How do you use Apple Watch fitness data and set realistic goals?

[minnymoobear]

How do you use your Apple Watch for fitness ?

I’ve recently got one - older model handed down from family member who wasn’t using it. I’ve joined a gym a few weeks ago, started Mounjaro so lots of changes and I’m really trying hard to build good long term health habits.

Im using the activity feature to track exercise and gym workouts… but what do you DO with the data?

Ive got my move goal as 550 a day and 35 active minutes which I can easily hit when I go to the gym, swim or do a bike ride so should I increase? if so, to what?

not sure what is reasonable for menopausal in my early 50s?

many thanks

If you're easily hitting 550/35 most days that's a sign to nudge them up, not stay put, i'd go up in small steps like 50 on move and 5 on exercise mins, see how that feels for a week or two rather than jumping too high too soon.

The data side of things, i mostly use it to see patterns across the week rather than obsess over one day, are the non gym days really low compared to gym days, if so maybe a short walk on those to even things out rather than pushing the gym days even harder.

Menopausal and early 50s, strength training is worth loads even though it wont ring up as many active minutes as cardio does, so dont judge a session by the numbers alone.

Write down your goals somewhere so you can look back in a month and see progress, easy to forget where you started.

How are you finding things with the Mounjaro alongside the new gym routine, has energy for workouts been alright?

Thanks so much @BeachBunch, really helpful.

id started going to gym in the few weeks and now on second week of MJ, so on lowest dose.

Energy is higher then before tbh - I had started to walk more in the last 3 months which has helped to ease into gym and exercise

Im tracking macros (trying to anyway!) and eating 100g of protein daily, cut out lots of junk food since the beginning of the year.

The Fitness Move and Active minutes have only gone up since I’m trying to focus more at the gym started using the tracking workouts which is obviously then measuring things better. Previously I just had the watch on but wasn’t really using it much and would rely on the walking to close the rings.

I’m going to increase to 600 on move and 45 active and see if I can stick to this level of exercise over the next few weeks and review and increase weekly.

That all sounds like such a solid foundation already, walking first then easing into gym was a smart way to do it, less of a shock to the system.

600/45 sounds like a sensible next step, and reviewing weekly rather than committing to a big jump straight off is exactly right, gives your body time to catch up with the intentions.

100g protein a day is brilliant, especially alongside MJ where appetite drops right off for a lot of people, easy to undereat protein without realising. Good on you for tracking it even if it's a "trying to anyway" situation, that's basically all any of us are doing!

Sounds like you're set up really well for this, good luck with the next few weeks x

Aww thank you for your kind words! I’m giving it a really good go this time and feel amazing so it’s definitely doing something great for me ❤️

The Mounjaro feels like the icing on the cake or the missing piece as it’s made food decisions easier than they’ve ever been and doing it with my DH means we are both focussed and keeping each other on track and motivated. Never thought we’d be going to the gym together!!

I’ve cut out so much unhealthy processed foods and eating more whole and good foods.

I know the lovely sun and long days have helped and it’ll get harder in the cold winter but hopefully by then the good habits will be embedded.

thanks again for your support @BeachBunch xx