Twospot

Q: False Exercise Reading

So I am new to Apple watch. Overall I really like it, but I was hoping for at least decent health tracking. I seem to be getting false exercise readings in the Activity app. I ride a motorcycle. I wear a ,lot of gear so I decided to put my watch in the case it came with and put it in my bag instead of keeping it on my wrist while riding. I have about a 65 mile commute to work. I did not wear the watch this morning. I put it in my bag and rode to work. I got to work, put it on and it already had like 20 minutes of exercise on it. It was impossible to read my heart rate since it wasn't on. How is that possible? Anyone else seeing similar issues?

Apple Watch Sport 42mm, watchOS 2.0.1

Posted on Nov 2, 2015 5:48 AM

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Q: False Exercise Reading

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  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Nov 2, 2015 6:42 AM in response to Twospot
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Nov 2, 2015 6:42 AM in response to Twospot

    Hi

     

    To help your watch to deliver more accurate Activity and Workout-related estimations, you can calibrate your watch.

     

    Every full minute of movement that is at least equivalent to a brisk walk counts toward your Exercise and Move goals. Any activity below that intensity will count only toward your daily Move goal.

     

    The Activity app relies on your arm motion and the watch's built-in accelerometer to track movement, whereas the Workout app can also use the built-in heart rate sensor and GPS on your iPhone (if you are carrying your iPhone with you and have Location Services enabled). If you are not using the Workout app, you should therefore allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally whilst walking at the required pace in order to help you earn Exercise credit.

     

    If you are unable to swing your arm, you can still earn Exercise credit by using the Workout app, selecting Outdoor Walk as your activity and bringing your iPhone with you (subject to GPS coverage).

     

    More information:

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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

  • by swandy,

    swandy swandy Nov 2, 2015 7:22 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 4 (1,542 points)
    Apple Music
    Nov 2, 2015 7:22 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Jonathan UK wrote:

     

    Hi

     

    To help your watch to deliver more accurate Activity and Workout-related estimations, you can calibrate your watch.

     

    Every full minute of movement that is at least equivalent to a brisk walk counts toward your Exercise and Move goals. Any activity below that intensity will count only toward your daily Move goal.

     

    The Activity app relies on your arm motion and the watch's built-in accelerometer to track movement, whereas the Workout app can also use the built-in heart rate sensor and GPS on your iPhone (if you are carrying your iPhone with you and have Location Services enabled). If you are not using the Workout app, you should therefore allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally whilst walking at the required pace in order to help you earn Exercise credit.

     

    If you are unable to swing your arm, you can still earn Exercise credit by using the Workout app, selecting Outdoor Walk as your activity and bringing your iPhone with you (subject to GPS coverage).

     

    More information:

    Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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

    Obviously not the OP, but while I understand trying to help, did you read his post at all. His issue was not that the Watch was not calibrated properly, but the fact it made "readings" while off his wrist in a box.

  • by swandy,

    swandy swandy Nov 2, 2015 7:29 AM in response to Twospot
    Level 4 (1,542 points)
    Apple Music
    Nov 2, 2015 7:29 AM in response to Twospot

    I do know that a lot of people have found that moving the exercise ring since the update to WatchOS 2 has become much easier. Almost as if Apple re-calibrated the way the Watch uses your heart rate to credit exercise minutes compared to the original release. But to have it make "readings" when it is not on your wrist is a bit strange, since "exercise" is supposed to be based on heart rate and movement.

    One question - when you take your Watch off your wrist does it go into Lock Mode? Perhaps you have Wrist Detection turned OFF, so the Watch did not realize that it was not on your Wrist? (Go to the Watch App on your paired iPhone, My Watch/General and see if Wrist Detection is turned ON or OFF. Otherwise you can try doing a Hard Reset of the Watch (hold both side buttons until the Apple Logo appears). The final suggestion - though it is a bit of a PIA - is unpairing the Watch and then re-pairing it with your iPhone. (PIA because you have to do a restore from a backup and allow the Watch to reinstall whatever apps you had.)

    If those don't clear up the issue, a call to Apple support would probably be next.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Nov 2, 2015 7:39 AM in response to swandy
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Nov 2, 2015 7:39 AM in response to swandy

    swandy wrote:

     

     

    while I understand trying to help, did you read his post at all. His issue was not that the Watch was not calibrated properly, but the fact it made "readings" while off his wrist in a box.

     

    Calibration was suggested as it may help to resolve the issue.

     

    By teaching the watch how the owner's arm typically moves when they are walking and/or running, the calibration process can improve the accuracy of health and activity related estimations including Exercise, Move, calorie and distance estimations in the Activity App.

     

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

  • by Twospot,Solvedanswer

    Twospot Twospot Nov 2, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Twospot
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 2, 2015 8:01 AM in response to Twospot

    So it's me, the OP here. I have some good information around this. I decided to open a support chat with Apple. They reminded me that although the Watch was not on my arm, the iPhone itself is still tracking movement. This information counts towards the activity. So once I put my watch back on and look at the indicators it aggregates what the iPhone tracked and moves the bars accordingly. I did have my iPhone on me, so that answers it for me. Hopefully it is accurate info I was given by Apple.

  • by Twospot,

    Twospot Twospot Nov 3, 2015 5:19 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 5:19 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    As stated above, I was not wearing the watch. That is the issue. I posted above that I spoke with Apple support about this and they told me if I had my iphone it would record my activity. I did move around prior to riding my motorcycle and had to wheel the almost 700 pound bike out to the driveway from the garage, but it takes about 30 seconds to do so.

     

    Last night on the way home, I checked my activity level prior to riding. When I got home and checked again it has recorded 1 hour and 20 minutes worth of exercise!!! Thats about the length of my ride. This is not a bicycle. It's a motorcycle. I am sure my heart rate increases but I did not have the watch on, so some how the iPhone is interpreting something as movement while I am riding the motorcycle. I wish I can submit this to Apple in some way. I can't be the only person seeing this.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Nov 3, 2015 5:45 AM in response to Twospot
    Level 8 (36,007 points)
    Apple Watch
    Nov 3, 2015 5:45 AM in response to Twospot

    Have you (as was previously suggested) enabled Wrist Detection on your watch?

     

    If not, on your iPhone, open the Watch app and go to: My Watch > General - enable Wrist Detection there.

  • by Twospot,

    Twospot Twospot Nov 3, 2015 6:13 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 3, 2015 6:13 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Yes, it is enabled