How do I log Tai Chi exercise on my Charge 5?

[Snoe]

I do Tai Chi @45-minutes a day but unable to get exercise credit on my Fitbit.  Is there a way to get credit?

Jen

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[LeslieFok]

I used to log it under "workout."

[Baltoscott]

I'm assuming that you are starting an activity from your CH5. You could try workout, yoga, or maybe martial arts. (You'll may have to change your exercise shortcuts if those options are not currently available).  Once you start the activity fitbit will try to calculate calorie burn based on your heart rate and movement. 

[SkipM · Accepted solution]

I do Tai Qi and Chi Kong for at least 2 hours a day.  I use the yoga exercise program on my Charge 5 because there is no Tai Chi available.  The first exercise I do is a traditional Yang style form done very slowly (40 minutes rather than the normal 20 minutes).  This is to increase my chi and enable greater body awareness - it does NOT raise my heart rate into the fat zone so the FitBit credit I receive is very small.  I then do 40 minutes of meditation followed by Chi Kong.  (If I leave my Yoga session active during the meditation, I get significant additional Zone credits that I can't explain.)  My Chi Kong sessions start with stretching, balance, and kick routines and end with very vigorous fast movements.  After 10/40 minutes my heart rate is in the cardio or near my personal maximum and the FitBit credits are high - well over 100 zone minutes. After rehydration, I often do 1 or 2 sets of the Yang Style tai chi as fast as I can without becoming disoriented - my heart rate will climb very rapidly and remain near my max for the duration - FitBit credits are high during this part of the session.  I then have breakfast and later do 1 or 2 Yang style sets at normal speed to improve my tai chi practice in general - the FitBit credits are modest for these later sessions.

    I believe the yoga exercise setting is one of the better ones to get credit from the FitBit as it does not require arm swings to count steps as in the running or walking settings.  I think it may give too high zone credit for the higher heartbeat rates and too high during sitting meditation but I can live with that.

  It would be good if Fit Bit could get help from a tai chi master and set up a better labeled routine that would auto-recognize.

[Snoe]

Thank you! At age 71, I started tai chi last September and really enjoy the work. Your input is inspirational and I appreciate your expertise. I use the martial arts setting, but willing to try your advice, use yoga.
I continue to work in the short form with dreams of working in long form someday.

Again, thank you!
Jennifer Tucker



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[SkipM]

Snoe, I will be 80 this summer.  Tai Chi is my passion I've done it daily for at least 2 hours a day for more than 10 years.  In my earlier reply, I gave some details on how I use my fitbit charge 5 with tai chi and chi kong.  I have only had the fitbit for 4-5 months so I am still learning its quirks.  As I said in the previous post, I use the yoga routine to monitor my tai chi and chi kong activity.  I find, however, that it gives me too much credit in the calories burned department - I was overweight when I got my fitbit and have lost an additional 20 pounds since I started using the fitbit to track my calorie intake and moderate my exercise.  Weight is stable now and I find that using the yoga routine overestimates my calorie deficit by about 750 calories per day.  With my metabolism and keeping calorie intake at about 1500 calories per day, my weight remains constant with the computed calorie output of 2250 calories per day.  If I increase my exercise to 2500 calories per day I lose several pounds per week.  I suspect that others will also find that the yoga rouine gives too much credit in the calories burned department but probably not the same numbers that I just provided.  Be aware that it can be useful with your own calibration or trial and error.