"Other" workout registers excerise while sitting

[rkb37]

Yesterday, I rode my bike to work and back for a total of 52 minutes. I tracked it with the Outdoor Cycle workout mode. That obviously closed my exercise ring. But I also mowed the lawn for around an hour with my iPhone in my pocket and I didn't start a workout. I have in the past to see how far I end up walking, but this time i didn't. I ended up with 55 minutes of exercise from mowing the lawn. The AppleWatch registered this "exercise" on its own.

I've had my watch since day one and haven't noticed a big difference before or after the 1.0.1 update when it comes to my exercise ring. When I exercise, I close the ring. When I don't exercise, I don't close the ring. When I chase my kids around the house, I move the ring (I certainly don't put my AW in any workout mode when that happens!). And when I do a brisk walk, or more, without starting a workout, it registers that as exercise and I get credit. I haven't noticed the update really affecting that. But maybe I'm just not paying close enough attention...

 

[gppittjk]

Yesterday, I rode my bike to work and back for a total of 52 minutes. I tracked it with the Outdoor Cycle workout mode. That obviously closed my exercise ring. But I also mowed the lawn for around an hour with my iPhone in my pocket and I didn't start a workout. I have in the past to see how far I end up walking, but this time i didn't. I ended up with 55 minutes of exercise from mowing the lawn. The AppleWatch registered this "exercise" on its own.

I've had my watch since day one and haven't noticed a big difference before or after the 1.0.1 update when it comes to my exercise ring. When I exercise, I close the ring. When I don't exercise, I don't close the ring. When I chase my kids around the house, I move the ring (I certainly don't put my AW in any workout mode when that happens!). And when I do a brisk walk, or more, without starting a workout, it registers that as exercise and I get credit. I haven't noticed the update really affecting that. But maybe I'm just not paying close enough attention...

This has pretty much been the case for me as well. If I exercise, even if I don't activate the Workout app, I get credit. I definitely have to get my heart rate up for it to trigger the exercise ring, but it does activate. Even on days when I do a 55-minute workout recorded in the app, I'll get 72-75 minutes of Exercise, meaning I get 15-20 minutes throughout the day when I haven't activated the app.

 

[ridcully]

This has pretty much been the case for me as well. If I exercise, even if I don't activate the Workout app, I get credit. I definitely have to get my heart rate up for it to trigger the exercise ring, but it does activate. Even on days when I do a 55-minute workout recorded in the app, I'll get 72-75 minutes of Exercise, meaning I get 15-20 minutes throughout the day when I haven't activated the app.

It's the same for me. If I walk at a 15 min/mile pace I get the whole time credited as exercise with no workout running. With outdoor walk selected I get the same results.

 

[millerrh]

And you guys are both on 1.0.1? I have heard others say that they used to fill up their exercise rings on 1.0 and now they barely get any credit unless Workout app is engaged.

 

[flur]

Where are you guys getting your information that Apple Watch needs to detect arm movement to be accurate? I seem to recall them stating gardening and playing with your kids would be considered activity. They don't seem to distinguish between activities that make your arm move and ones that don't. I'm not sure how they were doing it...thought it was the heart rate measurements (prior to 1.0.1). But they don't seem to be making any caveats that your arm needs to be swinging. Otherwise this is just really a pedometer that is estimating calories based on steps. Surely it is more sophisticated than that.

The tools that the AW has at its disposal are the accelerometer and gyrometer (which both require movement), the HR monitor, and the GPS from your phone. That's really it. With the HR only working either when you're not moving or when you have the workout app active, that leaves the motion detection and the GPS (when your phone is with you) to determine if you're moving around.

Gardening and playing with your kids both generally involve arm movements. The gyrometer and accelerometer don't require the arm to be swinging, just moving, and they can be fairly fine tuned to detect all different kinds of movement, including small movements. That said, Apple made a lot of claims before it changed the HR behaviour, and those claims may not apply any longer.

 

[stoomc]

Just to confirm, does this active calories being added up even when doing nothing only happen on the "other" setting?

Basically, can someone start a run workout and leave the watch off/ sit still for 5 mins... will it add active calories?
I hope not.

 

[Julien]

Just to confirm, does this active calories being added up even when doing nothing only happen on the "other" setting?

Basically, can someone start a run workout and leave the watch off/ sit still for 5 mins... will it add active calories?
I hope not.

This has been covered but here you go.

Start Other (this only applies to Other) and you will get credit for Active calories at least equal to a 'brisk walk' based on your metrics. If the HRM detects elevated HR readings then it will credit for 'extra' Active calories above a 'brisk walk'.

