The World Health Organization recommends
“that adults aged 18–64 years
- Should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both.
- For additional health benefits, adults should increase their moderate-intensity physical activity to 300 minutes per week, or equivalent.
- Muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week.”
It makes sense, given the recommendation, that I’ve got fitness apps to track progress to the 150 minute goal.
But my tracking apps can’t agree on a number, on what counts. They come up with different numbers.
According to Google Fit, I logged 200 Heart Points with the goal of 150 per week.
How’s that work? Google Fit uses your device’s sensors to recognize workouts that you don’t manually track, such as when you walk or cycle on your daily commute. Google Fit provides you accessible analytics, tracking, and activity history. Google Fit gives you a Heart Point for each minute of activity you do.
But then my Garmin gives me credit for 379 intensity minutes. It’s also got a goal of 150. I’m usually wearing a Garmin watch that tracks heart rate.
Garmin support says, “Intensity minutes are earned based on your current heart rate when compared to your average resting heart rate or the number of steps taken per minute. For example, you can earn intensity minutes once a brisk walk or run is detected. If no heart rate sensor is present, only moderate intensity minutes will be earned.”
I think the Garmin is more accurate. Not just because it arrives at the bigger number but also because it feels like heart rate is a better measure of intensity than speed and distance.
Do you track your 150 minutes a week of exercise intensity? How do you measure it?
I record my deliberate training in an app called Training Peaks, but I no longer do anything to record times when I am just generally active (that includes dance classes, yoga classes, even strength training, as well as ordinary walks or brief bike rides). All of these devices and their attempts to make sense of all of us, no matter how we differ, remind me of a time when I had an EKG prior to minor surgery. The technician who performed the test looked at the results, and said, somewhat ominously, “The doctor will go over your results with you.” The doctor came in, took a look, and laughed. My resting heart rate was 59. The “normal” range the tech had seen was 60-100. Good thing she didn’t see what it would have been first thing in the morning – more like 49.
All of which is just an illustration, like your comparison of two devices, of how much we should (n’t) rely on devices to make any serious decisions!
But they are handy to give a rough idea of how we are doing, especially if they show significant changes.
So if you have a period of anxiety or fear causing your heart to race, Garmin thinks that is high intensity exercise?
No, it can tell you’re not moving, and the stress alert goes off along with suggestions that you might try some box breathing exercises. Lol.