I use the active rings as estimations. I work out every week at the gym. I do housework, gardening, etc. I lost 50lbs in 3+ years. I know it work well if you allow your self
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The Apple Watch Activity Rings are pointless
- Thread starter Iwavvns
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I’d argue that the watch is primarily a lifestyle device - which is often marketed as a fitness device.
However, it’s still simply not accurate enough to live up to the fitness marketing.
For example the activity app doesn’t factor in strain. I might be walking back with heavy shopping for 20 minutes - a mini rucking session so to speak - but if I’m not walking at a brisk pace I get no activity credit for this. I guess I could try and find a workout that matches this, but it’s meant to be a smartwatch. And hey, a rucking mode would be good right?
…However it will trigger an elliptical workout for me when I pet my dog with my watch wearing arm and give me activity ring credits which is nice.
Stand yes, is kinda silly the way you can get credit for doing so little. But this is one where I’ll respectfully disagree with the OP.
As others have said here, it’s really aimed at people with a sedentary lifestyle.
I’ve always thought this ring is aimed at the type of person who lives in the suburbs and has to drive everywhere - this is lifestyle that our built environment encourages for so many, I’m not judging anyone.
To conclude, the watch almost needs a ‘beginner mode, just to get you standing and then about more & then a ‘I exercise frequently’ mode.
A more sophisticated way of doing this would be a UX and metrics that automatically morph into more sophisticated ones as your fitness improves.
The rumoured heath+/fitness+ coaching product hopefully should help here - and hopefully solve the OP’s issues with the watch too.
However, it’s still simply not accurate enough to live up to the fitness marketing.
For example the activity app doesn’t factor in strain. I might be walking back with heavy shopping for 20 minutes - a mini rucking session so to speak - but if I’m not walking at a brisk pace I get no activity credit for this. I guess I could try and find a workout that matches this, but it’s meant to be a smartwatch. And hey, a rucking mode would be good right?
…However it will trigger an elliptical workout for me when I pet my dog with my watch wearing arm and give me activity ring credits which is nice.
Stand yes, is kinda silly the way you can get credit for doing so little. But this is one where I’ll respectfully disagree with the OP.
As others have said here, it’s really aimed at people with a sedentary lifestyle.
I’ve always thought this ring is aimed at the type of person who lives in the suburbs and has to drive everywhere - this is lifestyle that our built environment encourages for so many, I’m not judging anyone.
To conclude, the watch almost needs a ‘beginner mode, just to get you standing and then about more & then a ‘I exercise frequently’ mode.
A more sophisticated way of doing this would be a UX and metrics that automatically morph into more sophisticated ones as your fitness improves.
The rumoured heath+/fitness+ coaching product hopefully should help here - and hopefully solve the OP’s issues with the watch too.
Exactly, the rings are motivational and hopefully encourage some to be more active.
Certainly gives me a good prompt every now and then.
Personally I’ve found my AW subsequently AWU to be very good.
The tracking and fitness data for my runs is very good, and definitely as good if not better than the Garmin replaced.
In addition tracking of walks and workouts is good, and health data such as heart rate tracks with other sources very well.
What could be said is the AW is not a pure fitness device, it does a whole lot more.
But that does not make it a bad fitness device.
They are great for motivation! I pay attention to the Red and Green rings each day and make sure I've done the required amount, or more.
In addition I have now set my Blue target to 26hrs per day.
Apple Watch is a horrible fitness tracker:
- The rings make no sense. And are almost impossible not to over archieve.
- Watch tracks walking heart rate both when just casually strolling and when doing a walking workout as the same metric.
- VO2 max is calculated in a strange way where it keeps fluctuating depending on if I do a zone 2 run for faster run.
- there is zero intelligence similar to what whoop and others offer where various health matrix’s are evaluated into a fitness score or similar.
Can’t believe watchOS26 fixes none of this.
- The rings make no sense. And are almost impossible not to over archieve.
- Watch tracks walking heart rate both when just casually strolling and when doing a walking workout as the same metric.
- VO2 max is calculated in a strange way where it keeps fluctuating depending on if I do a zone 2 run for faster run.
- there is zero intelligence similar to what whoop and others offer where various health matrix’s are evaluated into a fitness score or similar.
Can’t believe watchOS26 fixes none of this.
ok, then please give an example of what a good fitness tracker that exists now that's better
It seems like the issue isn’t so much that the rings are pointless, but the OP is just already physically active without the help of the watch. So it’s just pointless to him. The whole point of the rings is to motivate people who need a little extra help.
So what if you went to medical school and were in the military? That doesn't change the fact that the rings are just there to motivate people. They aren't perfect for every single person out there and just because they aren't doesn't mean they are useless.
I've personally learned that anyone who leverages things like that to win a conversation or make a point instead of presenting valid information and evidence is not worth wasting much time engaging in a debate and discussion with.
Couldn’t have said any better. When you have a weak sauce, throw around names or hype up the cred.
15 miles a day?
You must be walking all day long. Are you forest gump?
You must be walking all day long. Are you forest gump?
What is the difference between just walking and a walking workout, besides intention?
And the account is already suspended, after one post. A moderator closed their "find and cancel bot accounts" ring today, yay!
The Watch, IMO, is only as useful as you make it. I was quite sedentary before I got one - now I walk/run six or seven miles per day, I play some sports, and I’ve lost weight while adding muscle. Does it have limitations? Absolutely. But that’s on the user, too, not just the device.
Excellent. This is the motivational speech I needed. Cheers! 🍻🤣
Total sidebar to the OP subject.
Standing desk in typical office setting .. do you by chance overlook others who are sitting while your standing?
If so does anyone have issues with you?
I’m 62 , newly retired 3 months now.
Been Mtb riding since mid 1990’s.
Using an Apple Watch since AW5, now using a AWU2.
Tried the rings , the stand up thing became annoying really fast, off it went.
I ignore the rings, personally find them useless. I just do it the old fashioned way, I lift weights 3 times a week M-W-F, Mtb 3-4 times a week weather dependent.
Use my AWU2 and crank based power meter on my bikes, syncs nicely to Health , sadly Strava chooses to not read the power meter data thru AW feed, they have a contract with Garmin and Wahoo.
Been Mtb riding since mid 1990’s.
Using an Apple Watch since AW5, now using a AWU2.
Tried the rings , the stand up thing became annoying really fast, off it went.
I ignore the rings, personally find them useless. I just do it the old fashioned way, I lift weights 3 times a week M-W-F, Mtb 3-4 times a week weather dependent.
Use my AWU2 and crank based power meter on my bikes, syncs nicely to Health , sadly Strava chooses to not read the power meter data thru AW feed, they have a contract with Garmin and Wahoo.
Among the benefits of WFH is setting up your workspace however you like, which helps offset some of the downsides, like forgetting how to engage in small talk or feeling disconnected from the world.
Funny, I checked my activity rings before writing my original post, and the only days I ever close my stand ring are lazy days watching TV/reading and getting up to grab snacks, etc.
Maybe Apple just thought that "Stand" was more appropriate than the more correct "Get Off Your Ass", and it takes up less screen space.
I love me my Michelob Ultras.
They're less calories than a flavored seltzer, and far less of a headache the next day.
I wonder if this white paper from Apple will help our resident physician out?