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VO2max not tracking much

A

abeasom

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 31, 2013
83
17
Ever since updating to iOS14, Watch OS7 and getting a new XS Max (mine died September 21) I've noticed my VO2 doesn't ever really track anymore. I am doing open Outdoors walks that exceed 20 minutes on the watch workout app. The last and only reading I have since doing everything mentioned above is from September 29.
Any ideas?
 
It only records a VO2 max reading if it can get a reliable heart rate data, which it cannot get each time.
 
Just as a data point - I'm getting VO2max estimates regularly on my runs, so it certainly can/does work in iOS14/watchOS7.

My understanding is you do have to also get your heartrate up a bit - it is trying to estimate a maximum after all.

If you're still doing that, also check your data sources -- Health Summary -> VO2max -> DataSources&Access.
 
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I suppose technically the watch doesn't give you the VO2 reading, it collects the data and the health app on ios gives you the reading.
 
Monkswhiskers said:
I suppose technically the watch doesn't give you the VO2 reading, it collects the data and the health app on ios gives you the reading.
Click to expand...

Yes - good clarification - there's no on-watch display of VO2max at this time, only after the workout within the Health app on the phone.

Perhaps that was what was referred to during the presentation for a future watchOS7 capability.


abeasom said:
No???
Click to expand...

That individual either misunderstood the question or was unaware that VO2max estimation has been available for three years now, since watchOS4.
 
deeddawg said:
Yes - good clarification - there's no on-watch display of VO2max at this time, only after the workout within the Health app on the phone.

Perhaps that was what was referred to during the presentation for a future watchOS7 capability.




That individual either misunderstood the question or was unaware that VO2max estimation has been available for three years now, since watchOS4.
Click to expand...

Neither. I meant the on watch display, but I can see where my response was extremely vague. Regardless, I didn't know it was added as far back as OS4. Thought it was OS 6 for some reason. TIL something.
 
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The big miss so far is the lack of firstbeat type readings on the watch. The Training Today app is pretty good at a body battery type reading, vo2 on the watch would be good too.
 
maxmin said:
Not true, It does in fact do a VO2 MAX estimate if you run long enough and get your heart rate up. I've tried it. It does exactly that when I run and get my heart rate up.
Click to expand...
So I got a reading today after my outdoor walk. I'm not a runner, so I guess I don't always get my heart rate high enough. Today, I intentionally walked up as many hills as possible to get my heart rate up. Sure enough, I got a reading. Thanks for the information.
 
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I had the same problem, unpaired and paired, and that didn't do the job. At last i renamed my apple watch in the settings. Than i did an outdoor walk 20m with continue hearth rate readings and got a result in vo2mx. The same with an outdoor run. Maybe it is luck, probable it wil help if you do the same
 
Aspasia said:
Your outdoor workout must be at least 20 minutes to get the VO2 Max reading. The workout must be either Outdoor Run, Outdoor Walk, or Hiking as they're the only workouts that use GPS.
Click to expand...
In my original post I stated I was doing outdoor walks that exceed 20 minutes.
 
My question is....why Apple doesn’t include all workouts especially outdoor cycling to get a true Vo2 max estimate?
Pretty useless as it stands IMO.
 
rcarter3636 said:
My question is....why Apple doesn’t include all workouts especially outdoor cycling to get a true Vo2 max estimate?
Pretty useless as it stands IMO.
Click to expand...

FYI, Garmin only estimates a Cycling VO2max if you have a power meter.

Also they only do a Running VO2max for Running or Walking workouts. (Run and Cycle VO2max are two separate #’s on Garmin platform.)

With Garmin having several years more experience at this than Apple, I’m going to guess there’s a reason for the limitations.

If you have more info on the matter though, do please post links.

Garmin support page: https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=ULj1XBUa9C5zxtPzhVcgkA
 
deeddawg said:
With Garmin having several years more experience at this than Apple, I’m going to guess there’s a reason for the limitations.
Click to expand...

The reason is simple and has nothing to do with Garmin or Apple.

Simplified: To calculate a VO2max you have to correlate at least two values that have to be objective and comparable between different workouts of the same type. For running, it is heart rate and pace. This is good enough when the run is done on flat ground. When doing trail runs, not so.

So coming back to cycling: how would you compare two bike rides where one is 60km/h with a heart rate of 80bpm and one with 20km/h with a heart rate of 150bpm? One was done going downhill, the other uphill. So of course, one could take elevation into account now, but this further complicates things. What if the rider has an e-bike? ;-).
To make it short: the only reliable measure of effort is power.
 
Garmin made the decision to turn it off for nearly all activities and certainly not on a walk - that would be utterly pointless. Running and some forms of cycling are used. Trail running used to be used, but due to the problem that the VO2 Max estimate was low on these confounding the results from track or road running this has now been removed.

VO2 max is a metric to check every week or so, not every time you leave the door.
 
NME42 said:
The reason is simple and has nothing to do with Garmin or Apple.
Click to expand...

We're saying the same thing. My point was that it isn't an Apple specific limitation, as even an experienced player in the field has similar criteria. Thus the limitation had to do with needing to collect specific data. Sorry if I was unclear.

Your more detailed explanation should be helpful to @rcarter3636 - and another factor with cycling is the myriad wheel sizes, gearing, etc. making it impossible to infer work/effort from speed/distance measurements.

Now to complicate matters we have Polar, who makes estimates using resting HRV. That tends to be less accurate per info here: https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/a20856601/can-your-watch-estimate-your-vo2-max/

ssmed said:
VO2 max is a metric to check every week or so, not every time you leave the door.
Click to expand...
Exactly - and even then remember the watches aren't really "measuring" VO2max but are estimating it from correlative criteria.
 
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