Apple Watch And Weightlifting

[respectabilia]

Can the Apple Watch work with weightlifting?

There are a few unanswered questions for me at the moment and I figured there must be more Apple Watch owners who go to the gym for weights, so looking to see what you guys think:

- How accurately does it track weight lifting as an exercise? Currently, I start an 'other' exercise with an open goal so at least the watch can see my heart is working away despite me being stationery lifting weights for 30 seconds at a time.

But how accurate are the readings in the end? Does it over estimate or underestimate the energy output? I get the feeling t underestimates judging at how close my jogs are to a session of squats.

- How do you use apps on the watch for weight lifting? I'm currently using it to play the music app/Overcast podcasts and remote control it and that works well. I also use FitList for tracking workout data and it works, but as with third party apps and Bluetooth, it's so slow with loading screens sometimes I do just end up going over to the phone that I leave lying nearby.

Any other apps?

- How do you use them with weight lifting straps, the kind used for better grip with deadlifts for example? For the time being, I'm just taking the watch off during deadlifts.

- Anyone using the leather watch bands in the gym? Will it wear in a good leathery way or mess up with time and sweat? What about the Milanese?

- How do you use the watch at the gym without standing out? It's great when you get a message and can reply quickly or dictate, but I clearly stand out if I'm fiddling and talking to my watch so often (often but briefly).

 

[michael1019]

Seriously?

I'm going to assume this was a serious question. I train with the watch on as I always trained with watches on. I'm a watch guy and I just always wear one. I usually wore a Luminox - I just feel weird without a watch on. So now I have a 42 SS and my only strap at the moment is the Milanese, so I've been using that combo.

Here's the deal about calories out - it's an interesting metric but ultimately it doesn't matter at all. Only calories IN matter in either weight loss, cutting, or mass gain. Calories out, at best, are inaccurate or at worst, the path to 'calorie entitlement' and straying from your goal path. Having said that I use the 'other' when I'm training and I find it to be pretty accurate. It's almost the same numbers I used to find my true caloric needs to maintain my mass, which is BMR + activity cost (3500 calories). What you guys have wrong on the boards is this - that doesn't mean I get to shovel 3500 calories down my throat everyday. I stay at about 2500-2800 calories to lean down slowly. I'm coming off of a winter mass gain program where I was taking in 4000+ calories/day. The 'other' seems to be pretty accurate as well as the algorithm used to estimate resting calories.

And straps - don't use them. Now you can deadlift with your watch on!

Ok so that was a bit of a joke, but not really. I only use straps when my DL weight is at or above 90% and my grip begins to fail. For me, that's 390% and up. I'm 5'9" and 175, so if I can build grip strength, anyone can.

Peoples reaction to the watch: no one has noticed or said a word. This is at 3 different gyms and about 12 workouts since Tuesday. No one really cares. That and when I'm at the gym I'm training, not exercising, so I get nods and not endless set ruining and intensity crushing conversations.

 

[Cindori]

Apple Watch currently does not track anything related to weight lifting.

There's tons of potential for third-party app developers to make this functionality a reality.

The problem is that the API's necessary for tracking these sorts of movements are not available for developers yet.

As for using lifting straps, I don't see the problem. Just move your watch further up your arm?

 

[michael1019]

Apple Watch currently does not track anything related to weight lifting.

There's tons of potential for third-party app developers to make this functionality a reality.

The problem is that the API's necessary for tracking these sorts of movements are not available for developers yet.

As for using lifting straps, I don't see the problem. Just move your watch further up your arm?

The watch tracks your heart rate and exertion. What more do you really need when lifting? I have my pad, pen, and workout log. It's neat to see the data but fitness tracking, in my opinion, is only useful as a metric to determine intensity.

 

[Newtons Apple]

The watch is not really that smart. I got over 1100 steps by mowing the lawn yesterday and it is a RIDING mower. Only way you will get weight lifting recorded is to do it manually.

 

[respectabilia]

Seriously?



I'm going to assume this was a serious question. I train with the watch on as I always trained with watches on. I'm a watch guy and I just always wear one. I usually wore a Luminox - I just feel weird without a watch on. So now I have a 42 SS and my only strap at the moment is the Milanese, so I've been using that combo.



Here's the deal about calories out - it's an interesting metric but ultimately it doesn't matter at all. Only calories IN matter in either weight loss, cutting, or mass gain. Calories out, at best, are inaccurate or at worst, the path to 'calorie entitlement' and straying from your goal path. Having said that I use the 'other' when I'm training and I find it to be pretty accurate. It's almost the same numbers I used to find my true caloric needs to maintain my mass, which is BMR + activity cost (3500 calories). What you guys have wrong on the boards is this - that doesn't mean I get to shovel 3500 calories down my throat everyday. I stay at about 2500-2800 calories to lean down slowly. I'm coming off of a winter mass gain program where I was taking in 4000+ calories/day. The 'other' seems to be pretty accurate as well as the algorithm used to estimate resting calories.



And straps - don't use them. Now you can deadlift with your watch on!



