Discovery Vitality [2017]

My current device setup for heart rate training - for what its worth.

RUNNING: TomTom Runner GPS watch with a TomTom HRM Strap which syncs with the TomTom MySports app on my Android phone (and finally with Discovery as well).

SPINNING BIKE: TomTom HRM Strap linked to S-Health app via bluetooth and doing the "Exercise Bike" activity. Lock the screen on the app (theres a lock icon button) and keep your heart rate above your required rate for your age for 30+ min.

Initially used the i-gotU HRM-10 strap, but that refused to connect to my TomTom GPS watch and after 2 weeks just died so it didn't work for S-Health either - returned to Makro for a full refund.

Bottom line you can get the TomTom HRM strap at Sportsmans for R600 (with the 25% HealthyGear benefit, otherwise R800) and it will sync with the S-Health, Polar Beat and TomTom My Sports app (all of which that currently sync with the Discovery app - tested it myself).

PS: I don't work for TomTom :)
 
jamacouve said:
How do you guys reach 900 points ?
Click to expand...

Get your step count up:
Park further from the entrance to work and the shops.
Use steps instead of the elevator
Walk over to colleagues at work instead of emailing
Run around with the kids

To get to 900 points you must have a heart rate monitor:
One or 2 above 70% heart rate workouts gives you 200-300 points.
Remember you get 100 points for a workout between 60-69% bpm. You can do that with a brisk walk/jog around the house.
 
Luben said:
Get your step count up:
Park further from the entrance to work and the shops.
Use steps instead of the elevator
Walk over to colleagues at work instead of emailing
Run around with the kids

To get to 900 points you must have a heart rate monitor:
One or 2 above 70% heart rate workouts gives you 200-300 points.
Remember you get 100 points for a workout between 60-69% bpm. You can do that with a brisk walk/jog around the house.
Click to expand...

At the moment I'm coping with 500 points. Just wandering when it gets up to 900 how to do it. As some guys said above, at gym I don't really do cardio properly. Guess I need to start
 
I get to 900 with 2x 300 point sessions (either running or indoor cycling at 80%+ heart rate - not as difficult as its seems) and then 3x normal gym visits (weight training, yoga, smoothie pickup etc.). Leaves you with 2x rest days for the week. But yeah, you would need a heart rate monitor or (what I did before) is a Saturday Parkrun (300 points) and then going to the gym the remaining 6 days of the week. Wouldn't recommend it long term because your body needs rest and thats a good way to burnout or get injured.
 
0 slot open for group vitality Smoothy, send PM.

Note:
Filled
 
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Wrt how to get to 900..

It's tough! Currently I am on 650 and it means I have to do 2x Cardio HR for 30 min. Since I'm not unfit this means keeping the speed at 9.9 for 30 min on virgin active treadmill (20m + 10m) as my heart rate drops from 160 to 140 within 1 min of slowing down to a walking pace .

Sometimes I do cycling for 10min but I find that it's a bit trickier to get HR going for a extended period on a gym bike unless you push and monitor constantly where as running you just kinda go into a rhythm. Watt bikes are better for keeping HR up though but yah.. I like mixing it up.

I also try doing rowing.. but it's a bit tricky as a 2km row takes 8-9min leaving you with a gap.. also then you using arms which sucks if you want to do weights.

Then assuming you working on a 3 day program you get one off day for cardio which I do legs.

That's 700pts.. on an avg work day I get 5k steps and on the days I don't go gym I make sure to walk enough to make 10k steps which is worth 100pts. 1 gym day is on a Saturday/Sunday so that means upto 300 step points and this 1100 points is obtainable as a max with just steps, hr, gym without more than 3 workouts(2 intense).

Cheat tip: don't get your Kauai smoothy on the same day you go to gym, get it when you go to do weekly grocery run & make sure loaf all day ie your rest day . If you have the gym with Kauai on way home, stop by for a 2nd group Kauai on another freebie rest day..
 
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HR tracking via iOS & Apple Watch

Has anyone noticed that the HR tracked is not paused via Apple Watch?

That is I workout for 34 min but pause the workout once for 3 min. Now according to the Apple Workout App, the workout was 31 min.. but Discovery shows 34min workout, ie the pause had no effect. I just checked history now and yes.. pausing has no impact.

PS. Removing the watch from arm (can't detect HR) will end workout
 
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For people that don't have HR monitors, you can still get 900 point if you run/walk a Parkrun on Saturday mornings, then make sure you walk 10K steps on days you don't go to gym.
 
Here's what I do to keep my heart rate up when cycling indoors.