This is a well thought out and implemented way to record exercise activities that are not true cardio in nature.

If someone wants to 'cheat' and turn Other on and take a nap then that are not cheating Apple or me.

 

[Night Spring]

This is a well thought out and implemented way to record exercise activities that are not true cardio in nature.

I have to disagree that this is a good implementation. What happens if I start an Other exercise session, but happen to take a breather while it's running? It might not be my intention to cheat, but I could just pause in the middle of my workout for any number of reasons. Then I would get credited with calories and exercise minutes for the time I was pausing. And yes, I know there is a pause button, but it just isn't practical to manually pause and restart the workout every time I take a breather, or otherwise get interrupted in the middle of a workout. Granted, I am totally unfamiliar with exercise tracking, and Apple watch is the first fitness device I've ever tried. But I just have a hard time believing that crediting people for not moving at all is a good way to deal with exercises that don't fit into any of the other pre-defined categories in the workout app.

 

[stoomc]

This has been covered but here you go.

Start Other (this only applies to Other) and you will get credit for Active calories at least equal to a 'brisk walk' based on your metrics. If the HRM detects elevated HR readings then it will credit for 'extra' Active calories above a 'brisk walk'.

This is a well thought out and implemented way to record exercise activities that are not true cardio in nature.

If someone wants to 'cheat' and turn Other on and take a nap then that are not cheating Apple or me.

Apologies, I've umpteen threads open at once regarding this bloody heart ate monitor, lol!

Glad to here it's just the other option and doesnt just add cactive calories for doing nothing on the other options.

Thanks for confirming

 

[Julien]

I have to disagree that this is a good implementation. What happens if I start an Other exercise session, but happen to take a breather while it's running?....

The same thing when using Running, Biking or any other Activity, you hit Pause.

 

[Night Spring]

The same thing when using Running, Biking or any other Activity, you hit Pause.

I already said there may be circumstances where it's impractical to hit pause. With other activity types, if I pause during my workout, I get no credit for the time I spent pausing. I don't have to physically hit the pause button in order to avoid getting undeserved credit.

 

[millerrh]

Right...this is a very smart watch and should know if you're moving or not and not give you credit when you aren't. If you have to manually start and stop each workout and pause when taking a breaks, this watch then becomes a big pain in the ass. How about I strap it on and it magically tells me how many calories I'm burning without me doing anything? That's how it supposedly worked in 1.0.0.

 

[Night Spring]

How about I strap it on and it magically tells me how many calories I'm burning without me doing anything? That's how it supposedly worked in 1.0.0.

Exactly! Granted, it may have been a little inaccurate. But being a complete fitness novice, accuracy wasn't that important to me. "Put it on and forget it" ease of use was.

Before the update, I never bothered with the workout app, as I figured that was for advanced fitness people who needed more metrics and better accuracy. Post update, I've been forced to meddle with it because otherwise I never get any credit for exercise.

 

[macdudesir]

It's the same for me. If I walk at a 15 min/mile pace I get the whole time credited as exercise with no workout running. With outdoor walk selected I get the same results.

I recently got my watch and it was already on 1.0.1. However, my exercise ring seems to be doing alright. I haven't done any "dedicated" exercise since I've had the watch, just normal walking around school and these were my rings yesterday...

And today (note the time in the screenshot...still only 3:57. Just got home from school). I have 17 minutes of exercise just from school.

From what I can tell, if I'm actually doing something that would be considered exercise, I get credit for it. I can get 2 or 3 minutes of credit for walking quickly from class to class. But it has to be VERY quickly, which makes sense, as when I walk my normal pace (which I think is still fast) my heart rate at the destination is usually in the 90s to low 100s...not much calorie burn going on there. However when I get credit for exercise, my heart rate is always above 120 (that takes a very brisk walk). I think some people may not realize that they're not doing as much exercise as they think. I don't have 1.0.0 to compare it to, but from what I can see, it's not that inaccurate. I've yet to use any of the workout app. Been raining constantly. Plan on trying it out today.

 

[Julien]

I already said there may be circumstances where it's impractical to hit pause. With other activity types, if I pause during my workout, I get no credit for the time I spent pausing. I don't have to physically hit the pause button in order to avoid getting undeserved credit.

Right...this is a very smart watch and should know if you're moving or not and not give you credit when you aren't. If you have to manually start and stop each workout and pause when taking a breaks, this watch then becomes a big pain in the ass. How about I strap it on and it magically tells me how many calories I'm burning without me doing anything? That's how it supposedly worked in 1.0.0.

