Fitbit - confused why it thinks I'm so healthy??

[Wonderbug81]

I got a Fitbit a few days. I promise this isn't a humble brag but it says my cardio fitness is very good to excellent for my age (late 40s and score range is 38 - 42).

While I do about 9k steps a day my exercise is v sporadic, weights maybe once a week, cardio similar. I do eat reasonably well but still have a treat every day. BMI is just within healthy range in case that's relevant.

Also says my resting heartbeat is 72bpm which seems low for someone of my fitness level!

Do you think it will change once it measures more often or is ir because it's based on averages for my age?

It might fluctuate a bit for a couple of weeks while it builds the data, although guess it is a bit of a blunt tool anyway.

I would have thought that 72 was quite an average sort of heart rate for your age? Not something associated with quite a bit of fitness?

I'm 62 and go to the gym etc, so mine is generally about 55-60 on the fitbit. I think fitbit gives a lower result than measuring manually.

It needs time to collect data but I don’t always think they are completely accurate. i don’t think it has enough data from 2 days to really give you a good picture and might be based on age

My Apple Watch won’t give you any Vo2max or HR variability until it’s been worn during work outs for a while

I’m mid 40’s, I would not say I am athlete fitness by any stretch, I do exercise regularly and eat well but it’s not to the levels some of what I read on these forums.

I have an Apple Watch and I’ve worn it every day for 2 years. I can see a difference in the graphs but the only way to know fitness levels in this way is to have proper testing really

• I started out with a vo2 max of 30 and now it’s 40.3
• My avg resting HR was 60 and now it’s 52
• all my other metrics have gradually changed over 2 year period like my recovery

however without a watch on I know I am getting fitter or fairly fit as I can hold a conversation when jogging, my HR recovers quickly after exercise, it takes more effort to get my heart rate going, I have better endurance, can lift heavier weights etc

I would give it time to really see a picture emerging of your health and recovery

Where do you see this?

I've had mine for about 3 weeks now, and I cannot find a fitness score.

But the app says v good to excellent for cardio score which suggests above average. I'm still surprised. I do home workouts of 30 minutes or so and only lift 8kg or so definitely not enough to be really healthy.

Yes really good point. Use it as a benchmark rather than an absolute.

Click on 'Heart' on the main screen and scroll down.

@Wonderbug81 I wouldn’t really expect it to be normal that someone in their 40’s has poor heart health or unfit just due to age. You are still young, it should be in good shape in working order and doesn’t sound like you are completely sedentary

Found it, thank you.

But your home workouts and the little bit of weight work are good exercise, and prob more than most people are doing, so an above average cardio score seems like your just desserts!
It just goes to show how effective moderate exercise can be.

BTW I did a quick google around cardio score and saw a chart that had a 'superior' level above the 'excellent' level. So my guess is that 'excellent' just means that you are taking good care of your heart and it is performing well. Athletes would tip over to 'superior.

Ah OK! So Superior gives me something to work towards.😆

Possibly based on heart rate recovery score; this is partly genetic.

I would say you’re fitter than average when compared to the population as a whole. The fact that you’re not overweight and do exercise regularly, even if to you it doesn’t feel like you’re doing much, you’re still doing more than most of the population. The majority of adults in the U.K. are overweight.

my vo2max has gone from excellent to superior over the last year since upping my exercise considerably. So there’s always room to improve! 😂.

Mine says excellent 41 - 45 no idea why. I do no particular exercise apart from housework and a large garden, but my heart rate is usually pretty low. Perhaps just age (75) and heart rate resting 55. I take it all with a pinch of salt.

Yes I think it's a population average and perhaps genetics plays a part too.

So like you, I basically need to compete with myself.😁

Some people are just naturally fitter than others. I had a friend who was rather overweight, party animal. Did a proper vo2 max test at a work event and turned out she had incredible capacity. She got in shape, took up cycling and is now a sponsored athlete!

I however exercise 5 days/ week, am very strong, class myself as fit but my vo2 max according to my Apple Watch only ever scrapes above average ……

It's so interesting. I never realised this and also can't quite believe, as someone so naturally lazy, that I might also be naturally healthier. 😅

Yes it’s confusing and probably not very accurate in my opinion. Cardio fitness on Fitbit is more accurate if you run. If you don’t ever go for a run (like me) then it guesses based on other factors including resting heart rate and weight. Mine is 37-41 which it says is excellent for my age. I don't think my cardio fitness can be that great in reality, I am a bit overweight. My resting heart rate is around 59-60 though, which is quite good.

Ah Ok I rately go for runs (but intend to do more)! Will see how it affects it.

It’s totally inaccurate unless you run outside with GPs enabled for I think at least 10 mins on flat ground. Fitbit themselves explain this.

I had mine tested in a lab with a mask, I think it was 34. Fitbit estimates 37. My resting heart is 58. I run 5km in 30 mins several times a week. I have run outside with GPS to improve the accuracy of the cardio score.

A heart rate of 72 is very average.

I run a lot and my resting heart rate is 53 (I am in my 40s).