An exercise stress test is a medical procedure used to evaluate how well your heart handles physical activity.

They hook you up to equipment that monitors your heart—usually an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) to track electrical activity, plus devices to measure blood pressure and sometimes oxygen levels.

Then, you exercise.

I did it on a treadmill but sometimes a stationary bike can be used too.

The intensity starts easy (like a leisurely walk) and ramps up gradually—speed and incline increase every few minutes—until you hit a target heart rate, get too tired, or show signs that something’s off (like chest pain or abnormal readings).

The test measures:

• Heart function: How your heart rate and rhythm respond to exertion.
• Blood flow: Whether your heart gets enough oxygen when it’s working hard (low flow might hint at blockages in arteries).
• Exercise capacity: How much physical effort you can handle, often expressed in METS (Metabolic Equivalents), like your 19 METS result.

Basically, my score of 19 METs means:

• I was able to work at 19 times my resting metabolic rate
• My body was efficiently utilizing oxygen at a very high level
• I demonstrated excellent cardiovascular capacity

In practical terms, this means:

1. My heart is extremely efficient at pumping blood
2. My lungs are excellent at oxygen transfer
3. My muscles are effective at utilizing oxygen during exercise
4. My vascular system efficiently delivers oxygen throughout my body

To put this in perspective:

• Average untrained individuals typically achieve 8-10 METs
• Healthy active people often score 10-14 METs
• Well-trained recreational athletes might reach 14-16 METs
• 19 METs indicates exceptional cardiovascular fitness comparable to competitive athletes

I am not going to lie. I am extremely happy about this result, which came very unexpected.

I mean I thought I was relatively fit but didn’t realize I was THIS fit!