You are on a seated leg press machine. Is it: A) You just resting? B) You are doing heavy leg presses?

How is the Watch supposed to 'magically' tell the difference?

Unless Apple comes out with sensors to strap on extremities (I had a foot pad with a Garmin watch and lost 2 of them, PIA) the Watch must work within the laws of physics.

 

[millerrh]

I don't know how. I figured it would be the heart rate sensor that made this device smart enough to do that. What I do know is that this is how Apple advertises it works! But it doesn't work this way. If Apple never said anything about it being able to passively be able to measure your calories, I wouldn't be upset about what it does. I also wouldn't have purchased it. I solely wanted it to just keep track of my activity throughout the day and give me a number I could use as a comparison.

 

[Julien]

I don't know how. I figured it would be the heart rate sensor that made this device smart enough to do that. What I do know is that this is how Apple advertises it works! But it doesn't work this way. If Apple never said anything about it being able to passively be able to measure your calories, I wouldn't be upset about what it does. I also wouldn't have purchased it. I solely wanted it to just keep track of my activity throughout the day and give me a number I could use as a comparison.

As stated by me and many others:

HR readings are not a good indicator in weight training for 2 reasons.

1) Muscle & artery constriction makes optical HR readings extremely inaccurate (unless using a chest strap) during weight training. Often the optical HR monitor will recored the HR about the same (near resting) or even lowing than sitting. So it can't tell by HR.

2) Anaerobic exercise's caloric burn can't be measured by HR. Anaerobic energy is independent of the cardio vascular system.

You can just not use Other and pretend it doesn't exists. Or you can return/sell it if you are so unhappy that Apple is offering people doing anaerobic exercises an option to record their workouts. I don't understand what yours and others beef is.

SIMPLE: If you don't know or understand how Other works or what it is for: Don't use it.

 

[Night Spring]

HR readings are not a good indicator in weight training....
SIMPLE: If you don't know or understand how Other works or what it is for: Don't use it.

Well, then, maybe Apple should have made a workout category for weight training. I mean, to me, "Other" implies a lot more things than just weight training. Like dancing, jumping jacks, aikido, vigorous house cleaning, etc, etc.

 

[menace3]

i was out for a brisk walk for a hour with my girlfriend, and was credited for 2 minutes of exercise. without the 10 minute interval check, it's IMPOSSIBLE to fill the ring.

this is why I refuse to do Apple update, it's absolutely disgraceful to get rid of a feature without telling the users and then claiming it as a "feature"

UNTRUE. I smash it 4 times a week. Up your game. You walk 30 mins all the time. Your body and your heart rate is used to it. Walk faster, do a light jog; it makes a difference.

 

[Night Spring]

UNTRUE. I smash it 4 times a week. Up your game. You walk 30 mins all the time. Your body and your heart rate is used to it. Walk faster, do a light jog; it makes a difference.

The thing is, before the update, I used to be able to fill the exercise ring with a little extra effort each day. A little light jog here, a brisk walk there, in addition to the daily walk to and from the bus stop or the subway, and I got 30 minutes. After the update, the same amount of movement now only gives me at most 5 minutes of exercise.

Maybe the amount of movement I do daily won't be considered exercise for a normal able-bodied person. But as a person with muscular impairment that limits my mobility, the way the watch measured exercise pre-update was perfect to motivate me to move just a little extra every day. Obviously what is needed is some way to set the level of activity that is considered exercise, so that each person can get the right amount of motivation they need to do that little extra.

 

[flur]

I have to disagree that this is a good implementation. What happens if I start an Other exercise session, but happen to take a breather while it's running? It might not be my intention to cheat, but I could just pause in the middle of my workout for any number of reasons. Then I would get credited with calories and exercise minutes for the time I was pausing. And yes, I know there is a pause button, but it just isn't practical to manually pause and restart the workout every time I take a breather, or otherwise get interrupted in the middle of a workout. Granted, I am totally unfamiliar with exercise tracking, and Apple watch is the first fitness device I've ever tried. But I just have a hard time believing that crediting people for not moving at all is a good way to deal with exercises that don't fit into any of the other pre-defined categories in the workout app.

