Anybody satisfied with workout app?

[BarracksSi]

What parameters in weight lifting need to be recorded. I know you would want HR but what else.

For myself, I'd like to record the exercise name, reps per set, number of sets, and weight. I don't think this can be done automatically, of course, so a simple interface would be fine, like an adaptation of the stock Workout app.

I've read that Under Armour's Record app might do this, but I don't have an AW, and I haven't seen videos yet about it.

 

[gsmornot]

For myself, I'd like to record the exercise name, reps per set, number of sets, and weight. I don't think this can be done automatically, of course, so a simple interface would be fine, like an adaptation of the stock Workout app.

I've read that Under Armour's Record app might do this, but I don't have an AW, and I haven't seen videos yet about it.

Sounds nice. What you're looking for though is a spreadsheet or database application. Maybe that is what UA is working on? A way to avoid paper in the gym, just enter the numbers manually via an app?

 

[ReardenMetal]

For anyone who does a bunch of casual walking/city-urban walking around town, are you initiating an outdoor walk in the workout app or not?

I'm of two minds about using the workout app for walking from point A to point B and when not to use it. My biggest reason for not using it is accidentally forgetting to end the workout.

I wish I could definitively figure out which way is the best for getting credit.

 

[Jschultz]

For anyone who does a bunch of casual walking/city-urban walking around town, are you initiating an outdoor walk in the workout app or not?

I'm of two minds about using the workout app for walking from point A to point B and when not to use it. My biggest reason for not using it is accidentally forgetting to end the workout.

I wish I could definitively figure out which way is the best for getting credit.

I've struggled with this, too. If I know I'm going to be doing a lot of walking and I have enough battery, I'll load an outdoor walk in the workout app. I also do it alot for my daily walks to and from the train station for work. However, sometimes I forget to do this. Even though it's not an active workout, the watch somehow knows and throws a good chunk of my walks towards my active calories.

 

[ReardenMetal]

I've struggled with this, too. If I know I'm going to be doing a lot of walking and I have enough battery, I'll load an outdoor walk in the workout app. I also do it alot for my daily walks to and from the train station for work. However, sometimes I forget to do this. Even though it's not an active workout, the watch somehow knows and throws a good chunk of my walks towards my active calories.

yeah, thankfully, if you don't turn on an outdoor walk the watch still captures a bunch of data, even though the exercise ring has a mind of its own. what i've mostly been doing is not using outdoor walk unless it's a longer walk or a proper hike. otherwise, i'm just letting the watch chill and do its thing in the background.

 

[Night Spring]

For anyone who does a bunch of casual walking/city-urban walking around town, are you initiating an outdoor walk in the workout app or not?

I'm of two minds about using the workout app for walking from point A to point B and when not to use it. My biggest reason for not using it is accidentally forgetting to end the workout.

I wish I could definitively figure out which way is the best for getting credit.

I've tried it both ways, and decided that it's not worth the trouble to start and stop Workouts. Now I only start a Workout when I really mean to workout, that is, walk as fast as possible from point A to B.

 

[ReardenMetal]

I've tried it both ways, and decided that it's not worth the trouble to start and stop Workouts. Now I only start a Workout when I really mean to workout, that is, walk as fast as possible from point A to B.

i think that's the right way to go.

 

[ReardenMetal]

This may be too micro, but I wonder if anyone has gotten movement credit while walking and talking with the watch and iPhone being used by the same arm. I know, it seems ridiculous, but when you picture it it does place movement tracking in a grey area.

 

[gsmornot]

This may be too micro, but I wonder if anyone has gotten movement credit while walking and talking with the watch and iPhone being used by the same arm. I know, it seems ridiculous, but when you picture it it does place movement tracking in a grey area.

I don't see any credit or at least I see much less if I hold a leash while walking. Same for pushing a cart. If the arm is not swinging I don't think its counting as it would if your hands were empty. I now make sure I hold the leash with the arm not wearing the watch. It may not be needed but so far it seems like its the case. With my phone in my pocket my steps are counted. (not exactly what you asked) As for the watch Activity App (mostly credit for exercise) it appears the watch is independent of the phone and will only count if it thinks you're moving. Holding a phone still while walking would most likely look to the watch like you're not doing much, same as me holding the leash or pushing the cart. I try to push the cart with my non-watch hand. I even hold the lawnmower with my non-watch hand when I'm walking straight rows now too. Silly.

 

[ReardenMetal]

I don't see any credit or at least I see much less if I hold a leash while walking. Same for pushing a cart. If the arm is not swinging I don't think its counting as it would if your hands were empty. I now make sure I hold the leash with the arm not wearing the watch. It may not be needed but so far it seems like its the case. With my phone in my pocket my steps are counted. (not exactly what you asked) As for the watch Activity App (mostly credit for exercise) it appears the watch is independent of the phone and will only count if it thinks you're moving. Holding a phone still while walking would most likely look to the watch like you're not doing much, same as me holding the leash or pushing the cart. I try to push the cart with my non-watch hand. I even hold the lawnmower with my non-watch hand when I'm walking straight rows now too. Silly.

