Tracy Rog
Level 1
(5 points)
Q: Workout App does not define "brisk walk" equivalent?
When I use the workout app on my Apple Watch when I am riding a normal bicycle, not all of my ride counts as a workout. I may be riding for a full hour but the app decides that only parts of that hour count toward a workout. The explanatory note says I must achieve the equivalent of a brisk walk. What's that? Is it using my pulse? If so, that's too bad because I take medication that absolutely slows down my heart rate and it's very difficult to be in the green all the time. The map showing my bike route is painted in green, yellow, and red areas. So, if I briefly stop for traffic, it's red and does not count. If it's yellow, it does not count... so it appears. This means that a one-hour bike ride may only have 15 minutes of exercise time. That makes no sense to me. Do I have this incorrect?
Apple Watch, watchOS 3
Jonathan UK
Level 8
(35,656 points)
Tracy Rog wrote:
.. The explanatory note says I must achieve the equivalent of a brisk walk. What's that? Is it using my pulse? ..
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. Exercise credit is awarded for each full minute during which this requirement is met.
The definition of a brisk walk varies from person to person and 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.
Apple Watch uses different sensors and data sources to track the results of workouts, depending on the activity type. For example, with Apple Watch (first generation) and Series 1 models, the watch can access GPS data from the paired iPhone if it is taken along during outdoor walking, running and cycling workouts. (Series 2 has built-in GPS).
Calibrating your watch can improve the accuracy of estimations made by Activity app and Workout app. More information and instructions for calibrating your watch are available via the link below. The article also includes instructions for resetting existing calibration data and starting afresh.
If you would prefer to receive Exercise credit for the full duration of your workouts, regardless of their estimated 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:
