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Original poster

Garmin body battery

17 replies

Angels1111 · 22/03/2025 14:01

I recently got a Garmin, and my body battery is rubbish. The max it's been (after the first few days of calibration) is 40, but recently I've only been recharging to 25 or so. I bottom out at 5 every day.

I bought it primarily to help me manage energy levels and it has helped. For example the other evening I thought "oo I'll go for a swim, I have energy", but my body battery was only 10 so I thought I'd be cautious and sit down for a minute. 5 mins later I felt REALLY tired...and it turned out I'd just been "going/high" on adrenaline.

So...it's been helpful.....but I don't know why I'm not "recharging" any more than that. I sleep well, I think. No other activities give me a blue line.
Any ideas?

OP posts:
PlugUgly1980 · 22/03/2025 14:04

Are you wearing it whilst you sleep? Can you see what your sleep and stress levels are like, as that will all impact your body batter reading.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/03/2025 14:35

PlugUgly1980 · 22/03/2025 14:04

Are you wearing it whilst you sleep? Can you see what your sleep and stress levels are like, as that will all impact your body batter reading.

Yeh I'm wearing it all the time. It recharges while I sleep but only by 20-35 points...and then it only recharges during the day if I nap

OP posts:
Jumbojem · 22/03/2025 14:56

How long have you had it? I've had mine a few years now but I seem to remember it saying it took 3 weeks of data before it was properly accurate for you when I first started wearing it.

DisappointingAvocado · 22/03/2025 15:07

OP you say you bought it to manage energy levels, so I'm guessing you had a specific reason to want some help with this? If you have been struggling with your energy and your Garmin is backing this up then it's worth thinking about whether something is going on medically - blood tests etc (though I wouldn't mention your Garmin readings to GP as I once made the mistake of doing that and got laughed at).

Fwiw I have had a Garmin for two years and have found the body battery a reasonably accurate measure of how I'm feeling generally. I can use historic data to pinpoint the time ~16 months ago where my iron got very low and my fatigue got bad. So I do trust it fairly well. For several months my body battery never got above 30, and I was feeling pretty awful too.

Even though I'm doing much better now, I usually max out at around 65 body battery each day, unless I'm on holiday or off work and resting more than usual in which case I can get into the 80s/90s. I think some people are just higher energy than others, but then I knew this anyway. I work and have a 5 and 7 year old so it's not all that surprising that I'm tired a lot. In a way it's helpful to have the validation that I'm at my max and can't take on any more commitments. I usually recharge 50-60 per night now, but I do have to be strict with winding down properly before bed, sticking to very low or no alcohol, walking lots and a good sleep schedule. :)

So yes, I'd suggest looking into any possible medical causes for the tiredness, and using the watch to help with pacing but try not to obsess over it, as it would probably genuinely not help your stress levels to be worrying about what your watch is telling you.

Bluebagfiend · 22/03/2025 15:09

I’ve just looked at mine and last night’s sleep was +42 , so maybe your sleep isn’t as good as you think ? Remember, it will also deplete / recharge depending on stress and when really low you need to have a a couple of successive days of rest / low stress / good sleep to get it toward the hundred . On mine if you look at the stress, you can also do breathing exercises to calm and destress and that adds a couple of points too.

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 22/03/2025 15:43

When you dig into your sleep scores what does it say, OP? I had a much better sleep than usual last night (score of 81) but only recharged by 40. I'm knackered and have been exercising hard so that feels about right.
I "bottom out" most days when I'm busy and stressed but when I'm on holiday - and not in full-on running training - the battery gradually builds up.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/03/2025 16:51

FeelinTwentySixPointTwo · 22/03/2025 15:43

When you dig into your sleep scores what does it say, OP? I had a much better sleep than usual last night (score of 81) but only recharged by 40. I'm knackered and have been exercising hard so that feels about right.
I "bottom out" most days when I'm busy and stressed but when I'm on holiday - and not in full-on running training - the battery gradually builds up.

Ah, since a few days ago I've apparently been stressed in my sleep 🤔
Not sure why. But even before that I was only recharging 35-40.
I have a young DC so even on hols we're on the go a lot!

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/03/2025 16:53

DisappointingAvocado · 22/03/2025 15:07

OP you say you bought it to manage energy levels, so I'm guessing you had a specific reason to want some help with this? If you have been struggling with your energy and your Garmin is backing this up then it's worth thinking about whether something is going on medically - blood tests etc (though I wouldn't mention your Garmin readings to GP as I once made the mistake of doing that and got laughed at).

Fwiw I have had a Garmin for two years and have found the body battery a reasonably accurate measure of how I'm feeling generally. I can use historic data to pinpoint the time ~16 months ago where my iron got very low and my fatigue got bad. So I do trust it fairly well. For several months my body battery never got above 30, and I was feeling pretty awful too.

