Automatic Exercise Tracking

[kpfeifenroth]

Just got my new ionic and I'm super excited about it.  This is day 3 of wearing it.  I wore it for an outdoor run yesterday so I turned the run on manually to test out the GPS, it was a little slow on the initial connection, but worked well the remainder of my run.

I choose to stay inside and stuck to the treadmill today.  I didn't bother manually turning on the run because I have the automatic workout detection on (set to trigger after 15 minutes).  This feature worked fantastically on my Blaze.  So I didn't expect any issues.  However I was on the treadmill for 30+ minutes and it didn't register any workout in that time frame.  =/ So I'm slightly disappointed.  Anyone else having issues? Or know how to resolve this?

[WavyDavey]

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@kpfeifenroth wrote:

Just got my new ionic and I'm super excited about it.  This is day 3 of wearing it.  I wore it for an outdoor run yesterday so I turned the run on manually to test out the GPS, it was a little slow on the initial connection, but worked well the remainder of my run.

I choose to stay inside and stuck to the treadmill today.  I didn't bother manually turning on the run because I have the automatic workout detection on (set to trigger after 15 minutes).  This feature worked fantastically on my Blaze.  So I didn't expect any issues.  However I was on the treadmill for 30+ minutes and it didn't register any workout in that time frame.  =/ So I'm slightly disappointed.  Anyone else having issues? Or know how to resolve this?

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Hi @kpfeifenroth,

The automatic detection is what Fitbit calls SmartTrack. Here's an article on it:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1933#exercises

Unfortunately, treadmill is not listed as automatically detected. There is a manual exercise mode on the Ionic for Treadmill. Running on a treadmill looks different to a tracker than running on a track or outdoors. With exercises like treadmill or spinning, I find it best to manually start them. 

[kpfeifenroth]

I didn't realize the treadmill in specific wasn't able to automatically track. But I would have at least expected it to register as a walk or aerobic workout. Even my personal training weight lifting last night registered as a sport.  

[WavyDavey]

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@kpfeifenroth wrote:

I didn't realize the treadmill in specific wasn't able to automatically track. But I would have at least expected it to register as a walk or aerobic workout. Even my personal training weight lifting last night registered as a sport.  

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Hi @kpfeifenroth,

I apologize for giving you bad information. Elliptical is listed in auto-track, as the link posted above indicated.

Exercises like Elliptical and Treadmill can be difficult for a tracker to identify. Because we're not actually moving forward, the fitbit has to rely largely on arm motion to detect. Are you holding the poles (handles?) while exercising?

[bbarrera]

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@WavyDavey wrote:

I apologize for giving you bad information. Elliptical is listed in auto-track, as the link posted above indicated.

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you didn't, last night when you posted elliptical was not in the help article. Fitbit updated the article after you posted.

[kpfeifenroth]

No worries! I thought what you said was correct after reading the info at the link you attached.  Elliptical is automatic, treadmill is not.  And yes I was moving my arms while on the treadmill.  My steps registered, I earned active minutes as well.  It just didn't register the activity as any type of workout. 

[WavyDavey]

I just found it easier in the end to manually start the exercises. Relying on auto track made me keep wondering if it was logging or not. I still use auto track for walks, which is the only unscheduled kind of exercise I do.

For the odd missed workout tracking, I will log it manually later in the web dashboard at Fitbit.com.