So, Apple broke the exercise ring with watchOS2

[TheFluffyDuck]

WatchOS2 breaks the usefulness of the exercising ring.

Back in the first OS I would have to exercise to get the exercise ring to move. Now I can sit in a car driving back from Sydney to Melbourne (~9 hour drive FYI) and have a 3/4 full exercising ring. Any time the winds up, the exercising ring fills up. Its WAY WAY WAY to sensitive!

I don't want two movement rings. I want a movement ring AND an exercise ring.

</rant>

 

[sean000]

I have not noticed any change from the previous OS. I still need to get my heart rate up a little for the exercise ring to move. Did something elevate your heart rate during the drive?

 

[ddkkpp]

WatchOS2 breaks the usefulness of the exercising ring.

Back in the first OS I would have to exercise to get the exercise ring to move. Now I can sit in a car driving back from Sydney to Melbourne (~9 hour drive FYI) and have a 3/4 full exercising ring. Any time the winds up, the exercising ring fills up. Its WAY WAY WAY to sensitive!

I don't want two movement rings. I want a movement ring AND an exercise ring.

</rant>

I noticed this too. On days I didn't "workout" I was getting full exercise rings... I mean I did go for walks and stuff, but I didn't exercise...

I think they made it easier for people to reach their goals because it was depressing for people to be constantly reminded of their laziness. Lol.

 

[SHNXX]

To be fair, fast walking is exercise too. I do notice that I end up with a lot more exercise credit, but what constitutes exercise is different for everyone.

 

[Enygmatic]

I've noticed no change. Matter of fact, even with "Indoor/Outdoor Walk" selected in Workouts, I have to really be moving in order for it to register. If I walk leisurely for a mile, the calories and steps will register, but workout time may show <10 minutes of actual exercise.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Apple needs to keep it consistent.

I am lucky and after not wearing my watch for a few weeks, I updated it and wore it on my run yesterday and it was very similar to past runs over the same trail. About a 2% difference over three miles. This small difference was typical between two runs before the update so I am not complaining.

 

[Phil A.]

I've noticed it's easier to get exercise minutes but harder to burn calories. I prefer it the way it is now - the "exercise" ring was always advertised as recording anything at a brisk walk or above, but in Watch OS 1 it was incredibly hard for me to get any exercise credit (for example, a game of squash or five a side lasting an hour would typically credit me with 15 minutes!)

 

[Smilleybill]

Noticed this as well.

Since the OS2 update, first week since i got my watch back in the 4-6 week delivery wave, that i have made the weekly exercise goal without even trying.

The watch used to remind me every day that i only usually do 15mins of exercise. Except on weekends when i am more active at home, lawns, chores, wood, etc. I go to work to rest.

 

[maflynn]

Agreed, its too easy to increase your exercise minutes under OS2.

 

[ianrip]

i'm the same, on os 1.0.1 i had to actually exercise, now all i need to do is move around more, i think they may have reduced the heart rate limit to start so called exercise, I remember somone mentioning 100BP’S, it could be now lower
I’ve been sitting most of the day and I have 16mins already on the ring after 8 hours
can anyone else confirm this has been changed in code ??

 

[caligurl]

easier to get exercise, harder to get move calories and sometimes it takes longer than 1 min for your stand up and move to register!

 

[bushido]

i filled up the 30 minutes work out ring by sitting on the desk for 4 hours today. its a random mess now

 

[Armen]

Well if your heart rate is > 100BPM and you are moving and swinging your arms isn't that considered exercise?

 

[zetaplus93]

Yeah, also finding it much easier to fill the exercise and calorie rings.

I might be one of those lazy ones, but I do like the "easier" setting now. I'm closer to filling the rings now (I usually never fill the exercise ring unless I'm running, which I tend to do only 2-3 times a week) and it has motivated me to do more!

 

[musicpenguy]

Yea the exercise ring is based heart rate, also workouts will fill in the time regardless of heart rate I believe

 

[kioko91]

I spent over an hour at the gym and my exercise ring didn't move at all. Just my stand and move. I wish mine actually registered my exercising on the treadmill and elliptical.

 

[BarracksSi]

Looking forward to a fix.

I almost wonder if it has to be calibrated to what I consider "exercise", but out of the box on 1.01, it seemed to be right on the money.

On the plus side, I got my first full week of exercise badge.

 

[ericg301]

WatchOS2 breaks the usefulness of the exercising ring.

Back in the first OS I would have to exercise to get the exercise ring to move. Now I can sit in a car driving back from Sydney to Melbourne (~9 hour drive FYI) and have a 3/4 full exercising ring. Any time the winds up, the exercising ring fills up. Its WAY WAY WAY to sensitive!

I don't want two movement rings. I want a movement ring AND an exercise ring.

</rant>

how stressful was the drive?

 

[Mtmspa]

Set the goal higher. I have hit goal every day since I got it. Am currently at 840, but usually hit closer to 1200. That requires 1.5 hours of basketball and 15 - 20 mile bike ride daily. If you break up the exercise, you get more burn rate because it records as long as your heart rate is elevated.

Lost 12 pounds so far.

 

[haruhiko]

Except that the Move ring moves much slower now. I have to reduce my Move goal for 100KCal to retain the same level of exercising.

 

[haruhiko]

I spent over an hour at the gym and my exercise ring didn't move at all. Just my stand and move. I wish mine actually registered my exercising on the treadmill and elliptical.

Are you wearing the watch too loosely?

 

[kioko91]

Are you wearing the watch too loosely?

Sadly, that's not the issue. I wear my watch fairly tight (occasionally have marks from doing so but its too loose if I use the next hole up). It tracks my standing and moving just fine and my heart rate as well while I'm on the machines, which is why I'm so confused about the whole situation.

 

[Kuroz]

Well if your heart rate is > 100BPM and you are moving and swinging your arms isn't that considered exercise?

Kind of wish they would let you set it up a bit or at least it "learn" what your non exercise resting bpm is. My resting heart rate is like 90-98bpm and so my exercise ring just fills up when I'm not even doing anything.

 

[lionsy]

Completely agreed, most days my exercise bar is doubled and that's just from bits of walking here and there, which I don't consider exercise, because I'd have done it anyway, I've been on OS2 since the first developer beta so I'm a bit hazy, but I don't remember it being this sensitive with OS1.

 

[Cowboy1629]

Never having OS1 but for a couple of days I don't see the big deal here, can't you just increase your goals to where it's harder to hit during your day? I look at my weekly average and sent my next week’s goals based off of that.

Maybe I'm missing something...