Cardio load is nonsense in my opinion

[Dom123456]

I believe this has replaced the daily readiness, i'm not finding this new feature very intuitive, the goal keeps changing I have no idea how to gauge how much or little exercise is needed, weather a rest day or not basically, the only gist I get is that I need to do some sort of cardio exercise everyday, well I know that, it's good that it can be removed from the home screen.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[t1b]

Cardio load is annoying and a wasted effort.  Yesterday I was over training. Today I've been 'under training'.  This is why I went Harm n so long.  Fitbit needs to be Fitbit and stop trying to mimic.

[Shufflincrew]

I haven't left Fitbit, yet. I'm trying to exhaust all avenues before I dump them. I was just with customer support this morning and they have an update coming later this week that she says should address the issue.

[YachatsMike]

Add this to the ridiculousness:

I installed the latest update.  Now it appears that the Spinning app has been "repaired."  But check this out.

I have used the Spinning app twice since the update.  Both times I've hit it for about 40 minutes in the Vigorous zone.  Both times I check the exercise right after I finish and see I'm awarded 15 Cardio Load points or so.  But when I check back a couple hours later the number has increased to 75 Cardio Load points.  How does that happen?

[Kurrjur]

Now it tells me everyday that I've been overtraining and need to take it easy; even after a rest day. They should just remove the cardio load feature.

[Mark235]

I completely agree that the Cardio Load metric is worthless. It treats me like a yo-yo. Last week on Saturday it said that I was overdoing my exercise and to take it easy and set a goal of 1 - 30, the next day on Sunday it still said that I was overdoing it and set a goal of 1 - 30. The following day on Monday it said that I was under doing it (I don't recall the exact wording) and set my cardio goal for 79 - 100. I did what it said on Saturday & Sunday and stayed in the recommended target range and then the next day, Monday, it tells me that I have been goofing off. Today it set my target for 73 - 105 "to maintain your cardio fitness".

I've tried to work with this metric for a few weeks but earlier today I decided that it had me running in circles and removed the metric from my TODAY screen.

[CREDDERS]

Obviously nobody reads the large number of posts agreeing.
I totally removed the cardio load and all the data. My last straw was that
I had a break at Easter so I was told I was under training and my score was
set as high. I exercisd for 4 days with vigorous training in line with the
cadio load target. Not actually achieving the goal only be told to slow
down as I was over training.
The data and calculations are flawed and unreliable.

[JudithR]

I'm quite sure it generates random targets. None of it makes any sense whatsoever 

[Mark235]

I've noticed the same increase after a strenuous workout but not an increase as significant as yours going from 15 at the end of the workout to 75. It would be helpful if they posted the algorithm used to calculate the cardio load. I would bet that heart rate (HR) is heavily weighted in the calculation and it can take 5 to 10 minutes or so for HR to return to normal after the workout during which time you will continue to accrue Cardio Load points.

[Mark235]

I think that part of the problem with the calculation for cardio load as well as some other metrics such as daily readiness is that the algorithm is conflating null with zero. On some days for HRV, SP02 and/or breathing rate my readings will show as "No Data" which indicates that for some reason the sensor could not collect data. As an example, on a day when my Versa 2 is not able to collect overnight HRV it will show under daily readiness that my HRV is "100% lower than usual" and a really low Daily Readiness score. I suspect that the daily readiness score is used to set the target cardio load for the day. Just because the sensor could not capture the HRV doesn't mean that HRV was 0. Rather than treating a null HRV as a 0 they probably should use an average of the previous X daily readings perhaps with an asterisk indicating an historical average.

I've complained about the null/zero thing before but it doesn't appear to have been changed. I think that all of the Alphabet people who understand the null/zero thing are working on their AI tools and we are left with the Sociology majors. That is probably OK because Alphabet's other tools such as Alpha Fold are winning Nobel prizes and saving lives.

[kayakmac08]

I wouldn't be surprised if it counts missed readings as zero. I have noticed that it weights sleeping HRV pretty heavily. And I think its HRV reads can get pretty sketchy (at least inconsistent with my perceived sleep quality and next-day energy, and my sleep stages) Plus, I'm not so sure HRV should weigh that much in the first place. It feels like one of many tiny variables to consider, but Fitbit seems to give it prominence. 

[YachatsMike]

Just loaded the latest phone app update a couple of days ago.  Did my first Spin today.  13 cardio load points at 10:30.  Upgraded to 72 points around 1:00.

Still don't understand why.  I don't even have a guess.

[JoJoJoJoJoJoJoM]

Yes, it’s terrible. I spent 5 days walking the SWCP last week - often 40k plus steps per day and 200 plus floors. Then the App said I was under training!!! Ridiculous 

[Erschuur]

I'm using a Pixel watch. I exercise 3-4 times per week. Run 3-6 miles per session. 66 y.o. If I followed the cardioload guidance I would be a total couch potato. It thinks I'm overtraining. The cardioload target seems to be pretty inaccurate.