Even though I'm doing much better now, I usually max out at around 65 body battery each day, unless I'm on holiday or off work and resting more than usual in which case I can get into the 80s/90s. I think some people are just higher energy than others, but then I knew this anyway. I work and have a 5 and 7 year old so it's not all that surprising that I'm tired a lot. In a way it's helpful to have the validation that I'm at my max and can't take on any more commitments. I usually recharge 50-60 per night now, but I do have to be strict with winding down properly before bed, sticking to very low or no alcohol, walking lots and a good sleep schedule. :)

So yes, I'd suggest looking into any possible medical causes for the tiredness, and using the watch to help with pacing but try not to obsess over it, as it would probably genuinely not help your stress levels to be worrying about what your watch is telling you.

Yeh I did buy it because I struggle with energy and it's definitely helped me pace myself. Last time I went to the GP re fatigue he just found low vit D. But I think I should go back. And also, I hear you on the some people being high energy and some low!

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/03/2025 16:54

Jumbojem · 22/03/2025 14:56

How long have you had it? I've had mine a few years now but I seem to remember it saying it took 3 weeks of data before it was properly accurate for you when I first started wearing it.

I've had it around 5 weeks now, so it's early days admittedly

OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 22/03/2025 21:41

Do you drink alcohol? That can really hamper recovery.

Oddly I'm a very lightweight drinker, but it seems to disrupt my sleep quality far less than DH's. I'm talking a standard can of cider. We were light, occasional drinkers before and drink even less now!

Caffine too.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 23/03/2025 08:46

BogRollBOGOF · 22/03/2025 21:41

Do you drink alcohol? That can really hamper recovery.

Oddly I'm a very lightweight drinker, but it seems to disrupt my sleep quality far less than DH's. I'm talking a standard can of cider. We were light, occasional drinkers before and drink even less now!

Caffine too.

Nope! And don't drink caffeinated drinks either. I think my worst habit is taking my phone to bed and watching stuff on it so as of yesterday I'm turning it off at 8pm and leaving it downstairs!

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 23/03/2025 08:47

Angels1111 · 23/03/2025 08:46

Nope! And don't drink caffeinated drinks either. I think my worst habit is taking my phone to bed and watching stuff on it so as of yesterday I'm turning it off at 8pm and leaving it downstairs!

Show quote history

Having said that... yesterday was my first day of doing that and I was apparently really stressed in my sleep 🙈
I had a super relaxing day so not sure why

OP posts:
farmlife2 · 23/03/2025 08:50

I find the quality of my sleep affects the body battery. It's not a measurement I take too seriously though, I have to admit, it does seem pretty accurate.

Jumbojem · 25/03/2025 14:02

Just to add, I've been ill this week. Garmin seemed to know before it hit me, my HRV getting gradually higher.
These last few days my HRV and sleep scores have been through the floor. Even though I felt I slept better last night the scores were even lower than the night I was shivering with a chill. My body battery was only recharged to 20 this a.m. So I'd say the Garmin is fairly accurate provided you wear it all the time.
I hope you manage to improve your sleep, although easier said than done with small kids and life generally.

Jumbojem · 25/03/2025 14:05

I meant my HRV was getting lower, it was 30 last night and my baseline is 50-60.
I am obsessing over these figures in the hope they start improving which will mean I'm starting to get better.

Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/11/2025 21:29

I thought I'd resurrect this thread to update you all in case it's of interest.
I've been on a mission to improve my health, taking iron, upping protein, being very disciplined with sleep and other things...and...I'm no longer bottoming out at 5!
I finally got a diagnosis for my fatigue (severe endometriosis) and was glad it wasn't all "in my head".

OP posts:
Original poster
Angels1111 · 22/11/2025 21:31

DisappointingAvocado · 22/03/2025 15:07

OP you say you bought it to manage energy levels, so I'm guessing you had a specific reason to want some help with this? If you have been struggling with your energy and your Garmin is backing this up then it's worth thinking about whether something is going on medically - blood tests etc (though I wouldn't mention your Garmin readings to GP as I once made the mistake of doing that and got laughed at).

Fwiw I have had a Garmin for two years and have found the body battery a reasonably accurate measure of how I'm feeling generally. I can use historic data to pinpoint the time ~16 months ago where my iron got very low and my fatigue got bad. So I do trust it fairly well. For several months my body battery never got above 30, and I was feeling pretty awful too.

Even though I'm doing much better now, I usually max out at around 65 body battery each day, unless I'm on holiday or off work and resting more than usual in which case I can get into the 80s/90s. I think some people are just higher energy than others, but then I knew this anyway. I work and have a 5 and 7 year old so it's not all that surprising that I'm tired a lot. In a way it's helpful to have the validation that I'm at my max and can't take on any more commitments. I usually recharge 50-60 per night now, but I do have to be strict with winding down properly before bed, sticking to very low or no alcohol, walking lots and a good sleep schedule. :)

So yes, I'd suggest looking into any possible medical causes for the tiredness, and using the watch to help with pacing but try not to obsess over it, as it would probably genuinely not help your stress levels to be worrying about what your watch is telling you.

Thank you for this. It took a lot of investigation to find out what was wrong but your post helped me persevere

OP posts:
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