Your annual physical can tell you a lot about your health today. But what can help you understand how healthy, strong, and independent you might be at 75 or 80?

In EP 149 of Your Ultimate Comeback, Brad Davidson takes the mic for a solo episode to break down four important health measurements that he believes everyone should understand when thinking about longevity.

After a previous conversation with Randy Baird about heart health, Brad wanted to explore the numbers that can offer a broader picture of physical fitness, strength, body composition, and cardiovascular risk.

Those four measurements are VO2 max, grip strength, muscle mass, and coronary artery calcium (CAC) score.

Brad explains what each measurement represents, why research has connected these indicators to long-term health outcomes, and how you can begin tracking and improving the factors within your control.

From cardiovascular conditioning and strength training to DEXA scans and understanding arterial plaque, this episode offers a practical look at the measurements that can help guide conversations about your health.

Brad also shares his personal experience testing his VO2 max, why he encourages clients to focus on body composition instead of just the number on the scale, and how Randy Baird's experience reinforced the importance of discussing cardiovascular risk with a qualified medical professional.

In this episode:

• Why your annual physical doesn't tell the whole story
• The four health numbers Brad recommends paying attention to
• What VO2 max measures and its relationship to cardiovascular fitness
• Research connecting cardiorespiratory fitness with longevity
• How to measure and improve your VO2 max
• The importance of grip strength as an indicator of overall strength
• Simple ways to test and build grip strength
• Why maintaining muscle mass matters as you age
• How muscle supports metabolism, blood sugar regulation, and independence
• DEXA scans and other ways to track body composition
• Why the scale doesn't always reflect your fitness progress
• What a coronary artery calcium score measures
• Randy Baird's experience discovering significant coronary plaque
• Why medical professionals should interpret your cardiovascular testing
• How strength training, cardio, nutrition, and recovery fit together
• Creating your own health and longevity scorecard

The goal isn't to chase perfect numbers. It's to understand your body, recognize meaningful changes, and make informed decisions that support a stronger future.

Refuse to fade. Do it with data.

Medical Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The measurements discussed are associated with health outcomes but cannot individually predict how long someone will live. Testing recommendations, including coronary artery calcium scans, should be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional based on individual risk factors and medical history. Never change prescribed treatment based solely on podcast information.