That makes sense. Seems the watch is actually forcing some ambidextrous behavior onto all of us, which I'm fine with. Being ambidextrous is supposed to be good for your brain anyway. Another health perk.

 

[BarracksSi]

^^^^ I've watched my phone while viewing the aforementioned Under Armour app, and it gains steps even while I'm holding it face up as I walk. Not sure what the motion chip looks for, but at least I'm not worrying about +-100 step errors.

Sounds nice. What you're looking for though is a spreadsheet or database application. Maybe that is what UA is working on? A way to avoid paper in the gym, just enter the numbers manually via an app?

I think that's the idea. I used to use a small notepad. Other apps, like the P90X app, walk me through a routine and have me enter reps and weights for each exercise. I don't think any of them can export the results later, but it's not necessary anyway.

 

[za9ra22]

I don't see any credit or at least I see much less if I hold a leash while walking. Same for pushing a cart. If the arm is not swinging I don't think its counting as it would if your hands were empty. ...

It isn't looking at or counting arm swings. The body makes a series of fairly predictable individual movements when taking a step, and put in simple terms, the software in the watch is looking for that series of movements being reported by the accelerometers in order to count a step.

The problem with holding a leash, pushing a cart or carrying a weight is that it damps out those movements at the wrist, making it harder for the watch to detect them, and thus count a step. It's why activity tracking from the wrist is notoriously difficult - though in my experience so far, the Apple watch is more accurate than other wrist-based devices I've tried.

 

[fitshaced]

I think if the Apple Watch was able to pair to a GPS device (not a phone) and the Health app included map information as well as elevation, stride and segments, it would do enough. If it also allowed the contacts button to be used as a Start/Pause button, it might actually be the best running computer you can buy.

It's downside for cycling is the screen not being always on. If it could allow maybe a black and white basic display whilst in an activity, it could even be the best cycling computer you can buy.

 

[BarracksSi]

It's downside for cycling is the screen not being always on. If it could allow maybe a black and white basic display whilst in an activity, it could even be the best cycling computer you can buy.

Well, maybe. When I ride, I want to know, in order of importance, my cadence, heart rate, time of day, and speed. After I get home, viewing a course map is nice but ultimately not necessary; all it's good for is showing off, IMO.

What my Garmin 410 gives me is GPS-calibrated speed, cadence, and quality heart rate data, with a configurable always-on LCD display. I can also leave my phone basically shut off, saving its battery over long rides.

What the Garmin is lacking, however, is any tie-in with Apple Health. The UA Record app can get data from Garmin Connect (perhaps because of architecture purchased from MapMyFitness?), but that's only half of a solution as the Garmin workouts don't appear to get written into Health. Garmin has also thus far refused to add Health support for any of their devices besides their Vivo bands.

An Apple Watch, if it could have HR, speed, and cadence, would be pretty sweet. Another solution would be something like a Wahoo Rflkt set up with their HR strap and speed/cadence sensor (or better for me, the Rflkt+, so I can keep my Garmin ANT+ strap and speed sensor).

When OS 2 gets settled in and third parties build their native apps, maybe they can run an app to present all that data. The last hurdle, though, would be a continuous display while mounted on the handlebars… which I think is a job handled better by a basic, but larger, LCD display.

 

[fitshaced]

Well, maybe. When I ride, I want to know, in order of importance, my cadence, heart rate, time of day, and speed. After I get home, viewing a course map is nice but ultimately not necessary; all it's good for is showing off, IMO.

What my Garmin 410 gives me is GPS-calibrated speed, cadence, and quality heart rate data, with a configurable always-on LCD display. I can also leave my phone basically shut off, saving its battery over long rides.

What the Garmin is lacking, however, is any tie-in with Apple Health. The UA Record app can get data from Garmin Connect (perhaps because of architecture purchased from MapMyFitness?), but that's only half of a solution as the Garmin workouts don't appear to get written into Health. Garmin has also thus far refused to add Health support for any of their devices besides their Vivo bands.

An Apple Watch, if it could have HR, speed, and cadence, would be pretty sweet. Another solution would be something like a Wahoo Rflkt set up with their HR strap and speed/cadence sensor (or better for me, the Rflkt+, so I can keep my Garmin ANT+ strap and speed sensor).

When OS 2 gets settled in and third parties build their native apps, maybe they can run an app to present all that data. The last hurdle, though, would be a continuous display while mounted on the handlebars… which I think is a job handled better by a basic, but larger, LCD display.

Health is really really lacking. It doesn't really tell you anything and that's why they need to include other metrics, activity comparison etc to make it more interesting and motivating. I use Garmin Connect and initially I wanted to centralise workout information into the Health app. But, I really don't see much point to using Health right now as I can't analyse anything.

Also, map information is important for me for considering future activities as well as getting a decent visualisation of why I found certain parts of the activity harder or easier.

 

[BarracksSi]

Health is really really lacking. It doesn't really tell you anything and that's why they need to include other metrics, activity comparison etc to make it more interesting and motivating. I use Garmin Connect and initially I wanted to centralise workout information into the Health app. But, I really don't see much point to using Health right now as I can't analyse anything.

