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The Apple watch has a decent cardio fitness monitor. The absolute values aren't precise (since it uses VO2Max estimates, which is really only accurate if you're
by MPSimmons 2y ago
The Apple watch has a decent cardio fitness monitor. The absolute values aren't precise (since it uses VO2Max estimates, which is really only accurate if you're doing a metabolic stress test), but it's good to keep an eye on trends.
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- richardanaya 2y agoVO2 max is also exercise dependent. If you trained riding bike for 3 months, then went to run down the street, your VO2 max would not transfer over.
- basil-rash 2y agoIs that true? Back when I was a crew gremlin, my VO2 max as measured via erging was off the charts. But I could apply that cardio capacity to things like running/biking/swimming pretty effectively.
- swatcoder 2y agoIt's true in the sense that you'll be better optimized towards the activities you train in most intensely in regularly, but you do develop transferable gains as well. It's just not 100% transferable. I think the GP's comment is just easy to misread.
- richardanaya 2y agoThere's famous studies about people testing VO2 max with one leg trained exercises,then looking at VO2 max with non-trained leg. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-1716.1976.tb10200.x https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1748-1716.1976...
- NoPicklez 2y agoThat's why there are separate Cycling and Running VO2 indicators You won't be a 55 Vo2 runner if you're a 55 Vo2 Cyclist, but cardiovascular fitness does cross between those activities to an extent
- giantg2 2y agoYour indicators will be different, but your actual O2 uptake should be essentially similar. Any difference should be due to technique (if you've optimized your breathing/rhythm/etc for one but not the other).
- dilyevsky 2y agoThis is incorrect. VO2max is influenced mostly by muscle recruitment - different muscle group trained would be a hindrance if anything
- giantg2 2y ago"VO2max is influenced mostly by muscle recruitment" This is incorrect - the primary factor is heart and lung function. Yes, muscle training can play a factor, but is relatively minor compared to that.
- dilyevsky 2y agoLung capacity is genetic and heart is only trainable up to a small limit bc there’s a layer of fascia around it preventing further expansion. That’s the “supply” side of vo2. The “demand” side is the recruitment and efficiencies you’ve developed which are exercise dependent. This is why you dont see a lot of cross training (except for recovery) and a lot of z4 work in the professional training programs
- giantg2 2y agoVO2 max is a measure of oxygen uptake and distribution. Your VO2 max will transfer over. However, if you're measuring VO2 max in some ancillary way (not a stress test machine) then it will appear differently since you're level of effort will vary based on your technique dor the chosen exercises.
- verst 2y agoMy VO2 max from running definitely transfers to cycling. Doesn't mean I'm an amazing cyclist but at least cardio isn't my limiting factor.
- weatherlite 2y agoIt transfers to an extent. Lance Armstrong marathon PR is 3 hours from what I read, which is a great result for an amateur runner but totally unimpressive for a professional endurance athlete, let alone one of the best in history. I was actually a bit surprised that's the fastest Lance could do and to me it shows it doesn't cross over that well.
- dilyevsky 2y agoNot surprising at all. Vo2 in general is not great metric for elites and specificity is king. Which is why you rarely ever see elites cross train much
- weatherlite 2y agoI wonder if running crosses better to cycling than vice versa, I think it might cross a bit better because running involves more (pretty much all) muscle groups. On the other hand there might be a lot of technique in cycling that takes a while to learn so idk.
- lr4444lr 2y agoRunning down the street at top speed, i.e. for a minute or so, is an anaerobic activity.
- d0mine 2y agoEven sprinting 100m takes 60% ! energy from aerobic system.
- busymom0 2y agoNote that there's lots of complaints about the VO2Max estimates on Apple Watch. For example, this reddit thread: https://old.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/m5q7yx/cardio_fitness_and_vo2_max_on_apple_watch_not/ https://old.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/m5q7yx/cardio_f... https://old.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/yte3zd/the_vo2_max_on_apple_watch_seems_extremely/ https://old.reddit.com/r/AppleWatch/comments/yte3zd/the_vo2_...
