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User profile for user: Kickherinthepants42
Kickherinthepants42 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

What counts as exercise according to the Apple Watch

I find my Apple Watch is really discouraging when it comes to “what counts toward exercise minutes”. I want to be able to use my watch on the exercise (ie Outdoor Walk) I choose and have it count towards my personal, realistic exercise goals. I’m looking at these comments from 2015 and I am wondering if Apple has any intention of changing or modifying goals to be attainable for the average Joe. I am disabled and I find it next to impossible to get the amount of minutes I set for myself daily. I walk 6 km a day in a little more then an hour. I know that this is not technically fast but for me I am walking at a brisk pace with an increased heart rate.

Come on Apple do better for us average Joes that are truly working towards our fitness goals, we may not be fast but we are trying to the best of our physical abilities!!

Posted on Mar 17, 2021 10:58 AM

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User profile for user: javaliga
javaliga
User level: Level 10
120,029 points

Posted on Mar 17, 2021 11:00 AM

Based on what I have read in the replies to Workouts Not Recorded by Exercise Ring - Apple Community, unless you use "Other" or "Yoga" you have to accomplish at least one of the following for a "minute of exercise" to be counted as an "exercise minute":

  1. Heart rate higher than 130
  2. Average pace lower than 18'10" per mile
  3. Speed higher than 9.5 mph


I have also heard that according to Apple Support, for the activity ring to register your workout (for outdoor walk on exercise ring) you need to maintain a speed of approximately 3.3 mph or faster and increase your heart rate to approximately 75% of your High Heart Rate (from the iPhone Watch > Heart app). This definition of a "brisk walk" is to encourage you to put more effort into the walk, If you slow down or pause, the watch will stop giving you exercise credit, It will still measure your steps and calories burnt but will not give you any credit towards the exercise ring or workout app. A brisk walk speed is different for everybody as the watch takes into account your age, sex, weight, and heart rate which is why it is important to calibrate the watch and have the correct details set up in the Health app,


I can't vouch for any of those specific numbers, but I'm sure there is some kind of criteria. See the "Make sure that you earn Move and Exercise credit" section in:

Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch - Apple Support


You should also make sure your watch is calibrated:

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


Also, see the solution to:

apple watch series 5 activity recording n… - Apple Community


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User profile for user: javaliga
javaliga
User level: Level 10
120,029 points

Mar 17, 2021 11:00 AM in response to Kickherinthepants42

Based on what I have read in the replies to Workouts Not Recorded by Exercise Ring - Apple Community, unless you use "Other" or "Yoga" you have to accomplish at least one of the following for a "minute of exercise" to be counted as an "exercise minute":

  1. Heart rate higher than 130
  2. Average pace lower than 18'10" per mile
  3. Speed higher than 9.5 mph


I have also heard that according to Apple Support, for the activity ring to register your workout (for outdoor walk on exercise ring) you need to maintain a speed of approximately 3.3 mph or faster and increase your heart rate to approximately 75% of your High Heart Rate (from the iPhone Watch > Heart app). This definition of a "brisk walk" is to encourage you to put more effort into the walk, If you slow down or pause, the watch will stop giving you exercise credit, It will still measure your steps and calories burnt but will not give you any credit towards the exercise ring or workout app. A brisk walk speed is different for everybody as the watch takes into account your age, sex, weight, and heart rate which is why it is important to calibrate the watch and have the correct details set up in the Health app,


I can't vouch for any of those specific numbers, but I'm sure there is some kind of criteria. See the "Make sure that you earn Move and Exercise credit" section in:

Get the most accurate measurements using your Apple Watch - Apple Support


You should also make sure your watch is calibrated:

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


Also, see the solution to:

apple watch series 5 activity recording n… - Apple Community


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User profile for user: Kickherinthepants42
Kickherinthepants42 Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Mar 17, 2021 11:48 AM in response to Kickherinthepants42

It has been calibrated several times. I have good days and bad days so physically sometimes I have great walks where other days not so much. I wish there was a setting for different types of walks. I know that I can use Other but it doesn’t track the same as a walk ie distance/ route.

i am getting out there to exercise, and I am working to the best of my physical ability but it still rarely makes my watch happy.

I am sure I’m not the only disabled person out there with an Apple Watch trying to track my exercise. I am physically unable to walk at a speed that satisfies my watch and I don’t think that’s fair.

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What counts as exercise according to the Apple Watch

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