Start & Track Workouts with Apple Watch - A Complete Guide

Tracking Workouts with Your Apple Watch

The Apple Watch offers capabilities far exceeding those of traditional wristwatches. A key feature is its ability to initiate and monitor exercise sessions.

Utilizing the Watch for workout tracking differs significantly from the Activity Monitor. The Activity Monitor functions passively, continuously recording data – unless disabled within the iPhone’s Watch app – irrespective of active exercise.

Starting a Workout

Workouts on the Watch are commonly begun through Siri voice commands.

For instance, to begin an outdoor run, simply raise the Watch and state, “Hey Siri, start an outdoor run.”

Alternatively, you can launch the Workout app directly on your Watch. Scroll through the available options to locate your desired activity and tap to initiate it.

Workout Variety

Beyond running and walking, the Apple Watch supports tracking for a diverse range of activities. These include cycling, elliptical training, rowing, and stair climbing.

A customizable “other” workout option is also available for activities not specifically listed.

Once a workout is selected, the Watch initiates a countdown before commencing data collection. It will then record your time, calories burned, and distance covered.

Workouts vs. Activity Monitoring

It’s important to note the distinction between Workouts and the data collected by the Activity Monitor. Workouts are designed to focus on a single, defined exercise session.

In contrast, the Activity Monitor gathers information throughout your entire day as you engage in your normal routines.

During Your Workout

While actively engaged in a workout, the Apple Watch displays real-time metrics. These include elapsed time, current pace, distance traveled, active and total calories burned, and your heart rate.

Pausing and Ending Workouts

To conclude or temporarily halt your workout, simply press the Watch’s screen. This will reveal options to end, pause, or lock the display.

If you pause, you can choose to either terminate the workout immediately or resume it when you are ready.

Upon ending a workout, a summary of your performance is presented. You will then be prompted to either save or discard the recorded data.

Reviewing Your Results

Saving a workout synchronizes the data with your iPhone. You can then view your workout history and monitor your progress within the Activity app.

Monitoring Exercise Sessions with the Activity Application

As previously mentioned in our coverage of the Activity Monitor, a dedicated exploration of its functionality is warranted. This article will provide a comprehensive understanding of how to utilize this feature.

Within the Activity app, users have access to both Workouts and All-Day Activity data.

To review your workout history, simply select any day highlighted in green to view the corresponding exercise sessions.

Alternatively, this information can be accessed from the All-Day Activity screens. Scroll down to the "Workouts" section and tap to reveal your workout details.

Workout data is presented in a format mirroring the post-workout summary. Key metrics such as total calories burned, active calories, and total duration are displayed.

Furthermore, the app provides insights into total distance covered, average pace maintained, and average heart rate during the session.

It is our intention that this guide proves beneficial in maximizing the potential of your Apple Watch for workout tracking.

The ability to monitor performance and observe progress serves as a strong motivator for continuous improvement and consistent effort.

Should you have any inquiries or wish to share your thoughts, please contribute to the discussion in our forum.

Detailed Workout Information

The Activity app provides a detailed breakdown of each workout session. This allows for a thorough analysis of your performance.

• Total Calories: The overall calorie expenditure during the workout.
• Active Calories: Calories burned through exercise.
• Total Time: The duration of the workout.

Beyond these core metrics, additional data points are also available.

• Total Distance: The cumulative distance traveled during the activity.
• Average Pace: The average speed maintained throughout the workout.
• Average Heart Rate: Your average heart rate during the exercise session.

These metrics collectively offer a comprehensive view of your workout performance.