What is RMR Testing?
Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) refers to the amount of energy your body burns at rest to support vital functions like breathing, blood circulation, brain activity, and organ function. It’s often considered the foundation of your metabolism. Unlike Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which measures energy expenditure under strict, clinical rest conditions, testing your RMR is more practical and comprehensive. It includes not only your body’s basic life-sustaining functions but also accounts for minimal daily activities and the thermic effect of food—the energy your body uses to digest and process nutrients. By testing your RMR it will provide you with a personalized, real-time look at your unique metabolism, making it an invaluable tool for tailoring nutrition, weight management, or fitness plans.
Benefits of RMR Testing-
Pinpointing your Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) provides valuable information into how your body uses energy—insight that can guide more effective decisions around your health, fitness, and nutrition. With an accurate understanding of your metabolism, you can make smarter, more informed lifestyle choices that truly support your health goals. RMR testing helps fine-tune your nutrition, tailor your fitness routine for optimal performance, and even optimize energy levels, sleep, and stress management, key areas that all impact your metabolic health.
As a nutrition and health coach, I’m especially excited about offering cutting-edge metabolic testing to help personalize and optimize each client’s plan. One common trend I see—especially in clients focused on fat loss—is chronic under-fueling. Many people assume that eating less automatically leads to weight loss, but that’s not always the case. When you consistently eat below your RMR, your body can adapt by slowing down your metabolism to conserve energy, leading to muscle loss, hormonal imbalances, and eventual weight regain. It’s a frustrating and unsustainable cycle.
RMR testing helps break that cycle. By using your RMR data as a baseline for caloric need, we can help you fuel your body appropriately—supporting lean muscle growth, hormone balance, and long-term fat loss. Our personal trainers and physical therapists also use this data to design more personalized workouts, choosing the right types and intensities of exercise based on your goals and recovery needs. And for clients working with our functional medicine providers, RMR data pairs effectively with lab work to uncover deeper insights into how your metabolism is functioning and where support may be needed.
Ultimately, RMR testing shifts the conversation—from “eating less to be skinny” to “fueling well to be strong, resilient, and energized”. It’s not just about burning calories; it’s about supporting your body with what it needs to thrive.
How to Test Your RMR-
The RMR test is administered by one of our trained physical therapists or personal trainers using the CardioCoach system at our STAT Wellness locations. To ensure accurate results, you’ll need to fast for at least 4 hours before your appointment and avoid alcohol, caffeine, and exercise for 12 hours beforehand. When you arrive, you’ll be guided to relax in a quiet, comfortable environment for a few minutes to help your body reach a true resting state.
You’ll then be fitted with a mask or mouthpiece connected to the CardioCoach device and asked to breathe normally while remaining still and calm. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing to support relaxation. Feel free to bring headphones with soothing music—but ideally, skip phones, laptops, or books, as they can elevate your heart rate and affect your results.
The test takes approximately 10–15 minutes, during which the system measures your oxygen consumption to calculate how many calories your body burns at rest. After the test, we’ll review your results with you and provide insight into your metabolism. From there, you can follow up with our nutritionists, health coaches, or medical providers to further tailor your plan based on your RMR and overall health goals.
Come See Us!
We’re thrilled to now offer RMR testing at all STAT Wellness locations for $99, with 10% off for members!
Ready to schedule? You can book your appointment here.
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