Internal Arts Excercises

[SkipM]

What is the difference between "yoga" and "martial arts" exercises in Charge 5 and which is the best for "tai chi"?  How is the Zone Activity computed in each instance?

[LZeeW]

@SkipM   Fitbit doesn't describe things like this well.  I think either yoga or pilates are okay for tai chi.  Both are body weight exercises.  When I think of martial arts, I think of karate and jujitsu.  Not exactly yoga-ish.  Active zone minutes are computed the same way for any activity -- or even at rest if you are sick.  They are based on your heart rate.  Active zone minutes require moderate activity, so think brisk walk.  You probably won't get zone minutes doing tai chi.

[SkipM]

Thank you for your reply. I am sure there are differences in how the
active minutes are computed for the different exercises because I get much
different results for the same routine when using different activity
categories. Perhaps we can get a response from FitBit moderator?

[t.parker]

@SkipM , @LZeeW is right. Active Zone Minutes depends only on your heart rate regardless of type of the activity. The same routine may not result in the same HR and watch also may not read your HR 100% perfect each time. Hence, differences.

[SkipM]

I hear your argument that Active Zone Minutes depends only on heart
rate. But perhaps your argument is biased because you and LzeeW primary
practice running and perhaps other step-based exercises.

I note that the documentation for the "elliptical" fitbit routine
recommends that selection if you raise your heart-rate for long periods
without swinging your hands (that's how fitbit counts steps). I would
guess from this that arm swings (steps) are somehow accounted for in the
fitbit routine. I also note when I use the "yoga" routine with my Tai Chi
routines, that the resulting Active Zone Minutes is highly dependent on the
minimum speed which I use to execute the routine and that when i use the
"walk" routine at the same pace the result is Much, Much less for the walk
routine at the same tai chi execution speed. This difference is far too
large to be accounted for by measurement error or errors in duplicating my
execution speed.

I still would like to hear from someone who has access to the routine
developers or knows how the code was developed.

[t.parker]

@SkipM I practice running, cycling (indoor, outdoor), rock climbing, weight lifting, callisthenics, prehab sessions, swimming (the only exception as it turns off the HR sensor) and yoga. It is easy to check that. I did AZM calculations myself multiple times (I have my own AZM calculator that only requires dropping recorded HR values) and my opinion isn't biased. My opinion is based on data. Most often, activities like yoga, weight lifting, rock climbing or cycling outdoor provide rather bad and inconsistent HR output. I get plenty of AZM from indoor cycling and very little from outdoor cycling and it all comes down to differences in the HR (not effort but just inaccurate HR readings). It is very easy to check using recorded data, no need to be guessing.

[SkipM]

Thank you for your prompt response. I respect your credentials and accept
what you say from your own experience, which seems to be quite extensive.
It is very discouraging, however, to find that one of the most important
tools provided by fitbit is almost worthless in my situation. I will
seriously consider just leaving it in a drawer.

Thank you again.