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I don't exercise but my Watch said I did
- Thread starter marine0816
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My heart rate spikes when I'm eating cereal? This Watch is so inaccurate..
The Watch determines your level of exercise based on your history. When the Watch is new, you will get exercise minutes for doing very little. As you wear it more, it will become harder to get exercise minutes if you are an active person.
For example, I run 60+ minutes every other day, so I only get exercise minutes when I am running or performing strenuous activity. My wife does not run, so she gets plenty of exercise minutes for casually walking our dog. We often walk side by side and she will get the full minutes we walked, while I will get 1 or 2 minutes if I am lucky. At first it bothered me, but then I figured it was probably a more accurate way to count exercise minutes if it based on your personal fitness level. (as it should be)
For example, I run 60+ minutes every other day, so I only get exercise minutes when I am running or performing strenuous activity. My wife does not run, so she gets plenty of exercise minutes for casually walking our dog. We often walk side by side and she will get the full minutes we walked, while I will get 1 or 2 minutes if I am lucky. At first it bothered me, but then I figured it was probably a more accurate way to count exercise minutes if it based on your personal fitness level. (as it should be)
How much hair do you have?
Bigger question. Why would someone, especially with a Marine avatar post 'I don't exercise'? Exercise is essential and directly correlates to quality, longevity and health.
Exercise is counted when your watch is moving at 3.3mph for an entire minute. Doesn't matter if you are walking, showering, or sleeping. If your watch is moving at that rate, it will count exercise. When driving through the canyons I sometimes get an exercise minute here and there because of how much I am turning the steering wheel.
I think you are over simplifying the algorithm. While it might be possible to get exercise minutes for the Watch traveling at 3.3 mph for an entire minute, it does not happen for every person.
My wife and I walk the same pace for the same distance on a continued basis. Her Watch ALWAYS records WAY more exercise minutes than mine. She is not running ahead of me for a minute and stopping. She is right next to me for the duration of the walk.
Your driving example does not prove your theory.
I agree with TXwatch. When in the gym it records for me. Perfectly! But i also agree with Marine0816 at busy times at work I'm running around and it records exercise. Is my heart rate elevated? probably because my boss expects a lot out of me. Physically my job is demanding but i am not doing as much work as in the gym. So i just take it as.... Am i moving faster than i normally would (Yes?) Then it thinks I'm exercising. I wear it everyday so its learning my schedule and routine. (thats how Big brother keeps tabs on me 
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Nope, not over simplifying it. Apple themselves have stated that all it takes is an average of 3.3mph for an entire minute. If watch is moving at 3.3mph for 50 seconds and then drops below that for the last 10 seconds of the minute, you will not get credit for that minute. I have confirmed and verified this thousands of times over the last 20 months of owning my watch.
I agree with TXwatch. When in the gym it records for me. Perfectly! But i also agree with Marine0816 at busy times at work I'm running around and it records exercise. Is my heart rate elevated? probably because my boss expects a lot out of me. Physically my job is demanding but i am not doing as much work as in the gym. So i just take it as.... Am i moving faster than i normally would (Yes?) Then it thinks I'm exercising. I wear it everyday so its learning my schedule and routine. (thats how Big brother keeps tabs on me
The idea that it is using your heart rate for minutes is 100% incorrect. Remember if you are not running a workout it is only grabbing your heart rate once every 5 minutes. Therefore it has absolutely no idea that you are working out or not. One heart rate reading every 5 minutes will not give you exercise minutes. The only thing that gives exercise minutes is maintaining the brisk walk pace of 3.3mph for the entire minute. Even when you are running a walking/running workout, you do not get the minutes unless you maintain that pace.
"Other" workout, cycling workouts, stair stepper and elliptical all give one minute per minute the workout is active. that is because there is no way to monitor the watch movement to make sure its maintaining 3.3mph as your arms are stationary. Anything requires wrist movement will not award a minute unless the entire average of that minute is 3.3mph.
From Apple themselves:
Every full minute of movement that equals or exceeds the intensity of a brisk walk counts toward your daily Exercise and Move goals.
The Activity app relies on arm motion and an accelerometer to track movement, but the Workout app can use the accelerometer, a heart rate sensor, and the GPS on your iPhone if you carry it with you. Open the Workout app on your Apple Watch, tap Outdoor Walk, and bring your iPhone on the walk.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204517
Apple classifies a brisk walk as 3.3mph. When you are not running an walking/running workout as I mentioned above, it is only using accelerometer and arm motion. No heart rate, no GPS.
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So you generally drive <3.2mph?
I know you are just being funny, but I am talking about watch movement, not GPS movement.
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Please provide a link to this Apple info. You state anecdotal evidence involving a subjective 'study' of one individual (you) as proof????????. Also how does this 3.3MPH metric work or even relate to something like jumping jacks or jumping rope (both 0MPH and both exercise)?
I believe Apple uses individual metrics to drive algorithms based on accelerometer and gyro readings to determine what meets a minimum threshold to qualify as exercise. A 20 years old 6'/175lbs male will have a much different (higher) minimum threshold for exercise than a 80 years old 5'2"/140lbs female. In the fitness industry one size doesn't fit all.
Here is a video of Apple's fitness lab actively working on algorithms.
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/inside-apples-top-secret-health-lab-apple-watch-29804218
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Where does it say that? I see references to brisk walks, but I don't see the 3.3 mph number.
