Cardio Fitness doesn't have Apple Watch as a data source

Well.... that's one little fact Apple doesn't advertise. There should be a big asterisk by any advertisement about "Cardio Fitness". If your a cyclist riding 4,000 mi/yr, guess what? Zero Cardio Fitness data. That's pretty disappointing. If you working out inside for ANY activity, guess what? Zero Cardio Fitness data. That's a big disappointment...

Wait a minute, aren't you the guy who said you did everything in the world possible including consulting with Apple and there was no data? Now you are getting the data you're still not happy? I don't get it.

I did the outdoor walk(s) first. The hikes i've done happened later. Outdoor walks register, nothing else does. I just think people need to know this. I no longer care. I know what and how I need to exercise for me to stay fit. Apple made so much about the "new" cardio fitness feature that many, like me, thought this would be a metric that could be helpful yet they gave no information about how it works, or doesn't work.

Well.... The point of my post was that I know it's a limitation.... and I'm very disappointed with Apple.... in their slick advertising video events, did they ever say that Cardio Fitness was only valid for outdoor runs/walks? I think not.... So, if Cardio Fitness was a factor in your purchase decision.... well, you just got hoodwinked.

Also, it is not likely a limitation of the Watch but of the data used to support the algorithm for the calculation. My guess is that they only have a data set from outdoor runners/walkers. Thus, they can only give you cardio fitness calcs on those activities... as VO2Max is activity dependent.

Lastly, it isn't important to me. I've discussed this Cardio Fitness hoodwink with the "Health" experts at Apple.... And suggested they know their competition on this front and set out to beat the competition.. don't wait for folks to call in and complain.... You see both Garmin and Strava do provide much more detailed info with respect to "the level of you current fitness".... and it doesn't matter one bit that I'm cycling versus running outdoors.

... and to make matters worse... They just launched Apple Fitness + for a subscription. Guess what? None of those Apple Fitness + workout activities (for which you are Paying) will count for your Cardio Fitness score.

"I need to-know what and how I need to exercise for me to stay fit. "

Then why don't you do a brisk walk/run once a week and track the measurement?

"yet they gave no information about how it works, or doesn't work. "

they did :

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211856

I said I know what I need to do to stay fit. AND this is my 6th watch. AND I've been with Apple for 20 years. AND that link you provided says "It can take at least 24 hours wearing your Apple Watch, followed by several workouts* and passive measurements with your Apple Watch before you receive an initial estimate." Nowhere does it say you must do an outdoor walk. As I continue to say, I no longer care about this argument. Yes I understand that I can go out and do an outdoor walk. I'm not an idiot. The point is that people need to know that if they want a reading of this data then that's what they have to do. Peroid. That's all. Over and definitely out.

I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use. However, I must say that I am deeply disappointed by it, as it is far, very very far, from giving you even a fair estimate of your VO2 max. I've been comparing my wife's readings to mine, and she is consistently above average and I, no matter how much I'm improving, it keeps putting me below average 😅. And before you say, "Oh, you're just jealous," let me give you the facts so you can understand my disappointment. My wife never exercises, and she cannot "walk" a mile without overexerting herself, how could it be possible that her reading is above average when she's clearly not –– this is the main reason we bought ourselves the watches, as motivation for her to start exercising. I, on the other hand, have been exercising consistently for the past 2 years; I run 3 miles three to four times a week followed by 30 minutes of high intensity interval training (HIIT) each time, aimed to improve my VO2 max, and I train BJJ four to five times a week. However, my reading keeps putting me below average and it's going even lower, the stronger I feel –– It just doesn't make sense. We both look at the results and laugh, mostly her 😅

We carefully checked all calibration settings, including DOB, sex, weight, and height for both of us, and it everything seems to be right.

This article clearly says:

"Apple Watch gives you a cardio fitness estimate by measuring how hard your heart is working during an outdoor walk, run, or hike."

So again, I have no idea what your problem is. You complained about not getting readings and now are you getting readings and you're still not happy. because it's not doing what Apple already told you it wouldn't do.

"I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use."

Not sure what you mean by "continuous use". If you mean you wore you watch continuously for a week and then you got a reading that's the way it supposed to work

As for the rest, it's extremely difficult to know what's going on with all a lot more information. It does seem a bit senseless however to compare your readings to your wife's. It would seem more important to understand why your training is not resulting in VO2max improvements, assuming the watch is accurate (the only way to know that really is to get a laboratory test). Here are some ideas:

https://www.firstbeat.com/en/blog/why-isnt-my-vo2max-increasing/

I did get Cardio Fitness feature to work, but only after a week of continuous use.

https://www.firstbeat.com/en/blog/why-isnt-my-vo2max-increasing/

So no ... using outdoor walk is NOT a solution and neither is 'having maps open'. Neither work and are absurd suggestions at face value regardless. HAS ANYONE HAD A RESPONSE FROM APPLE ON THIS? Cardio fitness not working on Watch is unacceptable. It's one of the primary reasons I purchased the device.

Fabulous. Your experience mirrors mine. How unfortunate is that. I do wish all of the completely illogical and unhelpful suggestions would be flagged as such. They are horribly counter productive.

You do realize this is a user forum and not comprised of tech-support professionals and I believe everybody here is doing their best to help you. If you find a suggestion “illogical and unhelpful”, nobody is forcing you to try it. Jeesh.

I really don't know what is wrong with you but that was uncalled for. I've been active in this thread both trying to help people and responding to what I think is reasonable and that which is unreasonable. An Internet "troll" is generally understood to be somebody who deliberately posts inflammatory messages. It would take a real gargantuan stretch to find anything I posted to be inflammatory. What have you done actually to be helpful rather than complaining?

Yes, I'm sure you don't get it, otherwise you wouldn't be doing it. I know you think you are helping but you are not because you keep focusing on the wrong thing. You seem to be taking the emotional frustration of the people posting as personal insults or attacks directed to you, a complete unknown, which it's causing you to reply emotionally as if you were the personification of the Apple Watch or Apple itself, while missing the real problem frustrated people are trying to find a solution for. The fact that you don't see it, means that this is a problem that permeates other aspects of your like and is probably affecting your interpersonal relationships the same way. Just take a look around you–– I'm sure this is something you go through quite often in the real world–– You feel you are very smart and have the answers to many things, but for some reason people don't seem to listen to you; they're not smart enough to understand you, right? You feel like a forgotten prophet... like a troll under a bridge...