PatrickGCannon
Level 1
(4 points)
Q: Accuracy of exercise monitor?
Am I doing something wrong with my Apple watch? I will be at the gym, engaged in intense physical activities, spin cycle class, stationary rowing machine, weight lifting, etc and the exercise monitor reports no exercise activity at all. When I check back at the end of an hour and half of cardio, still no exercise activity noted. Then I will do something, the same day as mundane as wash my car and it will record that as exercise???? Can someone help explain what I need to do with my Apple Watch? This has been going on for more than a month. I have owned the watch for about two?
Jonathan UK
Level 7
(31,490 points)
Hi
When recording gym activities, for the most accurate estimation of results, record your activity as a workout using the built-in Workout app and the most appropriate activity type.
To credit progress towards your daily Exercise goal, the Activity app aims to identify activity that equals or exceeds the intensity of a brisk walk. This requirement applies both during general daily wear and when recording workouts via the Workout app.
The definition of a brisk walk depends on your personal information. To check that this is accurate - and to update it over time:
- On your iPhone, in the Watch app, go to: My Watch (tab) > Health > Edit - tap and adjust items, then tap on Done.
During general daily wear and when using the Workout app to record Indoor Walk, Indoor Run and certain outdoor workouts when the iPhone is not taken along, the Activity app and Workout app rely on arm motion (measured by the accelerometer) to track movement for the purpose of estimating results including distance, pace and progress towards the Exercise goal.
For the best results, allow the arm on which you are wearing your watch to swing naturally as you move around and during workouts (where relevant to the activity type).
Calibrating your watch can improve the accuracy of estimations made by the apps. More information and instructions for calibrating your watch are available via the link below. The article also includes instructions for resetting any existing calibration data and starting the process afresh.
If you would prefer to receive Exercise credit for workouts regardless of their intensity levels, track them via the Workout app using "Other" as the activity type. This will credit one minute of Exercise for each full minute of the workout. Active calories will be estimated at a rate equivalent to a brisk walk or based on data recorded by the heart rate sensor, whichever is higher.
More information:
