User profile for user: Zeusers1
Zeusers1 Author
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Apple Watch workout

Hi, my question is regarding my series 3 Apple Watch when working out. I have noticed that when I am doing any strenuous activity over a long period of time (walking, lifting weights shoveling snow, gardening, etc) that my exercise minutes and calories burned vary greatly depending on if I start a workout or not. I can be doing virtually the same thing, but if I start a workout, it will say I burned way more calories than if I did not start a workout. Is this normal? Has anyone else noticed this? If so, which one is more accurate? Thank you in advance!

Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 5

Posted on Jun 22, 2019 8:21 PM

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User profile for user: Camelot
Camelot
User level: Level 9
59,271 points

Posted on Jun 22, 2019 8:51 PM

Not an official answer, but I think the answer lies in how the watch checks your activity.


When not actively 'working out' the watch only uses the accelerometer to determine movement. If heart rate sensing is on, it may periodically measure your heart rate, but it's intermittent, and it extrapolates data between each measurement to estimate what you might have done.


When you activate a 'workout', the watch continuously (or, at least, more frequently/aggressively) monitors movement through a combination of accelerometer, GPS as well as heart rate.


Therefore, the active workout should more accurately reflect the actual activity.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207941 probably has more details.

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User profile for user: Camelot
Camelot
User level: Level 9
59,271 points

Jun 22, 2019 8:51 PM in response to Zeusers1

Not an official answer, but I think the answer lies in how the watch checks your activity.


When not actively 'working out' the watch only uses the accelerometer to determine movement. If heart rate sensing is on, it may periodically measure your heart rate, but it's intermittent, and it extrapolates data between each measurement to estimate what you might have done.


When you activate a 'workout', the watch continuously (or, at least, more frequently/aggressively) monitors movement through a combination of accelerometer, GPS as well as heart rate.


Therefore, the active workout should more accurately reflect the actual activity.


https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207941 probably has more details.

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Apple Watch workout

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