Garmin new gadget questions

[61Lady]

Can anyone cast their mind back to when the first got a Garmin please ?

I’ve recently purchased Forerunner 245m but the readings seem to be a bit out or at least certainly not what I was expecting or hoping for 🥲

I’ve only done 2 runs so does it take more data than that in order to settle down and give “proper” readings ?

I don’t live by what gadgets say but when it’s telling me my body battery, VO2 max and stress levels are all dreadful it has started to trouble me a little.

Fortunately I feel absolutely fine so is it just a case of needing to build up some more data ?

Many thanks - as always x

[dijep Graduate10]

I think it does take a while for it to settle when you first get one. I did find I needed to have it done up quite tight to proper reading and obviously wear it 24/7. My body battery frequently tells me to "rest to avoid bottoming out" but I feel absolutely fine so I take what it tells me with a large pinch of salt. And VO2 max is always ridiculous but it cheers me up to be told that I'm the same age as my son though 😊But it's great for the actual runs so enjoy 🙂

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to dijep]

Mmm - thanks - I’ve been wearing it for 5 days and I have had some “body battery bottoming out” warnings and apparently after today’s short run (no hills) I’m as fit as an 89 year old. While I am overweight, and in fact 62 years old, I have been jogging 2-3 times a week since completing C25k last July and I do other exercise including weights, TRX body weight training and (beginner) Tai Chi.

Very puzzling readings 🙄

[dijep Graduate10 in reply to 61Lady]

That's very weird. I have read quite a few people saying the VOmax seems to reward some types of run more than others.

Sorry I can't help more. I'm sure someone will be able to help you.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to dijep]

my vo2max goes up on shorter runs and down on longer ones, i got up to 79 last April then steadily got younger

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

I bought a Garmin 35 when I graduated. I never looked at VO2 max or heart rate because I didn't want to frighten myself! Two and a half years later I do look at heart rate, to see if I am getting fitter run on run, but VO2 max is beyond me! I have a simple rule; if VO2 goes up it is wonderful, if it drops it is a load of rubbish. Therein lies sanity 🙂

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I agree with you - you can believe the good and dismiss the bad - only natural 🤣I’ll wait for a while longer and see what happens. Mind you, I’d be very happy if I felt this well aged 89 😁

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I have that rule too 🤣

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

When I swapped from my Forerunner 235 to my Forerunner 635 everything plummeted, which was pretty depressing. It took a while to start coming back up, so maybe you do need more data. I never got absolutely disastrous readings though and was always younger than my age. I do find the body battery info does vaguely tally with the exertion involved. And my stress levels don’t seem to bear any relation to reality. Stressful days often give me really low readings, probably because I’m just sitting in front of a laptop all day. Really enjoyable days spent with friends/family often register as really stressful. Fun = stress! It does make you wonder!

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

Thanks for responding - I’m hoping it’s a lack of data and it will gradually level out.The body battery is weird as it is on just 5ish when I finish work - it shows I’m getting good quality sleep but only charging to 50ish overnight.

Perhaps I’ll just give it the benefit of the doubt for a few weeks unless I hear other advice.

[Hidden]

It indeed takes a while to settle and get used to your body. I must say that my body battery is often quite accurate. Low when I feel tired or bad and when the body battery is high in the morning, I have indeed had a good night's sleep. Oh and if you drink (I don't think, but I read about it), then your body battery does not go up much over night + your body is in a lot of stress.

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for feedback. I’ve meanwhile discovered that I probably didn’t set it up properly in the first place 🙄I thought I had linked to an iPad and android phone but tech forums say it really doesn’t like that and won’t play nicely 🤔

This time I’ve just gone with the iPad ... we’ll see 🤞

I’ve gone back to a reset and suddenly for the first time, my body battery has increased during the day ?

I only drink alcohol on a Friday so expecting poor read outs tomorrow 🤣

Will try to ignore it over the weekend and start with another run on Monday - hopefully a bit better than a fitness age of 89 !

Just done a 5k intervals and felt fine so onwards and upwards as they say 😁

[Newbie59]

I got a Garmin 45S in December and I mainly use it for runs (time/distance), walks, step count, heart rate and intensity minutes. I gave up wearing it through the night so just ignore the body battery (it didn't make sense to me).

However, once I discovered the VO2 max I am delighted to be told that my physical age is half of my actual age!

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to Newbie59]

Thanks for replying - I really don’t fancy getting bogged down in stats so part of me is not overly concerned. On the other hand, when you spend a lot of money on a gadget, you hope it gives reasonably accurate readings. My worry is that I really do have a fitness age of 89 when I’m a mere youngster at 62. 🤣

[Newbie59 in reply to 61Lady]

I'd been thinking about getting a watch for ages but it was the Black Friday offer pulled me in, I got a really good price. I wanted to see how I was progressing rather than guesstimate my distances. It turned out I had been regularly running around 4.5 km but having the watch on made me keep going until I hit the magic 5 k.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

When I first got my Garmin the stats seemed to be all over the place and took a while to settle, made me very young fitness age to start with then rapidly aged,

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Well thanks for this - maybe I would not have questioned a younger fitness age 🤔Because it was so far out (27 years older than I am!), I started to get concerned. I hope for improved readings next week when it’s got more data but not sure what I’ll do/think if it doesn’t. Watch this space 😉

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to 61Lady]

I’m sure it’ll change for the better, it’s all relative and our bodies know best they tell us when to slow down

[ZJC88]

I got a Garmin about a year ago. I was running happily from zero exercise previously, definitely progressing and feeling good. Discovered my VO2 max one day and felt like giving up. Told me my fitness age was 52 when I was 45. Felt like a real kick in the teeth given all the positive changes I had made. I then became slightly obsessed with it which didn’t feel good. Anyway long story short it started coming down slowly in December (7mths after I got it) and now I have a fitness age of 38. Am I doing anything different? Not really, just getting outside and running 4 times a week like I have been from the start. Honestly I would ignore it if you can and just keep clocking those Ks. As long as you feel good physically and mentally then that’s much more important.

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to ZJC88]

Thanks ZJC88 - certainly can be a bit demoralising.Sometimes I think it’s just too much information so maybe I’ll stick with believing the good stuff and ditching the bad although I reckon the reset has made a difference - I look forward to seeing the “scores on the doors” after my next jaunt.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10]

Yes! I've got a 245, and it said on the Garmin page that it takes some time to learn about you, I didn't believe it, how can a watch learn? It's true though, it will take about 10 days to get to know you, so don't worry about the warnings. I had to reset mine recently, and I was saying OMG!! What's happened to my stress and body battery? Then I remembered...

I've just turned my pulse Ox off though, that certainly is round the twist...it tells me my ox goes down to 74 during the night...and the red light often wakes me up...

All in all though, it's a nice watch. Did you get a chest strap or dynamics pod? I got the pod and I love all the data it gives me.

[61Lady Graduate10 in reply to Curlygurly2]

Thanks CG2 - that’s all you need - warning light waking you up - bet that sent your stress levels up too 🤣Interestingly had red wine yesterday but body battery has charged more over night than any other night so I reckon the reset has definitely activated something

I didn’t know about chest strap or pod - thanks for heads up ... I will investigate 👍

[Curlygurly2 Graduate10 in reply to 61Lady]

I like my Running Dynamics Pod, clips on the back of your shorts, gives you loads more stats! Cheaper than a chest strap too I think!