Two major challenges that arise when one is attempting to biohack their health are:

1. Blood Tests – These normally require a doctors prescription. Even with labs located in many convenient locations and on-line options the prescription is still required and makes blood test a multi-appointment process. It can get expensive.
2. Accurate Data –  Our store bought heart rate monitors and scales that measure body fat give us an approximate idea of where we are, but they can be wildly inaccurate. Using lab grade electrocardiogram equipment and hydrostatic (underwater) weighing can greatly improve accuracy.

A little hack to get around these hurdles is to check-in with a nearby Universities Exercise Science Department. The price for the blood tests, body fat and VO2 max can be less than a single blood test going through conventional doctors. In my case $200 using the University of New Mexico’s facilities. A VO2 max test can also reveal quite a bit of information including aerobic fitness, heart rate, lactate threshold and carbohydrate to fat burn ratio.