Exciting New Features in Apple Watch Workouts for Fitness Enthusiasts
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Chapter 1: Introduction to New Workout Features
The Apple Watch has introduced some fantastic new features for workout tracking, particularly in its latest WatchOS updates. One of the most notable additions is the ability to set heart rate alerts, which has become crucial for my fitness routine.
I must admit, I'm not entirely sure when these features were implemented—perhaps they arrived with WatchOS 9.0, but I might have missed the announcement while focusing on other aspects. Regardless, I noticed these enhancements today. Although I have a small issue with the interface, I appreciate the upgrades.
Section 1.1: User Interface Insights
To modify your workout goals, you typically tap the three dots located at the top right corner of the screen:
While this part remains unchanged, the next steps are quite different.
You might assume that the brightly colored pencil icon allows you to start editing your workouts—correct, it does. However, the dimmed pencil icon below it raises some questions. Is it intended to manage multiple versions of a workout? For instance, my usual outdoor walk lasts 30 minutes, but I might adjust it to 20 minutes during extreme weather, or extend it to an hour on perfect days. Each of these sessions could have distinct time or distance alerts, but this functionality seems somewhat clumsy and unclear.
Section 1.2: Praise for New Features
Despite my earlier frustrations, the newly introduced features are exactly what I've been looking for. The main image above likely caught the attention of many readers, prompting them to revisit and adjust their workouts.
With these updates, users can now set alerts throughout their workout. Monitoring my heart rate is particularly important, especially at 75 years old; ideally, my heart rate should not exceed 140 BPM during exercise. I've therefore set a notification for reaching Zone 4, which defaults to 137 BPM on the Apple Watch. These zones can be modified either in the Watch app or directly on the watch, albeit in different areas—yet another design quirk from Apple.
While I won’t panic at the alert, I do intend to be mindful of it. The elapsed time alerts are particularly beneficial on those days when motivation wanes, especially during high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions where it's crucial to know when to rest.
Chapter 2: The Value of Short Bursts of Exercise
As I integrate one-minute bursts of high-intensity activity into my routine—based on a recent study suggesting that such efforts can significantly reduce mortality risk—I find the time alerts particularly useful.
Although I won't abandon my daily walks or my longer HIIT sessions, these one-minute bursts are invigorating and easily incorporated into my day. Because I'm pushing myself to the limit, I set both heart rate and time alerts every 15 seconds to stay aware of how much longer I need to endure!
Stay tuned for more insights and updates on using the Apple Watch to enhance your fitness journey!