Versa 2 and Active Zone Minutes

[hngoben]

Is anyone else unhappy with the new zone mintues?  I enjoyed the active mintues better because even if I just take a slow paced walk for 10 mins or more I could increase my active mintues and NOT be in zone range.  Is there anyway to return to that feature instead of the current feature?  Or can we change the heart rate zones to a more custom setting?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarciM · Accepted solution]

Hi @hngoben 

I feel your pain. I was not happy about the change to Zone minutes, but over time have come to appreciate the challenge. One thing that really helped was adjusting my max heart rate, which reset the zone minutes to something that was achievable for me on a fast paced walk. The trick to getting this to work is to make the changes on your web dashboard (fitbit.com), in the upper right corner, click the gear icon, and select settings from the menu. Scroll down until you see Heart Rate Zones. What I have found works best for me is to edit the Max Heart Rate, play with the max number and see how it impacts the zones. I hope this helps you adapt to the change and embrace the challenge of zone minutes. 

Best of luck!

[hngoben]

Thank you so much for your help.  I was able to adjust my stats.  Is this something I’ll need to do daily or will it stay until I decide to change it?

[MarciM]

I'm glad that helped. 😊 It will stay that way until you make another chance. 

Happy stepping!

[RoseM1024]

I hate them so much!  Has anyone found a way to get rid of them?  I have had a Fitbit for a long time, but this makes me want to replace it.

[MrMarv]

@hngoben -

While @MarciM is correct in how to change the Max HR, you may find that the FitBit servers routinely revert the Max HR setting back to the traditional 220 minus age.

It has happened more than a dozen times for me since the 3rd of September.

@RoseM1024 -

Sorry, but there is no way to get rid of them, or the new heart rate zone formula.

I review the number on a regular basis in the app (Account...Activity & Wellness...Heart Health).

Be advised that although it appears you can change the value in the iOS mobile app, doing so will revert it back to the traditional value - a known and reported bug in the app. It is my understanding the "ability" to change it is not in the Android app.

[MarciM]

@MrMarv if you change the setting in a web browsers instead of the mobile app, the values stay in place. I set my 2 months ago and they are as I set them, even after a few updates. 

[MrMarv]

@MarciM -

I said your method is the only way, at this moment to set the Max HR. 

While I am happy for you that your change has stayed in place, I have had to reset it on the Web Settings page over a dozen times in the past three months, as have others.

Also, for me, just a re-sync after the web change puts that change into effect on my app/device. For some, a restart of the user's phone is required. 

[MrMarv]

@MarciM -

As I said, I'm happy for you, but mine was reset sometime during the last two hours.

Good thing I am now checking before each exercise session.

[ctnnh]

Adjusting the heart rate is a work around. It would be better, based on customer feedback, to provide the zone minutes in addition to active minutes instead of

replacing them. Any chance to see that enhancement?  

[LZeeW]

Hello @ctnnh and welcome to the Community.  I'm confident that Fitbit won't offer active minutes in addition to active zone minutes.  The active minute method for calculating zones (50% of MHR to enter fat burn zone, 10 at a time, etc.) is out of date.  It became out of date when the CDC updated its physical activity guidelines and heart rate zones in 2018.  I definitely prefer Fitbit's AZM heart rates to the CDC target heart rates.  Fitbit uses your resting heart rate in the equation and the CDC doesn't.