Discovery Vitality in 2016

[StrontiumDog]

Guys, lets start a petition. These rule changes are BS. They are welcome to reduce the amount of smoothie rewards but to change the mechanics to such an extent that we need to kill ourselves at above 80% average heart rate is asking for a law suit due to some premature deaths...

 

[cYcLIc]

What does the CPA say about this because I feel like these changes are extreme and unreasonable?

Don't they have to provide scientific evidence to back up their changes to the heart rate zones? Their new classification goes against many credible sources backed up by science.

 

[VBot]

Cutting down on the points given for steps was only fair, but to up moderate heart rate to 70-79% and vigorous 80% plus is way over the top.

Plus I didn't see any problem with the 600 points for doing a 10km run if you have one of the latest Polar, Tom-Tom, Garmin watches.

That's probably the end of the smoothies for me.

 

[abudabi]

I got the email this afternoon... and judging by the Facebook comments - https://www.facebook.com/discoveryvitality/posts_to_page/ so did most other people. The hate is so strong right now.

Tomorrow is going to be a VERY crappy day for their PR and callcentre agents.



So I googled "definition of moderate workout heart rate" and opened up all the links on the 1st page
Of the ones that listed heart rates, the score is 5 to 1 in favour of moderate being up to 70% and anything over that being vigorous

http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/measuring/heartrate.htm
Moderate: 50%-70%
Vigorous: 70%-80%

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise-intensity/art-20046887?pg=2
Moderate: 50%-70%
Vigorous: 70%-85%

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Healt...intensity_UCM_463775_Article.jsp#.Vtc485x97_U
Moderate: 11-14 on a scale of 1 to 20 (55%-70%)
Vigorous: 17-19 on a scale of 1 to 20 (85%-95%)

http://www.livestrong.com/article/540103-definition-of-moderate-exercise/
Moderate: 50%-70%
Vigorous: 70%-85%

http://www.weightwatchers.com/util/art/index_art.aspx?tabnum=1&art_id=20971
Moderate: 55%-69%
Vigorous: > 70%

http://exercise.about.com/od/gettingweightlossresults/g/moderateintensity.htm
Moderate: 70%-80%
Vigorous: 80%-90%


I really think discovery has let a bean counter make a knee jerk decision here and changed the limits without proper research.

 

[HERGERMAN]

"It appears that the actuarial model used to determine the economical viability of the Apple Watch partnership with Cupertino is flawed. Therefore remedial steps have to be taken to ensure that sufficient weekly penalties can be raised to reach a profitable position. This will be achieved through removal of the most popular fitness apps as well as increasing maximum heart rate and time requirements for exercise." If I was the Vitality manager, this would probably have been the email I sent to my staff last week. But I am not. Therefore I have to assume that Discovery implemented these changes because they have their members' best interests at heart, and want to ensure that they obtain the necessary fitness levels to complete the Argus in sub-3 hours and the Two Oceans in sub-4 hours. If you cannot achieve this, then you are not an athlete and you should not have signed up for an Apple watch. Commiserations are in order.

 

[Rocket-Boy]

The new rules also removed swimming data from swim trackers like the Garmin swim which means I just lost 600 points a week. Devices that accurately capture heart rate data during a swim are on the expensive side at the moment. This is now the part where a decent Fitness device instead of the Apple Watch would have been a good idea.

I have the Suunto ambit 3 and mapmyfitness doesnt properly pull HR data so it doesnt really work if they import from there.

 

[Maxx1974]

I think it would be a good idea to raise these points with Discovery in a mature and polite way (Perhaps they may listen better then). I have sent them an email asking about the target zones and to explain their reasoning for a 90 min workout for 600 points. Heart rate cannot be faked if you are wearing a so called verifiable device. Send them the data of the target heart rates. According to the quick research i did you should only be at 80% for 10-20 minutes at a time.
Of course they could completely ignore me and you too if you choose to follow through with this but at least we have raised our voices.
I don't think the new limits are fair or healthy.

 

[StrontiumDog]

I think it would be a good idea to raise these points with Discovery in a mature and polite way

Ha ha, good one

Their support staff only comprehend emails sent to them about 20% of the time, in my experience.

 

[Tinuva]

Might work if you sent them a message in a mature and polite way via hellopeter with an angry face.


At least with hellopeter your chances goes up from 20% to 75%, that they comprehend your issue!

 

[Maxx1974]

Ha ha, good one

Their support staff only comprehend emails sent to them about 20% of the time, in my experience.

Perhaps but maybe its like a petition, if enough people make a noise, maybe they listen. (Probably not - but if you don't try, it definitely won't make a difference.

 

[Blu82]

I have the Suunto ambit 3 and mapmyfitness doesnt properly pull HR data so it doesnt really work if they import from there.

I own a Garmin swim that provides detailed swimming metrics like stroke type and swolf which is damn heard to fake for an hour.

To get reliable heart rate data while swimming using Garmin devices I need a HRM Swim (around R2500) and a 920XT (R8600) which is nuts.

 

[Maxx1974]

Might work if you sent them a message in a mature and polite way via hellopeter with an angry face.


At least with hellopeter your chances goes up from 20% to 75%, that they comprehend your issue!

Yes, that might work too All I mean is that complaining here, makes us feel better but definitely won't change a thing with Discovery...Maybe enough dissent, will get a result.

 

[StrontiumDog]

Perhaps but maybe its like a petition, if enough people make a noise, maybe they listen. (Probably not - but if you don't try, it definitely won't make a difference.

I'm all for complaining... Social media is probably the way to go though in order to light a fire under their butts.

 

[air]

thousands of people complaining daily on their social media platforms, thus rendering them useless?

 

[TofuMofu]

Supposedly on their website
Got this pic View attachment 347021

Wow...80%+ heart rate...fsckin madness.

 

[jman]

How are we going to get them to hear us? Let's all just hope that they adjust our weekly goals to +-400 points. I'm thinking a multitude of hellopeter complaints will be a start

 

[phoneJunky]

Hmm, this makes it really difficult yes. Can't get away with loafing and just getting my steps in any more. My normal workout keeps my average workout at 95% of my "maximum HR" in any case, so only the distance up really affects me. But this is bad form from them.

 

[Patrick_Hockstetter]

I will have to purchase a heart rate monitor thingy. Any recommendations?

 

[Patrick_Hockstetter]

It's a toss up between fitbit, Garmin, jawbone and polar device. What's the best?

 

[web]

It's a toss up between fitbit, Garmin, jawbone and polar device. What's the best?

Garmin there is no toss up. Then you don't have to jump through hoops trying to sync through any apps besides Garmin connect.