iHow do I track or control my cardio?

[bcsurvivor]

I am so confused. I am 75. I was/am a couch potato and need to lose weight. I started challenging myself two months ago to get up and walk more daily with a beginning goal of 2600 steps per day ( approximately one mile), done by walking at home several times a day in 5, 10 or 15 minute intervals.  I do not walk that fast as I have a bad knee. I had achieved this goal and want to ramp it up.. I do not think that is a hard goal as for my age I should be walking 7500  steps per day. But my fitbit keeps telling me I need "recovery days" or I am overtraining or need to keep my cardio between 10 and 14. I have no clue how to track my "cardio" while I am walking or why it thinks I am "over-training". The last few days I have been way under my goal steps and still get the message. This is so frustrating and confusing not sure what to do anymore.

[RiekoC]

Hello @bcsurvivor 

The Cardio Load and Cardio Target Load do tend to be very confusing, especially when you are working on improving your fitness. I hope I can help you get comfortable with your fitness program & the Fitbit app.

Out of curiosity, what are you getting for Daily Readiness Scores on the days that you have low Cardio Target Load ranges? Are you getting low Daily Readiness Scores? 

[bcsurvivor]

my daily readiness prior has fluctuated lately between 50 and 62. I am still getting messages that I have " pushed myself too much lately" and need time to recover which is a joke because I have virtually stopped all extra walking due to these messages. I now think the apps algorithm is way off and cannot be trusted so I will now ignore it.  and I still have no idea how to keep my cardio between the parameters it specified as when I am walking the cardio does not show.

[LZeeW]

@bcsurvivor   I agree with you that your should ignore the Cardio Load/Target Load feature.  You need moderate level activity to raise your heart rate to "earn" cardio load.  It might be easier for you just to use your active zone minutes to set your goal.  This CDC page has some ideas.  You should consult with your doctor before starting any new program.

I agree that Fitbit's Cardio Load feature can be confusing.  I use it to maintain.  I recently got a recommendation that tripled my previous day's target.  I understand why a message like this is confusing and demoralizing.

[bcsurvivor]

its not the cardio load feature that I do not understand how to use that i am most annoyed with, it is the FITBIT recovery messages that keep telling me I am at risk for "overtraining"  and/or need to take a rest/recovery day when i have done less than 900 steps for the last 4 days?  why do I get this bad info?  It is NOT motivating and NOT TRUE??  Also, just FYI,  I just had an echo-cardiogram done 2 WEEKS AGO and was told to go back in 2 years for another, and my doctor did not even want to see me after results so I doubt I have any heart issues.

[LZeeW]

@bcsurvivor   Just to clarify, these overtraining and recovery messages are part of the Cardio load/Target load feature.  Fitbit doesn't share details about how these features work.  But many algorithms and human equations work best for the people in the middle and not at the extremes of the bell-shaped curve.  This is why I think you should ignore these messages.

[bcsurvivor]

well this feature is a total joke. Makes absolutely no sense..  Not motivating at all. I had 2 weeks of it telling me I was " over-training / need a recovery day" with the last week of almost no walking and then today I get "You are at risk or undertraining" .  I would rather see nothing at all instead of this nonsense. Too bad I cannot turn it off.