Ben_23

Q: What is the best way to monitor weightlifting workouts?

Hi everyone,

 

I'm looking for advice on the best way to monitor weight lifting workouts or any strength based training with Apple Watch.

 

I'm currently using the Watch workout 'Other' mode but not sure if this would give the best results.

 

My strength workouts include a lot of movement, walking and running with weights. I'm constantly updating heart beat measurements after sets and although these show in the exercise ring, the exercise ring doesn't feed this data to other apps as far as I am aware, like MyFitnessPal...

 

Thanks.

Posted on May 12, 2015 2:33 AM

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Q: What is the best way to monitor weightlifting workouts?

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  • by bejemot,

    bejemot bejemot May 12, 2015 5:22 AM in response to Ben_23
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2015 5:22 AM in response to Ben_23

    I  have the same question for crossfit training? Any ideas?

  • by nick101,

    nick101 nick101 May 12, 2015 5:32 AM in response to Ben_23
    Level 5 (5,103 points)
    May 12, 2015 5:32 AM in response to Ben_23

    This thread might help especially the Youtube link in the last post

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7036432#28225480

  • by bejemot,

    bejemot bejemot May 12, 2015 5:48 AM in response to nick101
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2015 5:48 AM in response to nick101

    Thanks but for me more important to count the time also

  • by Jennifer Carr,

    Jennifer Carr Jennifer Carr May 12, 2015 7:03 AM in response to Ben_23
    Level 1 (20 points)
    May 12, 2015 7:03 AM in response to Ben_23

    I have been using "Other" to track my HIIT workouts as well as my yoga practices.  I don't think there is any other option. If you don't select a workout, the exercise ring doesn't really do much. 

     

    The workouts from the watch do get logged to Apple's HealthKit app on the phone.  I would assume that MyFitnessPal would work with HealthKit, but you may need to specifically set that up in your settings.  That's what I had to do with my Speedo Swim tracking app. 

  • by marifromedinburgh,

    marifromedinburgh marifromedinburgh May 12, 2015 1:55 PM in response to bejemot
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 12, 2015 1:55 PM in response to bejemot

    I've been searching the web all night to find out how to best use it for crossfit. I just want to be able to leave it running for the whole WOD. Do you know if it still tracks the warm-up as exercise if you haven't started the fitness tracker for the WOD?

  • by Ben_23,

    Ben_23 Ben_23 May 14, 2015 1:58 AM in response to Ben_23
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 14, 2015 1:58 AM in response to Ben_23

    I would also like to know if the exercise ring and calories are counted the same if you select workout or not. Like Mari, I warm up and don't select workout mode for this, so will the heart rate monitor and calories burned be calculated less effectively because I haven't selected 'workout' mode?

  • by Ben_23,Solvedanswer

    Ben_23 Ben_23 May 14, 2015 2:25 AM in response to Ben_23
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Watch
    May 14, 2015 2:25 AM in response to Ben_23

    Actually, you know what, I can help answer my own question and Mari's question from experimenting the different modes and doing an intense warm up / small burst of running in the garden just now.

     

    For small bursts of activity where you don't travel a huge distance but burn calories and get your heart rate up, it appears that the 'Other' Workout should always be selected. So this would include things like Body Pump, Yoga and Zumba. I found that just monitoring my heart rate regularly in glances without selecting any of the workout apps was not as effective. So I would select Other Workout whenever you will be doing anything other than a brisk walk. On workout modes, the heart rate monitor does appear to monitor your heart rate more constantly and therefore monitor your activity more effectively.

     

    Apple should add more options to the list to avoid confusion, there are a lot of intense small burst workouts nowadays, especially in the gym.

  • by DeepPan,

    DeepPan DeepPan Sep 16, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Ben_23
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 16, 2016 1:36 PM in response to Ben_23

    First of all, if your doing any exercise that has "irregular rhythm movements" such as weights, any gym machinery, etc. get yourself a bluetooth heart rate chest strap and pair it with the watch to use for exercise.

    Things like cycling, running can get a reasonably close heart rate reading from the watch, but anything else (weights, Body Pump for example) will loose the heart rate A LOT, or read it as only half of what it is, leading to massive differences in readings.