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Weight Lifting and Apple Watch
- Thread starter penajmz
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The only real issue I've had is that kettle bell presses
Don't play well with the watch. To be fair tho any watch would be a problem but I wouldn't worry about my 30$ Timex Ironman.
Don't play well with the watch. To be fair tho any watch would be a problem but I wouldn't worry about my 30$ Timex Ironman.
Julien
macrumors G4
Weight training is anaerobic. You can't calculate (or accurately estimate) caloric burn or perceived effort based on HR.
However it is good to run Other so you get an approximate credit for the exercise.
I only use workout other for weight lifting. No other option would work. You are pretty much limited to heart rate for accuracy. To me, it is about right for measurements. But what else can you do? There were a few devices in development for knowing weight lifting but other than monitoring your heart rate, there isn't much else to track. It seems fairly accurate and with other, you get credit for every minute working out. I walk on the treadmill between sets to keep my heart rate up, but even an hour workout is about 350 calories.
I do not seem to lose the heart rate measurement at all except for maybe a few exercises where I bend my wrist bad. Here is the picture from my workout a few minutes ago. People who say the Apple Watch HR doesn't work, are really not wearing it right or not tight enough or too tight. 🙂
I think I lost the heart rate once while doing hanging leg raises.
I do not seem to lose the heart rate measurement at all except for maybe a few exercises where I bend my wrist bad. Here is the picture from my workout a few minutes ago. People who say the Apple Watch HR doesn't work, are really not wearing it right or not tight enough or too tight. 🙂
I think I lost the heart rate once while doing hanging leg raises.
Attachments
cabrown
macrumors regular
I noticed this thread in related threads — I posted a new thread recently asking about people using their Apple Watch with weight lifting. I have a unique idea — though I am trying to understand if the market is there for it.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/quick-poll-—-weight-lifting-apple-watch.1934289/#post-22184004
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/quick-poll-—-weight-lifting-apple-watch.1934289/#post-22184004
Obi Wan Kenobi
macrumors 6502a
Yes. I use the 'Other' setting on my AW when working out with weights.
No I don't think it's very accurate. I also use a heart rate strap, and the Polar Beat app, set to 'Strength Training'. The AW calorie total is usually around half that on the Polar Beat app. As the Polar Beat app has a dedicated setting for strength training, I prefer its figures.
I do think chest straps provide more accurate heart rate data, especially for strength training, not least because as your wrist flexes under load readings seem to be affected.
I've also noticed that AW heart readings and chest strap heart readings do not match that closely.
Like others have said, any wrist-worn HRM will not be ideal for weightlifting - if your goal is to determine your caloric output during your session.
However, the Apple Watch is not just a wrist-worn HRM. And because of that, it has become my favorite piece of lifting gear. The other day I achieved exactly what I had in mind when I bought the watch: I left my phone in my bag and still recorded an entire lifting session. I played my workout playlist from my watch to my bluetooth headphones, I recorded every single rep of my workout, and my watch recorded my HR the entire time. I was free to focus solely on my workout, but I didn't miss any functionality from my phone. It was perfect!
For those wondering, I use the Fit Weightlifting app. Since it has gone native, you can record a workout on the watch that will sync to the phone once it is back within bluetooth range. It automatically records HR, and it appears to use the same algorithms as Apple's "Other" workout to count calories. It's not without hiccups (as with any app), but 95% of the time it works perfectly. I believe Gymaholic works similarly.
Anyway, I finally have what I wanted in the watch and in the gym. The watch can be an incredible tool in lifting as it is now. I'm excited for future versions.
However, the Apple Watch is not just a wrist-worn HRM. And because of that, it has become my favorite piece of lifting gear. The other day I achieved exactly what I had in mind when I bought the watch: I left my phone in my bag and still recorded an entire lifting session. I played my workout playlist from my watch to my bluetooth headphones, I recorded every single rep of my workout, and my watch recorded my HR the entire time. I was free to focus solely on my workout, but I didn't miss any functionality from my phone. It was perfect!
For those wondering, I use the Fit Weightlifting app. Since it has gone native, you can record a workout on the watch that will sync to the phone once it is back within bluetooth range. It automatically records HR, and it appears to use the same algorithms as Apple's "Other" workout to count calories. It's not without hiccups (as with any app), but 95% of the time it works perfectly. I believe Gymaholic works similarly.
Anyway, I finally have what I wanted in the watch and in the gym. The watch can be an incredible tool in lifting as it is now. I'm excited for future versions.
does polar beat work when you're not using a polar HR monitor?
there's another app called "Record," which is apparently owned by the same company (Under Amrour) as MyFitnessPal. but it doesn't seem to have a "weightlifting" tracking function.
3under2
macrumors regular
I also use "Other" while lifting. I lift 5 days a week and do HIIT cardio usually after my session and on one of the weekend days. I think the heart rate part is pretty accurate but of course the calorie burn is probably not. For me, its not that important as I have never do the eating back your calories thing anyways ...
Completely agree but I will add that if you are doing HIIT weight lifting, the heart rate is definitely related to effort. The faster you go and more reps, the higher your heart rate will be.
Also, larger muscle groups under heavy load will have a direct relationship to heart rate. 4x10 of deep squats under heavy load will shoot your heart rate way up.
However, your assessment is generally correct because of what you wrote.
Julien
macrumors G4
Yes, but while it is correlated in HIIT it is still not accurate since HIIT is a combination of cardio and anaerobic activity.
Also while anaerobic exertion can elevate HR (and BP) it is still impossible to write algorithms that can translate that directly to a caloric burn rate.
Definitely true. The really isn't an option on the watch or really any device to track weightlifting. I always use other but understand the accuracy is off. Maybe with all the exercise and fitness hires Apple did the past year they make have a workout weightlifting that is closer to accurate. Who knows.
Donoban
Suspended
Apparently the benefits of exercise begin to tail off after the 30 minute mark. Depends what kind of life style you want to live brah.
Donoban
Suspended
The Game 161
macrumors Nehalem
Quite a lot if you know what you are doing
If you are doing cardio you shouldn't be doing anymore than 40-45 anyway.
What if you're really working out and not petering around the gym like most do?
I'm guessing you couldn't squat your own bodyweight.
3under2
macrumors regular
For me, I weight lift to build muscle and increase fat loss. As a woman over 40, bone density (osteoporosis) becomes more and more of a concern. Strength training helps combat this.
I also enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that getting stronger brings ... I feel badass 🙂.
Donoban
Suspended
Not sure if Manlet but you sound like a shredded sicko brah. Well done on your physique. 6.5% takes dedication.
Julien
macrumors G4
OK but I'm a little older and primarily a running however I do weight train 5x a week.
Donoban
Suspended
Looking good man.OK but I'm a little older and primarily a running however I do weight train 5x a week.
Obi Wan Kenobi
macrumors 6502a
Not sure what your question is.
Can you use non-Polar HR monitors? I don't think so, but I haven't tried.
Does it track effort without using a HR monitor? No. It will only record the workout duration. The app is really an adjunct to the HR monitor.
I have had a HR monitor battery die while running or cycling with it, and a recent update caused a pairing/connection problem. It tracked GPS, but not HR (obviously).