Body battery

[Curlygurly2]

Does your Garmin have the body battery feature? If so, do you take any notice of it or is it a complete load of twaddle?

[Speedy60 Graduate]

I sometimes look at it when I need a laugh 🤣

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

So you think it's nonsense then?

What about pulse ox? I turned mine off as it showed such low overnight ox levels it was scary!

[Speedy60 Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

I turned the pulse ox off not long after I was given my watch a year ago, mainly because it drains my battery too much. I don't think it's much use unless you run at altitude and my puny hills don't count. I think they maybe helpful if you have asthma or a lung problem, but then I'd be at the doctor, not relying on my recreational running watch. I figured, as I'm conscious, I probably have enough oxygen in my blood.

As for the body battery, I take very little notice of it. I do a lot of physical activity, I average over 18000 steps a day and I haven't done fewer than 12000 steps on any day in the last hundred. That's enough stats for me. I don't feel the need of my watch telling me 'a little light activity before bed would be beneficial' when I'm knackered in front of the telly. I guess if you're starting out, it might give you the push you need. Also, because I don't wear my watch in bed, I'm not sure how accurate it is.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

Mine doesn't suggest any such activity, it just tells me what impact the activity I have done has had...

Are you thinking about the widget that tells you to move every so-many-minutes?|

Pulse ox measures blood oxygen over night when you're sleeping... nothing to do with running or hills....

[Speedy60 Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

I have a fenix 6s. The body battery is definitely a bit bossy.

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to Speedy60]

ha ha!

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Odd thing about pulse ox, when I first got my garmin I sent screenshots to my daughter to show her what it did, she said my pulse ox was a bit low and concerning, I got all defensive and said it was only a guide and not a medical device. Three days later I was in hospital on oxygen with low blood oxygen levels. It really is only a guide but low is low

[lnarayanr]

I haven't seen such a feature, BTW, I am using Garmin 245 musicHeart zones related data might help, I have used alarm feature while doing high altitude trekking, it used to warn me when my heart rates crosses some limit

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to lnarayanr]

Yes the 245 does have this you just have to activate the widget.

[lnarayanr in reply to Curlygurly2]

oh, is it? let me try, thanks

[nowster Graduate]

My vivoactive3 doesn't have Body Battery.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

I take very little notice of Garmin's estimates of health or ability. However, if you are interested in such things, then the heart-rate variability (HRV) app by Welltory is quite handy to help you know your fatigue/energy level, if you're unable to work it out yourself!

I also use, the web browser extension 'Elevate for Strava' (formerly Stravistix) - I love the info of fitness, fatigue and form (all available with the paid-for version of Strava).

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to John_W]

Not really interested as such, more interested in other peoples opinion of this function

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate]

Only certain models have the BB feature. On the other models we get the "Productive/Unproductive/Overreaching/Maintaining" as well as suggested recovery needs and separate stress data.

Like much of the data it can be a useful guide but I wouldn't take it too seriously.

If you were on a strict, structured training plan say pushing for speed I would pay it more attention. If it's just regular running I don't think it sees enough 'real' stresses to be that accurate.

As with all these data collections you also need to wear it 24/7 for it to get the best overall results.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Body battery seems to be linked to stress levels, so if I don’t sleep much body battery is low and stress levels are high

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Do you think it's accurate?

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

I think it’s a good guide higher is good lower means get a bit more sleep

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Usually I go up to 100 in the morning, I had two days last week where I didn't get above 35 - 45. I certainly did feel tired even though I had slept well.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

Don’t think mines ever been 100 but it’s 71 this morning and a day off so i better go for a run, for me it’s interesting to see the difference to a day off when i wake naturally and a work day when the alarm wakes me before i’m ready

[Curlygurly2 Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I never set the alarm, never need to. The early morning sun often wakes me early in the morning in Summer, I've recently bought a sleep mask, makes a great difference.

I got a message on my watch this morning - poor sleep has delayed my recovery apparently....my sleep was the same as always... no idea what that's about...

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to Curlygurly2]

I sometimes think Garmin has some mental health issues 🤪daft as a brush, Willows said he was underachieving for our first 3 days of runs and walks then today said he was over reaching and added yet another year to his fitness age

[Mormor1]

My garmin has the Bb feature...I think it's pretty accurate in how it rates my energy but even if I start the day low, under 60, I don't let it stop me.... The morning I did my 10 miles I hadn't slept well, probably a bit anxious about the run ahead, and it only measured 53.... Was down to 19 at the end of the run, but I still got through the day ok. I read somewhere it won't ever go below 5! I'd love to wake up with 100, the highest I once got was 92.... And I did feel great, but it wasn't a running day..typical!