Huge Calorie Difference Using "Other" Workout VS. Built-In Activity Tracking Apple Watch

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Huge Calorie Difference Using "Other" Workout VS. Built-In Activity Tracking Apple Watch

I've noticed a drastic difference in my activity calories in a given day if I turn on my "other" workout while I'm at work. I have a pretty physical job and have experimented with leaving the "other" workout on in the background for hours to see how it compares to the built in activity tracking, and it differs by hundreds and sometimes thousands of calories... Without telling the watch I'm working out (just working in this case), I might get around 500 active calories for my day's work. However, if I turn on an "other" workout before work, and leave it on all day, I end up with around 2500 active calories at the end of the day... I assume the workout number is more representative of my day since it's recording constantly, but can the built in activity tracking that's supposed to monitor normal daily exertion really be that off?

Apple Watch Series 2

Posted on Sep 30, 2017 2:20 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Sep 30, 2017 5:59 PM in response to mattfromfelton

Hi

Recording Other workouts that cover periods when you are not actually active and/or when your activity level is lower than the equivalent of a brisk walk can result in over-estimations of active calories burned.

Once it has been set up, the Activity app runs continually in the background, tracking Active Calories burned during both general daily wear and when recording any workouts.

To record specific fitness activities, for the most accurate results be sure to use the Workout app (or a third-party app that shares data to Health) and to choose the activity type that most closely matches your workout. This enables your Apple Watch to use the most appropriate sensors and data sources when tracking results, including using tailored calorie calculations for each of the main activity types.

To record workouts for activities that are neither included within nor sufficiently similar to those in the main list, choose Other. This will credit one minute of Exercise for each full minute of the workout. Active calories will be estimated throughout an Other workout at a rate equivalent to either a brisk walk or based on data recorded by the heart rate sensor, whichever is higher. Note that neither distance nor a route map are recorded for outdoor workouts under Other.

More information:

Track workouts and stay healthy with Apple Watch - Apple Support

Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Work out with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Jonathan UK

Level 10

164,015 points

Oct 2, 2017 2:44 AM in response to mattfromfelton

The ability to label an Other workout as Fishing (or with any other label, via the Name Workout option) does not affect how calories are estimated for Other workouts.

They are still calculated as described in my previous reply, including assuming that you are exercising at an intensity that is equivalent to brisk walk throughout the workout, unless your heart rate readings indicate a greater level, in which case active calories are based on those readings instead.

When not recording a workout, your heart rate is measured regularly throughout general daily wear, as detailed here:

Your heart rate. What it means, and where on Apple Watch you’ll find it. - Apple Support

Your arm movements (tracked via the accelerometer) are also used to help estimate activity results during general daily wear:

Use the Activity app on your Apple Watch - Apple Support

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Answer 3

Oct 1, 2017 9:17 PM in response to Jonathan UK

So here's another good example: the other day, I went fishing in the surf. In 2 and half hours I burned nearly 700 active calories with it set on an "other" workout (apple has a fishing workout selection). I've spent the entire day fishing (9 hours) in the same spot without the workout app on and was only at about 450 at the end of the day. I'm guessing that if not cued, the watch doesn't measure your vitals as frequently and misses that I'm often doing things at a sustained higher heartrate and gives me less active calories in the day. How often does the watch measure your info when not in the workout app?

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