Vo2max-How to manipulate it

Dont try to train based on your single workout VO2max readings, thats not benefitial for your training. VO2max is better calculated for steady-pace activities btw. But mainly focus on balanced training, as suggested by training balance widget with a lot (!) of low aerobic training. Try a training plan or daily suggestions, but do a lot of variations in training. Its a complex matter, so I cant give you a specific answer what is best for you. Try to find out, what feels good for you and dont go too hard.

In regards of your hip and whats best for recovery, please go ask a doctor!

I asked. Cycling is good. 

If you want to know true VO2 max then you need to get it tested in a lab. Garmin is best used as a general performance metric. Running I have about a 62 VO2 max, but if I take an easy day and run very slowly, it will interpret this as me putting in actual effort and take down my VO2 max significantly below 60. This has changed my strategies. I now use running apps on the watch that do not calculate VO2 max on recovery days or days that I know I am not ready or just do not want to push myself.

I am not sure if you can use cycling apps on recovery days that will not record VO2max. I do cycle daily but I do not have a power meter, so I do not know how that works. I actually use indoor cycling a lot as it records the same calories burned as the bike app without using any battery on GPS. The running app I use on recovery days is "Trail Running" and VO2 can be turned on/off maybe the same can happen on the bike. Hope this helps, good luck!

Maddi02 Thanks. So you are telling me that doing hill climb all the time is not productive although it is telling me that usually. I understand. I have quite a few different workout i created on the app. It feels like my performance condition is in the positive when i do hill climbs where it is in the negative when i do low aerobic workout. I usually do not look at the suggested daily cycling workout. Do you think i should ?

Ok, so if you do a recovery workout, your vo2max decline. That is what i noticed. If i push and get a TE in both aerobic and anaerobic, then usually my Vo2max increase. But is that cheating ?

There are a lot of factors that contribute your fitness, VO2max is an indicator for your fitness in a training. You cant say, with this training it declines and with this training VO2max raises. Training isnt that simple!
Performance condition also doesnt tell you, which training is good for you. It just tells you how recovered or fit you are at start of your training. Dont use these metrics to decide which kind of training you need!
Your VO2max and your overall fitness will raise, if you live healthy, eat well, sleep well and do balanced training. Balanced in the overall amount, balanced between, anaerobic, high aerobic and low aerobic and balanced in different muscle groups/sports. Daily suggested workout helps you, to decide which kind of training you should do today, based on your training balance and training load. This might be a good helper for you, to get into training theory.

Pierrotsc said:

Ok, so if you do a recovery workout, your vo2max decline

That has not been my experience. If anything my vo2max often goes down when I do hard runs and then goes up when I do totally relaxed runs with my dog with a lot of stop and go. 

Personally I think vo2max calculation is flawed because it relies on inaccurate raw data to start with. Fenix produces inaccurate distance and pace data, and that then affects performance condition and vo2max calculation. If anything, vo2max correlates more with how much clear sky I have during a run than anything else. If my goal was to manipulate my vo2max up I would do that by doing only very short runs when I am in a well rested state, on pavement and with a perfect sky visibility. That would quickly drive it up. It seems walk / run intervals where I drop my HR down completely also push vo2max up on the watch. Basically, when it thinks that you are doing more work (e.g. run faster) while staying at a lower HR the estimate goes up.

Mine is the other way around. I cycle inside on a smart trainer with a power meter. If I do hill climb and push my heart rate with higher watts, my vo2max value will go up. If I do a 35 mn ride at 50% of my ftp, I will get a poor performance condition and my vo2max will go down. The arrow will be down next to the number. It may take a few rides like that for the number to change though. Same thing with a hill climb workout. I will get the arrow to go up and workout after workout, my vo2max will go up. No gps involved here. So not really sure if I can trust the value though if it can fluctuate from one kind of workout to am another. But like it was mentioned, I am going to watch my load balance and try not have a shortage in any category and will go from there. Thanks for all the advice. 

if you are doing little to no training you start to lose fitness after 1-2 weeks, and after 2 months you could have lost up to 70% of your total fitness - so considering you haven't lost nearly that much I wouldn't stress it.