You unfortunately need a device/watch/phone where you can see your real-time HR (if it displayed your avg HR for the exercise even better). Start off with 3-5min of cycling just to push up your HR from the resting rate and it will stabilize at some point e.g. 120bpm

You can then use the dial on the bike to slowing increase the resistance while keeping your current pedaling speed - this will basically slowly "dial" up your HR - you can fine tune it whenever you want this way or simply pedal faster/slower. Half way through the exercise when your body is getting fatigued, your HR will climb automatically and you can then slowly reduce the resistance to dial down your HR again. Just keep an eye on your current HR at all times to ensure it stays above the rate you are aiming for, for your age e.g. 145bpm
 
Luben said:
The heart rate readings on the Apple watch are fairly consistent in cardio activities but once I start doing strength exercises it can jump between 65 and 135 bpm in 10 seconds. I have to constantly adjust the watch, the strap should give you a higher heart rate due to consistency.
Click to expand...


I also experience this when doing strength training. I haven't personally conducted a detailed test, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do when the Apple Watch/your wrist is facing towards the ground. The indicated heart-rate is almost exactly half of what it should be. I have never had this issue when doing cardio exercises. Some people on other forums have reported a similar problem.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7048325?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7059615?tstart=0

edit: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7036432?start=0&tstart=0

"While lifting weights, heart rate monitors on your wrist (including the heart rate monitor on the apple watch) are very inaccurate (this is normal). This is because when you contrict your muscles when lifting weights the muscles in your arms tighten up and restrict blood flow to your wrist, as a result your BPM will read lower then expected. When you stop lifting the weight and rest a while (in your case you stop lifting weight to restart your apple watch) your muscles relax and allow the blood to reach your wrist, as a result your BPM will be more accurate. Heart rate monitors on your wrist are not accurate when your are lifting weights, but they are very accurste when you do activitys that do not use your arm muscles, such as running, yoga, and normal activities. Don't worry your apple watch is running properly, it is just that heart weight monitors on wrists do not give accurate results when weight lifting.
If you watch this guys video on YouTube he explains how the apple watch works when weight lifting (skip to about 5:30 in the video because that's when he starts to explain what happening when you lift weights with the apple watch) http://youtu.be/LA9RG-9nx2U " this was a comment/reply to someone with a similar issue.
 
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Seylan said:
I also experience this when doing strength training. I haven't personally conducted a detailed test, but I'm pretty sure it has something to do when the Apple Watch/your wrist is facing towards the ground. The indicated heart-rate is almost exactly half of what it should be. I have never had this issue when doing cardio exercises. Some people on other forums have reported a similar problem.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7048325?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7059615?tstart=0

edit: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7036432?start=0&tstart=0

"While lifting weights, heart rate monitors on your wrist (including the heart rate monitor on the apple watch) are very inaccurate (this is normal). This is because when you contrict your muscles when lifting weights the muscles in your arms tighten up and restrict blood flow to your wrist, as a result your BPM will read lower then expected. When you stop lifting the weight and rest a while (in your case you stop lifting weight to restart your apple watch) your muscles relax and allow the blood to reach your wrist, as a result your BPM will be more accurate. Heart rate monitors on your wrist are not accurate when your are lifting weights, but they are very accurste when you do activitys that do not use your arm muscles, such as running, yoga, and normal activities. Don't worry your apple watch is running properly, it is just that heart weight monitors on wrists do not give accurate results when weight lifting.
If you watch this guys video on YouTube he explains how the apple watch works when weight lifting (skip to about 5:30 in the video because that's when he starts to explain what happening when you lift weights with the apple watch) http://youtu.be/LA9RG-9nx2U " this was a comment/reply to someone with a similar issue.
Click to expand...

My fitbit does the same thing, I am actually looking for something better that can do heart rate monitoring. I've been looking at this https://welcome.moov.cc/moovhr/ It will also be more comfortable since the fitbit can be uncomfortable when I do boxing. But then I am not sure if it will be supported by discovery in future.
 
lavellramon said:
So, since my Samsung Gear S3 wasn't giving me great HR readings. I decided to try the Garmin HR strap paired to my S Health. Great news. I started the Running workout on S Health while paired to the Garmin HR strap. It monitors constantly and I got my full HR points when syncing S Health to Discovery. My friend has 2 Garmin HR monitors available if anyone is interested. PM me. You just need the HR Strap and download S health app for free.
Click to expand...

You are lucky. I tried to use S Health with a Polar H7 HRM last year and i only got points for step count even though my HR stats was recording and reflecting on S Health. When I enquired with Vitality they told me that if I am not using a Samsung HRM with S Health I won't get any points.

Needless to say I immediately dumped the S Health App and moved to Polar Beat.
 
Anyone missing activities done on Saturday, 21 Jan. It seems that my 21km isn't recorded.
 
Up to +-23 000 points. Completed my health checks. Waiting for Fitness Assessment test points.
 
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