Cardio Load needs to improve

[DPinOz]

Until “Cardio Load” learns to include Swimming this metric remains useless. 

Swimming is a major component of my fitness regimen, and is seen by many as a premier exercise activity. Fitbit/Google has no issue estimating “Active Zone Minutes” for swimming, and differentiating harder swims from lounging about in the pool by awarding more zone minutes for the session, and it does this without access to heart rate. 

So why would Fitbit/Google not count swimming in cardio load?

50 laps of a 50 metre pool in 55 minutes (or less) is Cardio Load in my training count.

Until Fitbit/Google recognise this I will leave this metric switched off. A shame really it could be good even great, but currently useless.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[MajiKmOuse]

I absolutely agree with you! Is there any sign that Fitbit will be incorporating swimming into cardio load? Is there a way around it, like not registering a swim and letting it detect the rise in heart rate etc or will this damage the watch? Im confused? I now think maybe I've been pushing too hard as it is actually measuring false cardio loads if it is not incorporating my daily 30/40 min swim, as a result I've been really upping the exercise and feeling absolutely wiped out just to hit the cardio load ha ha ha but in reality I've actually already probably been smashing it and am now going way over the top because the watch is telling me I am in fear of under performing! Glad I've worked this out now before I break myself! 😬 oops, crazy! I was starting to wonder why I seemed to have to do a load more exercise than anyone else ha ha 🙃

[RiekoC]

Hello @DPinOz & @MajiKmOuse 

Unfortunately, heart rate tracking is disabled during swimming as noted in this Cardio Load help page (<-- click link).

[JennySwims]

I'm equally frustrated about how it excludes swimming from cardio load.

And I have also found that I can't fully hide the cardio load information. I have removed it from my metrics display in the app, but it still displays messages about my cardio load below the main dashboard.

[RiekoC]

Hello @JennySwims 

Please consider voting for this feature request in the Product Feedback forum to move or delete the Cardio Load prompt (<-- click link). I understand that the developers monitor this forum to see what feature are being requested for potential future implementation.

[DPinOz]

Hi Jenny

You need to delete the Fitbit Data for Cardio Load from your device's app to get rid of Cardio Load nag screen.

Tap your icon in the top right of the screen, then the "Your Data in Fitbit". Look for "Your Fitbit data" and select "Deletion options". 

From here select "Cardio Fitness Sore", and "Delete all cardio fitness score data".

The nag screen should disappear after that. Good luck. David.

[Notlobian]

Ah, that makes a lot of sense now. So the big fix for Fitbit/Google is to get heart rate tracking working while swimming. Not holding my breath on that. 

[Geyer]

I agree. But it seems shame they can’t approximate a value. Until then, cardio is worthless. 

[KathyOsh]

And yet, cardio load accrues every time I swim. Very confusing. 

[Geyer]

Swimming does not activate Cardio load for me, but it ALWAYS registers steps?? I get about 1500 steps for 1/2 mile, depending how fast I swim. Can’t understand how it is possible for 2 phones to act independently, though they obviously do.
Sent from my iPhone

[Notlobian]

I've now found that tracking the swim with the Swim Activity gives me no cardio load. However, if I leave the Fitbit to auto detect swimming then I get a cardio load boost after swimming - the swim itself still shows zero in the exercise stats. Whether the boost is the same as what I would have got, who knows. 

[BWS2811]

The device is waterproof regardless of using the swim setting or not. I tried swimming using “outdoor activity “ or “interval training” as the activity and it did account for zone minutes and cardio load. Of course you don’t get laps counted, but the cardio measures are more important to me. It may not be as accurate in the water, but better than not getting credit. 

[Geyer]

Nice idea! My problem is that I am more concerned about laps and lap times. Of course, within the last year or so, the app now rounds my lap times up or down to the nearest minute. Which is of course, completely useless for me. Also, if you ever do use the swim setting, do you get steps? Fitbit says you do not, but both my Fitbit watches have awarded Steps every time I swim. I think on average I get credited with about 900 steps per thousand yards. Don’t quote me on that but I think that’s what I get. Thanks for your reply.

Sent from my iPhone

[BWS2811]

I do get steps credit, but not sure what it’s based on. When I use another setting (like Outdoor Activity) I just mentally count laps. The device tells me the time spent, so I can calculate speed if needed. But I’m consistent - (and slow 🙄), so I just go for 30 or 45 minutes. 

[Geyer]

“Slow, but steady wins the race”. At least that’s what the old wives say;-)
My motivation comes from timing myself. I used to swim a mile consistently under 30 minutes usually between 28 and 29 minutes. About a year and a half ago, I found I could no longer swim a mile and under 32 minutes much less 30 minutes. So I forced myself to swim a 29 minute mile. And when I had finished, my pulse was at 185 bpm. So within about three weeks of that episode, I was having a heart catheter test and they put in two stents because two of my arteries have gotten blocked. So that’s kind of why I time myself. I can always tell if something’s wrong. The important thing is that we’re out there. Lately I’ve been trying to swim 1000 yards at a time sometimes 2000, but mostly I’m sticking to 1000 yard total. And I’ve gotten that down to 17 minutes three seconds.
Anyway, I think it’s pretty good for a 70-year-old man 🙂 just keep doing whatever you’re doing as long as you’re out there swimming 35 to 40 minutes. Nothing can touch you 🙂 all the best.
Sent from my iPhone

[FitCharlotte]

@Geyer I am also 70 years "young" and swim, but have been concerned I would ruin my Charge 6 by swimming with it, so of course I don't get a cardio score. So you find the Charge 6 to be actually be swim proof from damage?

[BWS2811]

The Charge 6 is waterproof and can be used for swimming. Just note that if you choose swimming as your activity, it disables the heart rate monitor and therefore you get no cardio load credit. Per the earlier comments in the thread, I use a different exercise setting (like “workout” and it does measure heart rate and cardio load. 

[RiekoC]

Hello @FitCharlotte 

Just to clarify, Fitbit devices are water resistant and not water proof. See this help page for additional information  (<-- click link). 

[FitCharlotte]

@RiekoC Thanks, I have read Fitbit's documentation on the subject. I was hoping to get some actual results from a person or people who swim and might be willing to comment.

[RiekoC]

Hello @FitCharlotte 

Thanks for clarifying. I know that one of our Fitbit PE's swims as his favored workout for several years. So far, he hasn't had any issues other than not getting cardio load for his workout. 

Hopefully, other users who swim will chime in and share their experience. Please keep in mind, though, that the Fitbit Community forums are where users come to get help. So, there tends to be more users here who experience issues. It's not too frequently that users come to share their good experiences.