Versa 2 heart rate zones

[lawrenc28]

My Versa 2 just updated and the heart rate zones are all wrong. Before the update it was 94 fat burn, 132 cardio, and 160 peak. Now it is 113 fat burn, 138 cardio, and 170 peak. How can I get my old heart rate zones back?

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity. 

[SteveH]

I'm afraid you can't.

The firmware update has replaced Active Minutes with Active Zone Minutes and, as part of that, the way heart rate zones are calculated has also changed. Judging by the posts I've seen, many people are finding that the zones are harder to achieve. It's not clear yet whether this is a bug or what Fitbit expected to see. My fat burn zone start point has risen from 80 to 97.

The idea of the change seems to be to make the zones more tailored to our fitness level by basing them on our resting heart rate as well as our age.

There are a couple of help files that explain all this in more detail:

Active Zone Minutes

Heart Rate Zones

[lawrenc28]

Thank you! I was really hoping I could manually change it. I really do not like this new way of calculating zones. It is so much harder to achieve the zones now (and thereby making it less motivating to workout) and it doesn't match what my age group should be. I really hope they change it back to the old way. This new way is NOT better. I do appreciate you reaching out, now I won't waste my time trying to figure out how to change it back.

[Xose49]

I noticed the same thing.  Prior to the firmware, my cardio started at 104 bpm which agreed with the heart monitor device I have and agrees with the formula of cardio starting at 75 percent of 220 - age.  My question is.  Can this be reset by using the custom heart rate settings.  I tried that, but it appeared to act the same.   Shouldn’t the custom settings reset the peak, cardio, fat burning ranges.  Thanks.

[MrMarv]

@Xose49 and @lawrenc28 

---

@SteveH wrote:

It's not clear yet whether this is a bug or what Fitbit expected to see. My fat burn zone start point has risen from 80 to 97.

The idea of the change seems to be to make the zones more tailored to our fitness level by basing them on our resting heart rate as well as our age.

---

The newly defined zones, at least for me, match exactly the values calculated when using the published Heart Rate Reserve method formula.

Subtracting your resting heart rate from your max heart rate results in that reserve value.

40% of the reserve is added to your resting heart rate to establish the beginning of the Fat Burn Zone.

60% of the reserve s added to your resting heart rate to establish the beginning of the Cardio Zone.

85% of the reserve s added to your resting heart rate to establish the beginning of the Peak Zone.

You can see the difference in the zones in the chart below. The first and second rows of data show my traditional zones and my newly defined Heart Rate Reserve zones. The third row of data reflects a reduced max heart rate because I take Beta Blockers due to a viral attack on my heart three years ago. Beta Blockers literally throttle down my heart rate even when exercising and that throttling results in a 20% reduction in my max heart rate.

[Bethanie0825]

My BP meds are a Beta Blocker and keep my heart rate down, which is what I need. I can't even get close to my target zones now bc of this update. I hope they either make it customizable or optional. It doesn't work for me at all.

[NPBIW-440]

I tried this and it deleted it as soon as I entered it. Not happy with the update. Tried to rollback to previous version and found this wasn’t possible either. I also train with a MyZone (heart rate monitor) and it read my zones the same as the previous version as Fitbit, which gave me confidence in the accuracy of my outdoor activities. I hope Fitbit is on this!!

[MrMarv · Accepted solution]

@Bethanie0825 -

As I stated in my post, I reduced my Max Heart Rate by 20%.

You have to do it on the Web Dashboard's Settings page as the capability is broken in at least the iOS app. I don't know if it is broken in the Android app.

Once you save the changes in the Settings page sync your device to the app. The max heart rate change should take effect and your zones change.

I am 68 years old, so my traditional/default max heart rate is 152. 80% of that is 121.6 and I set my Max Heart Rate to 120. Remember: I did in on the web - not in the app. But the app accepted it.

Good luck.

[MrMarv]

@NPBIW-440 -

Did you attempt the change in the app or in the Web Dashboard Settings page?

It is broken in the app, at least in the iOS app.

Make the change on the web, sync your device using the app and you should be good to go. I did it 28 hours ago and it is still in effect.

Welcome to the boards.

[Xose49]

Thanks.  I did what you suggested and just set the maximum heart rate in the web app and then synched on the phone app.  Then I tested and voila success.  Thanks so much for the suggestion.  

[Xose49]

I was given a solution in which I set the max heart rate in the web app and then synched in my phone app.  Was able to get the cardio back to the original set point.

[Xose49]

Wasn’t sure how to mark my reply to you as a solution, but your suggestion worked for me.

[MrMarv]

@Xose49 -

I believe only the original poster can mark a subsequent post as the solution. 

No biggie. I'm glad to help, assuming it was my post that helped you.

[Xose49]

Yes. Your suggestion worked. Thanks.

Sent from my iPhone

[NPBIW-440]

Thank you for your suggestion. So far so good!! 👌🏼

[Bethanie0825]

Thank you so much! It worked for me. 

[lawrenc28]

Thank you for your solution. I tried the solution but my ranges are still off. This is what it is now:

However this is still wrong compared to what I had previously (94 fat burn, 132 cardio, 160 peak) and based on the chart below that matches my age group, I am 31:

[MrMarv]

@lawrenc28 -

What is your resting heart rate. That value is used in the new formula.

Your stated values for what you had before the firmware update are real close to what my calculations are using 4/5 rounding - 95, 132 and 161 using the male/female max of 220 - age.

I'll take your resting heart rate and run the numbers using the traditional male/female max against a female only max for both traditional and the new Heart Rate Reserve formulas.

It won't bother me a bit to do it. I'm retired and I have spent a lot of quality time with my 4-year old Grandson this week so I'm charged up and ready to help.

[Xose49]

I was just interested in getting the cardio back to 104 instead of 113.  So I just played with putting max heart rate and lowering the value until I got the 104 as the beginning range of cardio.   The other two ranges are a little off, but not enough for me to care.

The guy who is working with you understands the formula.  He is your best bet.  Cheers. 

[N8teGee]

For those who have set the custom zones, has this actually transferred to your Versa? I followed @MrMarv's helpful post and my zones changed when I checked the app (fat burn now 101 instead of 112bpm), but whilst using the exercise app on my Versa it still had me below zone until 112bpm.