cabrerayoung

Q: Why does the exercise app on my apple watch only show a few minutes exercise, even after a 3 mile walk, a lot of which is uphill.

Overall I am very pleased with my apple watch, apart from the price of course. However, after I have done my 3 mile walk ( which I do up to 4 times per week) the exercise app only shows me having done a few minutes exercise. Now I am 67 years of age and diabetic and I know the walking keeps me fairly fit and my Type 2 diabetes in check. So I'm fairly puzzled as to why the app only shows a few minutes. Please explain if poss. Many Thanks.

Dave Young

Posted on Aug 25, 2015 5:01 AM

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Q: Why does the exercise app on my apple watch only show a few minutes exercise, even after a 3 mile walk, a lot of which is uphill.

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  • by Jonathan UK,Helpful

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 25, 2015 5:16 AM in response to cabrerayoung
    Level 8 (38,282 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 25, 2015 5:16 AM in response to cabrerayoung

    Hi Dave

     

    The exercise ring (part of the Activity app) requires activity above a "brisk walk" - with a sustained increase in heart rate for at least 1 minute - in order to give credit. What constitutes a brisk walk depends on your personal information.

     

    If you are not using the Workout app, it's important for your arm to swing naturally as you walk or run, because the Activity app relies on arm motion and the accelerometer to track movement.

     

    To get the best results from fitness activity, ensure that you have Wrist Detection turned on (Apple Watch iPhone app > General > Wrist Detection toggle).

     

    You can record walks as "workouts": use the Workout app (eg Outdoor Walk activity) and start and end your activity accordingly (force press the screen to pause or end a workout, once started). This will also monitor your heart rate continuously during the workout.

     

    If you also take your iPhone along on a few outdoor walks (with the appropriate settings selected - see below), you can calibrate your Apple Watch. This will enable it to more accurately recognise activity and provide more accurate estimates, including Move estimations in the Activity app.

     

    Also ensure that Apple Watch is fitted snugly to your wrist so that the sensor can measure your heart rate - and also so that it doesn't accidentally loosen to such an extent that the watch thinks it has been taken off. It may help to tighten your watch band before a walk and loosen it again afterwards.

     

    More info:

     

    Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

    Use the Workout app on Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by cabrerayoung,

    cabrerayoung cabrerayoung Aug 25, 2015 5:26 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2015 5:26 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathon, My walks are very brisk I can assure you and my heart rate does increase for more than just a few minutes. I walk on forestry tracks in Ireland and some of the inclines are pretty steep. Ive had my watch now for a couple of months so its had plenty time to get accustomed to my style, so to speak. The rest of the app works perfectly. i.e. stand and movement. But the exercise section to me does not reflect the effort I have put in.

  • by Jonathan UK,Helpful

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Aug 25, 2015 6:01 AM in response to cabrerayoung
    Level 8 (38,282 points)
    Apple Watch
    Aug 25, 2015 6:01 AM in response to cabrerayoung

    Other users have reported that Apple is aware of and working on some issues with the exercise ring: BUG: Exercise app time not showing in Activity app


    In the meantime, you may get better results (in terms of recognition for exercise) by using the "Other" category in the Workout app to record your walks.

     

    Also, you mention that your walks include inclines, many of which are steep. The calibration instructions advise using a flat area for calibration activities. The process trains the watch by comparing accelerometer data to actual distances covered, as measured by Location Services (ie GPS) on your iPhone. On anything other than flat terrain, you can appear - from a GPS point of view - to be moving less quickly than you actually are.

     

    You can submit your own feedback regarding the exercise ring to Apple here:

     

    https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html

  • by Gupster88,

    Gupster88 Gupster88 Sep 7, 2015 8:01 PM in response to cabrerayoung
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 7, 2015 8:01 PM in response to cabrerayoung

    The exercise ring logic needs to be overhauled.  I did a *3 HOUR HIKE* up a very rocky and vertical mountain, all the way to the peak.  The app gave me credit for 22 minutes even though my BOM was above 140 for long periods.  In the exercise app I started an "outdoor walk" since there Is no better option... Maybe it was looking for horizontal distance?  Dunno. My trust is gone on this whole ring-activity thing.  ... And why doesn't the phone track workouts and give calories?  I can only see rings x days.  Not helpful.  How many workouts did I do?  Who knows?  There is no workout app on the phone.  Runkeeper does a better job tracking my workouts -- and it gives me an awesome map of my journey.   I know it's a first attempt, but I'll be watching on 9/9/15 to see wnat they announce.

  • by cabrerayoung,

    cabrerayoung cabrerayoung Sep 8, 2015 2:31 AM in response to Gupster88
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 8, 2015 2:31 AM in response to Gupster88

    Yes I certainly agree about the October update. It needs to be pretty substantial to satisfy a lot of people who have paid a lot of money for this gadget.

    Since being advised to use the " Other" option on the fitness app. The exercise ring goes off the scale when I do my 3 mile walks, bur does not record distance covered. All you get is an overall distance covered for the whole day. So I will wait with anticipation for October.

    Dave Young