I am familiar with exercise tracking and I'm a semi-retired fitness professional. Honestly, this is a pretty good implementation. Actual calorie burn is tricky and very difficult to get right. Using HR for cardio is one of the more reliable ways, but there's not really any easy (read wrist-sized) way to calculate calorie burn for anaerobic exercise. The watch can only use the information available to it, and not everything will register. Weight training doesn't necessarily increase the heart rate, changes in blood flow due to muscle constriction can lead to inaccurate measurements, and not all exercises involve moving the wrist (such as reverse crunches and some types of leg presses). Even those that do involve the arms may be done one arm at a time, such as triceps kickbacks, or might involve movements that don't seem like you're doing much when you're actually half-killing yourself, like bench presses. Are the calories you're credited using "Other" during a weight training workout accurate? No, but it's a better guesstimate than you'd get with another form of tracking.

If you use "Other" for something that isn't weight training (or another anaerobic or mixed activity), yeah, you might be overestimating. Or you might not. But you have lots of other workout choices to choose from, all of which will be accurate to varying degrees. And of course, you have the option to abuse the system, but at the end of the day, if you do that, the only one you're cheating is yourself. The thing about fitness is that it doesn't matter what your stats are, it matters if you do the work. You don't do the work, you don't get the results.

 

[flur]

Well, then, maybe Apple should have made a workout category for weight training. I mean, to me, "Other" implies a lot more things than just weight training. Like dancing, jumping jacks, aikido, vigorous house cleaning, etc, etc.

All of those things can fall into "Other" and all of them can be paused if you take a break (though I wouldn't bother if it's a short one, as your heart rate will stay elevated (and in some cases, will go up) when you stop. Aikido falls into the anaerobic/mixed category (with weight training, tennis, and quite a few other sports) and likely will not do well without the "Other" way of calorie calcs.

Personally I recommend vigorous house cleaning while dancing. That will do just fine with the "Indoor Walk" workout, if you want to avoid the risk of "extra" calories being counted.

 

[Night Spring]

If you use "Other" for something that isn't weight training (or another anaerobic or mixed activity), yeah, you might be overestimating. Or you might not. But you have lots of other workout choices to choose from, all of which will be accurate to varying degrees.

The problem is, the category is called "Other," not anaerobic training. I happen to belong to this forum, where more knowledgeable members can inform me that "other" is optimized to estimate the amount of exercise for anaerobic exercise, but what about people who don't have such resources? They are going to use "Other" for all sorts of other exercise, and possibly overestimate the amount of exercise they are getting.

Also, what workout category do you think will work best for house cleaning?
ETA: I see you responded to this question while I was typing this post. Ok, will try with indoor walking, thank you.

 

[flur]

The problem is, the category is called "Other," not anaerobic training. I happen to belong to this forum, where more knowledgeable members can inform me that "other" is optimized to estimate the amount of exercise for anaerobic exercise, but what about people who don't have such resources? They are going to use "Other" for all sorts of other exercise, and possibly overestimate the amount of exercise they are getting.

Well everyone gets the notice when they start the "Other" workout the first time that they'll be credited for a brisk walk, so they can't say they weren't informed. And honestly, it's okay if you're doing something else and using that category too. If you're doing something truly aerobic and putting some effort into it, the "brisk walk" credit won't matter, because you'll have an HR high enough to clear that and then some.

The understanding of calorie burn in the general population is very low, and in most cases, it's irrelevant. People use it as and excuse to quit. "Hey, I met my goal for the day, so I'm done." Nevermind that they didn't push themselves, they just pulled the number off the wildly inaccurate elliptical at their local gym. The number they will get from the AW will be less than that, even if they use "Other", so they're more likely to get frustrated and return the watch than they are to faithfully work out and be duped by a slightly-higher-than-it-could-be reading. Keep in mind that NONE of these readings are truly accurate, they're all guesstimates to varying degrees, because there are so many factors that go into calorie burn that the watch can't know.

Also, what workout category do you think will work best for house cleaning?

Indoor Walk. But I recommend it while dancing to get the highest burn.

 

[Night Spring]

Well everyone gets the notice when they start the "Other" workout the first time that they'll be credited for a brisk walk, so they can't say they weren't informed.

I vaguely remember seeing that notice, but the implications of it didn't register at the time.

I do like how the Activity app motivates me to be more active, but trying to figure out how to fill the Exercise ring has been frustrating since the update. If it's impossible to fill up, then it doesn't work as a motivator. I hope eventually Apple will provide a way for people to customize the exercise setting, so we can set more individual goals.

In the meantime, I'll try dancing with the Indoor Walk workout -- Moonwalk or Saturday Night Fever? Hm, maybe I'm betraying my age....