Indoor swim workout not contributing to exercise minutes

Question

Level 1

8 points

Indoor swim workout not contributing to exercise minutes

I have used the workout app to measure a number of bike rides and have had no problems with the number of active calories and exercise minutes contributing to activity app numbers.

I have recently completed two indoor swims and the minutes I have spent swimming do not seem to register on the activity app numbers. I am also not sure that the active calories is working properly either. I completed a 750 metre swim in 22 minute but only burnt 76 calories in total and 30 active calories. That feels very low compared to how I felt! Some online calculators would suggest it should be around 200 calories.

All other workouts all seem fine, I have used it regularly for cycling and have started using other activity for my Pilates classes. It is just the indoor swim which doesn't seem to work very well.

any thoughts?

Apple Watch Series 2

Posted on Jan 22, 2017 4:07 AM

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Answer 1

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Jan 22, 2017 4:26 AM in response to TMBW5

Hi

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 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.

For indoor swimming workouts, be sure to record your workouts using the Pool Swim activity type in the Workout app. For swimming workouts, Apple Watch relies on your arm motion when estimating results. It also analyses your stroke efficiency over time to improve the accuracy of estimations.

Reported results can therefore be affected by using training aids (eg wearing fins), when not using your arms (eg when using a kickboard) and by not using your arms in a recognised stroke style.

If you feel that your results should have been recorded differently (and are inconsistent with results recorded at expected levels for other activities), you may wish to contact Apple Support for assistance and/or submit feedback to Apple:

More generally, calibrating your watch may help to improve the accuracy of various estimations made by the Activity app and Workout app:

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

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Answer 2

TMBW5 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jan 22, 2017 4:41 AM in response to Jonathan UK

Thanks Jonathan. I can understand the calibration point and that recording calories may vary and light get in touch with support.

I don't though understand why after completing a 23 workout my activity app tells me I have done less than that in total for the day. This only seems to apply to swimming activity.

Thanks for your response though

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