Looking for input - does following Target Cardio Load lead to increased fitness?

[jjreason]

Hi folks, I'm a user who has only recently been seeing the Cardio Load & Target Load headers in the app. I asked my device to provide me with targets to increase my fitness. Small bit about me - 52yo old male, reasonably active, current fitness score 41. My typical week is 2 runs & 2 resistances sessions between Monday & Friday, then one longer, slower cardio session on the weekend. 

My issue - fitbit provides me with targets that I don't believe will actually help me increase my fitness even though that's what I'm asking for. Even with a good sleep it will tell me to hit between 1-25 which I get during my 7 minute walk to work or shoveling the driveway for 15 minutes. I may get these targets 2 or 3 days in a row, at which point I give up and go back to my normal routine, worrying I'll lose fitness rather than gaining. 

My question - does the app know something i don't? Has anyone followed Target Load for a few weeks or months & had it lead to an increase in fitness? Thank you for reading. 

[RiekoC · Accepted solution]

Hello @jjreason 

It might take a bit for the algorithm to properly calculate your target ranges, especially after the recent app update to version 4.34, which is supposed to include fixes to general issues with Cardio Load & Cardio Target Load.

My apologies if you've already read the information on this help page about Cardio Load & Target Load, including how the values are calculated  (<-- click link).

I have my fitness goal set at maintaining. So far, my target range seems to be more in line with my goal since the app update. I tend to look at the graph on the Cardio Load page to see where the algorithm has my dot and plan my activities accordingly.

[jjreason]

Thank you. I will switch to maintaining for now. 

[LZeeW]

@jjreason   Cardio load is new to Fitbit models.  It's been on the Pixel Watch 3 for months, but was a Premium feature when it was released.  PW3 users are the only users with months of data.  Most of us are on the same learning curve.

[jjreason]

Thank you for the reply. I'm stuck between taking its suggestions & just sticking with my own plan. No harm in trying it out for a couple of months I guess.