- layman51 2y agoI wonder how it estimates VO2Max and how often depending on the model. On my Series 3, it seems to make a data point two or three times a month and it’s concerning to me because it seems like it isn’t trending up even though I have started to do more cardio exercises. Instead, it has consistently reported a range that it says is below average. Could it be that it’s just pretty difficult to improve VO2Max in general? Some people’s hearts have to beat harder or they breathe in less than fitter people?
- nradov 2y agoVO2 Max is highly trainable, up to a point. But in order to see any significant improvement you're going to have to spend months consistently doing a mix of hard intervals and long zone 2 workouts. There are major differences between individuals in terms of training response and achievable upper limit.
- Affric 2y agoSeries 5 does it post every Cardio exercise
- nanidin 2y agoAccording to Apple[0] it is only after the specific activities of: Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, and Hiking. Which explains why my estimated VO2 max goes down significantly in the winter months when I'm mainly doing cardio indoors and only taking leisurely walks with the dog outdoors. [0] https://support.apple.com/en-us/108790#:~:text=Apple%20Watch%20Series%203%20or,users%2020%20years%20or%20older https://support.apple.com/en-us/108790#:~:text=Apple%20Watch....
- voisin 2y agoI wonder why they can’t track cardio indoors. Perhaps because the watch doesn’t link up to most / any treadmills and is generally totally inaccurate with respect to distance and speed?
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- FredPret 2y agoThe poor VO2Max estimates on the Apple Watch is why I'm phasing out of wearing one. I track my actual VO2Max measurements in Apple Health via a shortcut, and I don't need a daily made-up number messing up my data.
- BenFranklin100 2y agoAs the OP mentioned, absolute numbers are garbage, but trends are useful. Once a year just get an actual VO2Max test to peg the watch values too.
- darth_avocado 2y agoWhere do you get a VO2Max test?
- BenFranklin100 2y agoI just googled around and there were plenty of testing facility options in my metro area (Boston). Cost was reasonable too, typically less than <$100.
- mathieuh 2y agoThe trends aren’t really useful either unless you are recording strenuous exercise with the watch. I do a lot of cycling and my fitness in terms of how much power I can put out and for how long and my average heart rate for the same power has increased vastly, yet according to Apple my VO2 max has stayed consistent at around 45 for years since I only record walking exercises with it. I guess there’s not much it can tell if you only hit the mid 80s bpm at most during an exercise. I realise it’s also another estimate but based on my cycling exercises Garmin is estimating my VO2 max at 55 and it does show a progression in my values.
- plorkyeran 2y agoThe trends are garbage too. According to my watch my VO2Max has swung wildly between 55 and 45 over the last year, while every other measurement points to my fitness staying mostly steady.
- WheatMillington 2y agoCardio still counts even if you don't measure it and share it with Apple.
- nradov 2y agoCome on now. If it's not on Strava then it didn't happen.
- dailykoder 2y agoStrava is not enough. You should make a tiktok livestream while exercising. Otherwise it's not a real workout
- russell_h 2y agoI think that Apple end-to-end encrypts fitness data.
- nanidin 2y agoDoes Apple get your cardio data? It's my understanding is that is encrypted, even when it goes to iCloud for backup.
- elsadek 2y agoI love my Garmin Fenix 6 pro.
- herdcall 2y agoI've been seeing strange downtrends on my VO2Max numbers with Apple Watch: they have dropped from 40's to 20's over a matter of a few days and have been steadily trending down. I haven't changed my exercise patterns at all for years now. There are others on the Apple forum facing similar abrupt drops, anyone else here seeing it? I'm hoping it's the watch messing up and not my health!
- dailykoder 2y agoBut do you really need a botnet on your arm to get motivated to do sports once a week? Weird society