Ok so that was a bit of a joke, but not really. I only use straps when my DL weight is at or above 90% and my grip begins to fail. For me, that's 390% and up. I'm 5'9" and 175, so if I can build grip strength, anyone can.



Peoples reaction to the watch: no one has noticed or said a word. This is at 3 different gyms and about 12 workouts since Tuesday. No one really cares. That and when I'm at the gym I'm training, not exercising, so I get nods and not endless set ruining and intensity crushing conversations.

Not sure why you'd think the post wasn't serious, but thanks for the input.

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Apple Watch currently does not track anything related to weight lifting.

There's tons of potential for third-party app developers to make this functionality a reality.

The problem is that the API's necessary for tracking these sorts of movements are not available for developers yet.

As for using lifting straps, I don't see the problem. Just move your watch further up your arm?

That's what I'd heard also, just can't find anything detailed about it or plans etc.

I've thought of wearing the watch with straps but then then the watch would be high up and no longer on my wrist technically...can it still read heart rate etc when not on the lower wrist? I guess I'll have to test it out.

 

[Mac 128]

The watch tracks your heart rate and exertion. What more do you really need when lifting? I have my pad, pen, and workout log. It's neat to see the data but fitness tracking, in my opinion, is only useful as a metric to determine intensity.

You have to admit though, having the watch keep track of your sets, even if you have to enter the number of reps manually. And entering on your watch even easier. I used to carry around pen and paper, but I'd love to be able to input that on the watch instead, and have it tracked in a meaningful way over the long term. I stopped doing it because it was a pain in the butt, and because nobody else at Golds was doing it -- the same reason I stopped wearing gloves LOL give it a generation and the Apple health labs will figure it out ... ;-)

 

[ScubaLeo]

Can the Apple Watch work with weightlifting?

There are a few unanswered questions for me at the moment and I figured there must be more Apple Watch owners who go to the gym for weights, so looking to see what you guys think:

- How do you use apps on the watch for weight lifting? I'm currently using it to play the music app/Overcast podcasts and remote control it and that works well. I also use FitList for tracking workout data and it works, but as with third party apps and Bluetooth, it's so slow with loading screens sometimes I do just end up going over to the phone that I leave lying nearby. View attachment 552994View attachment 552995

Any other apps?

I too would like to know if there are any other apps out there for weightlifting that have Apple Watch integration. I currently use Fitness Buddy to track my excerises, sets, and reps but it doesn't have a Watch app. It would be nice to be able to enter the info without having to take out my phone everytime. Better yet, leave my phone in the locker and have it connected to my Watch over the gym wifi. I'll have to try FitList and see how that works out.

 

[Cindori]

The watch tracks your heart rate and exertion. What more do you really need when lifting? I have my pad, pen, and workout log. It's neat to see the data but fitness tracking, in my opinion, is only useful as a metric to determine intensity.

The Apple Watch can (and will) be able to accurately and automatically measure everything from pushups, dumbbell/barbell exercises to squats and deadlifts. The sensor is that accurate. The fact that you are bringing a paper pad and pen to the gym just proves there's value in this. Soon you'll be able to see charts on your phone with your progress on certain exercises. Apple just needs to make the API's public. It might happen at WWDC.

 

[respectabilia]

The Apple Watch can (and will) be able to accurately and automatically measure everything from pushups, dumbbell/barbell exercises to squats and deadlifts. The sensor is that accurate. The fact that you are bringing a paper pad and pen to the gym just proves there's value in this. Soon you'll be able to see charts on your phone with your progress on certain exercises. Apple just needs to make the API's public. It might happen at WWDC.

I agree, there's definitely potential here. Like most things with Apple, the real fruits come out much later, kind of like we saw with the sudden boost in features with iOS 7 and 8.

 

[kinster]

You have to admit though, having the watch keep track of your sets, even if you have to enter the number of reps manually. And entering on your watch even easier. I used to carry around pen and paper, but I'd love to be able to input that on the watch instead, and have it tracked in a meaningful way over the long term. I stopped doing it because it was a pain in the butt, and because nobody else at Golds was doing it -- the same reason I stopped wearing gloves LOL give it a generation and the Apple health labs will figure it out ... ;-)

Exactly, some people just can't think ahead.

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The Apple Watch can (and will) be able to accurately and automatically measure everything from pushups, dumbbell/barbell exercises to squats and deadlifts. The sensor is that accurate. The fact that you are bringing a paper pad and pen to the gym just proves there's value in this. Soon you'll be able to see charts on your phone with your progress on certain exercises. Apple just needs to make the API's public. It might happen at WWDC.

These kind of things are available for the iPhone already and you just put it in your pocket. I can't wait for them to release access to the accelerometer for the Apple Watch. Users will find it more convenient with the Watch

 

[TAZ911]

Apologies for not having answers to the OP, but rather asking more questions; but for those of you who are using the watch at the gym for activity other than cardio how accurately does it track your HR. My experiences with skin based HR monitors is awful. Even for cardio they were consistently off by up to 100 bpm. That's pretty unacceptable for my tastes.

Thanks.