That said, I can confirm that if you stand still and wave your arm around, you will get exercise credit. In addition to getting exercise credit for combing my hair, I've also gotten it by clapping enthusiastically while watching a Broadway show (not Hamilton, unfortunately
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Where does it say that? I see references to brisk walks, but I don't see the 3.3 mph number.
That said, I can confirm that if you stand still and wave your arm around, you will get exercise credit. In addition to getting exercise credit for combing my hair, I've also gotten it by clapping enthusiastically while watching a Broadway show (not Hamilton, unfortunately
Apple T2 has confirmed it to me as well as Genius Bar members. Its not documented for the public to see, but after getting the watch I reached out to T2 because I wasn't getting credit for outdoor walking workouts. They said that it required an average pace of 3.3mph per minute for it to count. I have even verified with engineers when the heart rate fiasco took place last summer.
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Doing a jumping jack is moving your arm faster than 3.3mph. As I just stated above, I have confirmed the 3.3mph requirement with Apple engineers, T2 support and Genius Bar members. Exercise is counted with a brisk walk. Apple classifies a brisk walk as 3.3mph. If you don't believe me, reach out to T2 support. Remember I am talking about getting exercise minutes without running a workout. This only uses accelerometer and arm movement. I linked the Apple article above that specifically states that.
As to jumping rope, if you are not running an "other" workout, you would not get any minutes because your arm is not moving at a 3.3mph rate. As I stated above, jumping jacks, your arm is moving at a 3.3mph rate and therefore will be counted. I have verified both of those in the past. Running in place also counts because your wrist is moving.
[doublepost=1480880674][/doublepost]For what it's worth. Just got off the phone with a senior advisor for the iCloud push email notification issue and she transferred me to an Apple Watch senior advisor at my request. I asked about the brisk walk speed requirement and he said it's anything over 3mph. The CDC classifies that as a brisk walk and Apple has implemented it as such.
i filled my entire exercise ring off roading in the mountains in PA lol thought it was funny
Yep, its amazing what sharp corners are bumpy roads can do. My 'canyon runs' are only about 5 miles long, but its about 10-15 minutes. I usually get 5 minutes of 'exercise'. But I guess its ok, because it definitely is a workout and your heart is pounding lol.
This does not explain why my wife and I walking side by side get vastly different exercise minutes on a consistent basis. (Not 1000s of times, but close to a hundred) She is not moving any faster than me...
This iMore.com article explains the Exercise ring the way I have experienced it:
http://www.imore.com/apple-watch-activity-tracking-5-tips-you-need-know
"To determine exercise, your Apple Watch looks at your heart rate and movement data. That means that things you do on a regular basis like getting up and walking around your office or taking your dog for a walk probably won't raise your heart rate enough for the Apple Watch to deem it as exercise.
The exercise metric is meant to encourage you to do more, not simply track the things you do every day. If you find the green ring isn't moving along as much as you'd like, try something that requires a little more effort and really gets your heart pumping. As with anything, what the Apple Watch considers as exercise will vary from person to person. Someone who isn't very active will earn exercise for doing things out of the ordinary like going on a long walk. Someone who regularly walks and hits 12,000 steps a day will need to do more than that. Your Apple Watch learns your habits quickly and will want you to push yourself to earn anything extra."
Food for thought from a reliable source.
Read Apple's own article. It clearly states that it only uses heart rate when using a workout.
"Every full minute of movement that equals or exceeds the intensity of a brisk walk counts toward your daily Exercise and Move goals. For wheelchair users, this is measured in brisk pushes. Any activity below this level counts only toward your daily Move goal."
"Make sure that you earn Exercise credit during walks by allowing the arm with your Apple Watch to swing naturally."
"The Activity app relies on arm motion and an accelerometer to track movement, but the Workout app can use the accelerometer, a heart rate sensor, and the GPS on your iPhone if you carry it with you."
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204517
As I stated above, Apple again confirmed to me a brisk walk is 3mph or faster. That is what the CDC classifies as a brisk walk. If you and your wife walk the same pace but it does not count for you, its possible that your calibration is messed up and your stride was not calibrated correctly. I have had this problem with my GF over the last 20 months. We go to the track and recalibrate, the issue goes away.
I have the opposite problem. I can go all day and it will say I only exercised 5 minutes. I then either go to the gym or for a long walk. Usually, I run at the gym. I've noticed that driving in traffic will cause my number to increase.
I'm obsessed with completing my exercise rings and it gets annoying to 'have' to go for a walk at night to make sure I fill the ring in for the day. It's not getting any warmer in the North East...
I'm obsessed with completing my exercise rings and it gets annoying to 'have' to go for a walk at night to make sure I fill the ring in for the day. It's not getting any warmer in the North East...
I've heard this from Apple as well. 3.3mph and faster gets you "Exercise" credit.
I experienced an issue where it wasn't registering Exercise properly (mainly when connected to the iPhone, oddly enough). After replacing the watch, it's all good.
Awesome, that makes me feel better. Now I am not the only one claiming something but can't find it in writing. All I know is what I have been told.
Now that I think about it this makes sense to give a more 'definitive' answer to a customer since it is an easy to understand concept and meets the 'average' persons requirements. There would be no way or point in trying to explain the intricate differences in exercise physiology & dynamics, detailed algorithms, individual metrics or trying to explain perceived exertion (Borg) to the general public.
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