
No hidden costs. No referral fees. Results provided on the day - ready for your medical appointment before you leave the building.
RMR TEST
£120
standalone
The complete test and report. Everything you need to understand your metabolic baseline and daily fuel requirements.
RMR test using indirect calorimetry
Full written report
Total daily energy calculation
Fuelling recommendations
30-min results debrief
Squad Testing
£449
Full package - includes retest
Bring RMR testing to your swim club. Individual reports for each swimmer plus a coach briefing on squad fuelling.
5 × individual RMR tests
Individual written reports per swimmer
RED-S risk flagging
Coach briefing session on findings
Flexible scheduling around training
Swim Analysis + RMR
£215
coaching package
RMR testing combined with 1:1 swim coaching — so your metabolic data directly shapes every session you do.
RMR test + full written report
Swim Propulsion Analysis
Session feedback and technique notes
Progress check-in at week 4
What we typically find when we test swimmers
The gap between what swimmers think they need to eat and what their body actually requires is consistently larger than expected. Here are the patterns we see — and why most people are surprised by their results.
Data represents composite patterns from metabolic testing with endurance athletes. Individual results vary based on body composition, training load, and metabolic history.