I view Health as a sort of depository for data, which third party apps can use for various purposes. I'm not expecting a whole lot of direct use of the Health app itself. I'm already using other apps that display data with greater resolution instead, but at least they all connect to each other — or are using the same data — via Health.

Also, map information is important for me for considering future activities as well as getting a decent visualisation of why I found certain parts of the activity harder or easier.

Yeah, that's true. The most interesting thing I've done was jog a path in a park to spell out "MOM" on Mother's Day.

 

[ReardenMetal]

Health is really really lacking. It doesn't really tell you anything and that's why they need to include other metrics, activity comparison etc to make it more interesting and motivating. I use Garmin Connect and initially I wanted to centralise workout information into the Health app. But, I really don't see much point to using Health right now as I can't analyse anything.

Also, map information is important for me for considering future activities as well as getting a decent visualisation of why I found certain parts of the activity harder or easier.

Bottom line: health + apple watch are rough V1 products. It's limited and buggy and...you get the point.

However, if you're consistently wearing your watch and being a little more active/conscious as a result, that's a good thing. We'll all look back and laugh at this 5-10 years from now. Whenever I look at my iPhone 1 resting nicely in my bookshelf, I think of all the things it couldn't do compared to my iPhone 6. Yet, still very glad I had it at the time.

 

[exxxviii]

Health could launch a whole other thread like this one. Apple just needs to suck it up and totally rewrite Health to make it a destination worth visiting. Then, maybe we would see more interest in integration. That app is painful. And the addition of Activity just makes it worse and more disjointed.

 

[fitshaced]

Health could launch a whole other thread like this one. Apple just needs to suck it up and totally rewrite Health to make it a destination worth visiting. Then, maybe we would see more interest in integration. That app is painful. And the addition of Activity just makes it worse and more disjointed.

This is off topic a bit but what I find just incredibly ridiculous for an app such as Health is no real way to see something like step count for the week or even yesterday's total steps. It is supposed to feed that into Garmin Connect but it doesn't. Hitting 'show all data' for steps after about 10 months of use isn't going to bring you anywhere.

I log weight and body fat percentage daily into Health, that's really all its good for.

 

[Nugget]

What the Garmin is lacking, however, is any tie-in with Apple Health. The UA Record app can get data from Garmin Connect (perhaps because of architecture purchased from MapMyFitness?), but that's only half of a solution as the Garmin workouts don't appear to get written into Health. Garmin has also thus far refused to add Health support for any of their devices besides their Vivo bands.

You can sort of perform an end run around this limitation by setting up the Strava auto-sync feature in Garmin Connect. This will automatically upload your workouts from Garmin Connect into Strava as soon as you've finished the workout. Then, if you load up the Strava iOS app on your iPhone or iPad, it will publish that workout data into the Apple Health database. They'll show up and they contain duration and distance data (but not any heart rate or interval times).

Then the only missing link is that the Apple Watch does not recognize those third-party workouts when it calculates/displays the workout ring.

It's close, though. I have high hopes for WatchOS 2 remedying that last part of the equation.

 

[BarracksSi]

Nugget, hey, good idea. I ditched Strava when (a) I didn't want to keep my iPhone running during a ride and (b) didn't care about comparing routes with random strangers. That was long before Health, though, so I never found out it could move data like that.

 

[PatrickNSF]

You can sort of perform an end run around this limitation by setting up the Strava auto-sync feature in Garmin Connect. This will automatically upload your workouts from Garmin Connect into Strava as soon as you've finished the workout. Then, if you load up the Strava iOS app on your iPhone or iPad, it will publish that workout data into the Apple Health database. They'll show up and they contain duration and distance data (but not any heart rate or interval times).

Then the only missing link is that the Apple Watch does not recognize those third-party workouts when it calculates/displays the workout ring.

It's close, though. I have high hopes for WatchOS 2 remedying that last part of the equation.

Great tip. I tried it and it works. I also noticed that Nike+ and iSmoothRun feed into Health, but those are run off the phone. It's be great to have something not run off the phone (i.e., a Garmin GPS watch) feed into Health and then into the Activity app.

 

[exxxviii]

Apple will need to build the web UI for this. That is one of the glaring missing features in the activity & workout stack. All other products on the market have a web UI, and that is the principle interface for data exchange. Then, the tools vertically move the data down through the phones and the tracker devices.

 

[PatrickNSF]

Apple will need to build the web UI for this. That is one of the glaring missing features in the activity & workout stack. All other products on the market have a web UI, and that is the principle interface for data exchange. Then, the tools vertically move the data down through the phones and the tracker devices.

Also, there needs to be a social component. I mean, what's the point of going on a 6 mile run if I can't make my friends feel bad about how they didn't? :-o

 

[exxxviii]

Also, there needs to be a social component. I mean, what's the point of going on a 6 mile run if I can't make my friends feel bad about how they didn't? :-o

Exactly. This has been very high on my soapbox of annoyances. I need social to show off and get motivated when a friend has a big day.