Is it just me or are the move and exercise rings the same?

[darcyf]

New to Apple Watch (and love it) and maybe it's just because I'm working from home but I find the move ring only really updates in conjunction with the exercise ring. Like for me to get the move ring to... move, I inevitably end up moving the exercise ring, too.

I read somewhere that exercise credit gets harder to achieve the more fit you get, so maybe that's what's going on? Right now I indoor cycle for 20 minutes in the morning, which moves both rings, then they pretty much don't move throughout the day until I go on an outdoor walk in the evening, then they both move again.

To complete my move ring, I end up having to nearly double my exercise ring (move is set to 570, exercise to 30).

Is this because I'm not fit, and over time this will change (i.e. exercise ring won't move for activity that moves the move ring)? Or perhaps it's due to my being stuck inside all day?

Appreciate any insights you may have!

 

[chabig]

It's you.

Track daily activity with Apple Watch

Use Activity on your Apple Watch to track how often you stand up, how much you move, and the amount of time you exercise.

support.apple.com

Apple Watch Move vs. Exercise Rings: Know The Difference - AppleToolBox

Whether you're the proud new owner of an Apple Watch SE or a longtime owner of previous Apple Watch versions, you might not be completely clear on what

appletoolbox.com

 

[darcyf]

It's you.

Track daily activity with Apple Watch

Use Activity on your Apple Watch to track how often you stand up, how much you move, and the amount of time you exercise.

support.apple.com

Apple Watch Move vs. Exercise Rings: Know The Difference - AppleToolBox

Whether you're the proud new owner of an Apple Watch SE or a longtime owner of previous Apple Watch versions, you might not be completely clear on what

appletoolbox.com

Thanks but I've read several articles, now this one as well, and none of them seem to truly know the answer, they all just kind of guess towards it. Meanwhile, here's what I'm looking at so far today...

Notice how the movement ring barely registers unless I'm also exercising? I was hoping maybe others had similar experiences and could offer some insight.

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Move tracks how many calories you burn throughout the day. So any movement, from walking to cycling, registers with the Move ring. Exercise tracks how many minutes you spend exercising at a brisk walk or above. So if most of your movement is at the speed of a brisk walk or above, you could get the impression that the rings are the same. I don't know the exact algorithms behind it, but that's the general idea. They could change in sensitivity over time, as you suggested, but I don't know.

 

[darcyf]

Move tracks how many calories you burn throughout the day. So any movement, from walking to cycling, registers with the Move ring. Exercise tracks how many minutes you spend exercising at a brisk walk or above. So if most of your movement is at the speed of a brisk walk or above, you could get the impression that the rings are the same. I don't know the exact algorithms behind it, but that's the general idea. They could change in sensitivity over time, as you suggested, but I don't know.

Yeah I'd be curious to hear from folks who've had theirs for a while if they noticed this change over time. Here's my entire day now, virtually 1:1...

Aside from the morning cycle, the rest of what is being recorded as exercise is just outdoor walking (which the watch keeps telling me to record as a workout). The little red dots throughout the day are just whatever puttering I'm doing in the house. Hard to see what could exist between puttering and an outdoor walk that I'm missing and could register as movement but not exercise.

 

[chabig]

Here is mine

 

[davidg4781]

How do you change the ring goals? My Move is at 460 calories but I thought it used to be maybe 1200?

 

[Puonti]

How do you change the ring goals? My Move is at 460 calories but I thought it used to be maybe 1200?

Open Activity on your Apple Watch and scroll to the bottom. You'll find Weekly Summary and Change Goals options there.

 

[davidg4781]

Open Activity on your Apple Watch and scroll to the bottom. You'll find Weekly Summary and Change Goals options there.

I have a S0 Apple Watch. Maybe that’s why I don’t see that option?

 

[Puonti]

I have a S0 Apple Watch. Maybe that’s why I don’t see that option?

In a manner of speaking yes - goal setting was introduced in watchOS 7.

I'm not sure how far back it goes as I've only been onboard since watchOS 6, but there you were given a weekly report every Monday where you could adjust your Move goal (only).

 

[akash.nu]

So nowadays it’s pretty obvious that most people only move a lot when they’re actively working out.

Take a look at my stats. It’s obvious that most of the moves throughout the day was only when I was actually working out. The rest of the day I hardly moved as my stand goal is only at 6.

So what you’re seeing is fine. If and when the lockdown ends you’ll see the difference.

 

[darcyf]

So nowadays it’s pretty obvious that most people only move a lot when they’re actively working out.

Take a look at my stats. It’s obvious that most of the moves throughout the day was only when I was actually working out. The rest of the day I hardly moved as my stand goal is only at 6.

So what you’re seeing is fine. If and when the lockdown ends you’ll see the difference.

That's good to know, though since I'm going to be working from home going forward now, even after the pandemic, I may have to figure something out here.

 

[Deguello]

They're not the same. All exercise is movement. Not all movement is exercise.

I get credit for movement going to the mailbox or buying groceries or playing with the dogs. I get credit for exercise when I move at a brisk walk or faster.