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Potentially silly question - when do you hit the "exercise" button?

Alatariel75
Alatariel75 Posts: 19,287 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
So I've had my HR for a month now and so far I've hit the button to tell it I'm doing a workout only when I'm doing my Couch 25k or I'm at a Taekwondo class. But it occurs to be that my 45 minute power walks at lunch really ought to be classed as workouts rather than just steps too, right? I sweat, my heartrate goes up, I don't stop..

I think I'm underusing that feature. What's your rule of thumb?

Replies

  • NancyN795
    NancyN795 Posts: 1,134 Member
    The rule of thumb is to use it when it works for you. My understanding is that it doesn't change the data collected all that much. On a power walk where your heart rate goes up, I think it will automatically switch to using the heart rate calculations for calorie burn, rather than step calculations. But, pushing the button will force that mode, I think.

    I use it just so I'll have a notation in my FitBit Activity Log for when and how long I exercised each day. I frequently don't actually go back and look at the detailed data, but I do like being able to do so.
  • sharondtd
    sharondtd Posts: 38 Member
    I hit it if I'm going on a long walk so I can gauge what my hr is relative to speed and inclines of hills. INot certain, but i think it doesn't change anything in the overall diary, but creates a discrete record that can be liked over for hr, length, and calorie burn analysis. It does add the length of the event to the exercise !minutes tally.
  • kelfran1
    kelfran1 Posts: 1,213 Member
    edited March 2015
    I never press it. I just check the time at the beginning and end of my activity and then log it in MFP, which I have synced to Fitbit. Then I can see my average HR and calories during the activity.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    If you'd like to be able to review your activity later, seeing if things have improved, hit the button.
    The stats for that block of time are displayed instead of buried in the daily stats.

    If your walking is about the max speed you are going to get, not likely to see much improvement.
    But, it would be very interesting to see where the HR goes for equal time/distance after a while.
    It should lower for similar effort, especially so as weight goes down.
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