50-step workout limit

9560816 said:

Do you know a workaround?

You could split your workout into two or more parts, and then starting them from the activity, one after the other, as you complete them.

Yeah, I once split no-repeat full-body workout into 3 parts and wasn't satisfied with the result, because I had to manually agregate calorie burn data to know the sum. What I mean by the 'workaround' is something - app/script/file editor/some magic trick - that will show you a whole workout in one place, so that you can enjoy it without needless interruptions.

9560816 said:

app/script/file editor/some magic trick - that will show you a whole workout in one place, so that you can enjoy it without needless interruptions.

That might be possible by hacking the Javascript on the Workout page, and injecting other limit that the default 50 into the code, but finding the exact place where to inject it, needs a rather good understanding of Javascript and some experience with the DevTools.

However, even if you succeed to bypass the limit of 50, the question is whether the same limit is not built into the watch too. I mean that you may manage to do a longer workout, but the watch may still refuse it.

I did a little experiment and created a workout fit file with more than 50 steps and transferred it to my Fenix 6. The watch accepted the file just fine, showed all 54 steps in the summary, and allowed me to start it and step through steps, so the limit is set within the workout builder in Garmin Connect and isn't in the watch or part of the fit file specification.

So a potential workaround could be to find a third party application that can create fit file workouts and then manually transfer it to your watch (or find one that has API access to allow direct transfer, though I don't know if any of the platforms with API access support strength training).

You also could do like I did and manually create the fit file. The SDK does contain a tool to convert between fit and csv if you decide you want to go this route.

Oh, and if you do it as separate workouts like you did and want to combine the results check out fitfiletools.com. There is a tool to combine fit files there.

Thanks for the info!

+1 to remove this limitation.

I have already sent the idea as suggestion via the dedicated form provided by Garmin on their website. But by experience, I doubt that this will change anything.

The 50 steps limitation is ridiculous if you train seriously with the watch as recorder of your performance. Imagine for instance an exercise of "dumbell bench-press" planned for 4 series of 10 reps @ 10kg.

Anybody with a serious knowledge of bodybuilding knows that you need to evolve the series length to progress and get more muscles. For instance:

week 1: 10x10 10x10 10x10 10x10

week 2: 10x10 10x10 10x10 12x10

week 3: 11x10 10x10 10x10 12x10

week 4: 11x10 11x10 10x10 12x10

week 5: etc....

It means 4 different steps for the exercises and 4 steps for the rest between series. So already 8 steps for 1 type of exercise.

For exercises with asymmetrical work (right and then left), you need to add cycles => 12 steps.

So far, I designed a beginner training and I reached > 70 steps. So for know, we need to keep basic cycle without any variation and keep in mind by ourselves during the training that we need to increase the amount of reps indicated on the watch.

Therefore, the watch is no more a digital coach but a simple data recorder.

To be honest, as soon as other brands will get a better bodybuilding system, I think I'll switch. They are less and less advantages on Garmin's side.

Hello Guys,

Goods news, I've got a solution !

Long story short, I was so pissed off by this limit of 50 steps that I spent a couple of days tinkering with the fit file SDK provided by Garmin.

So far, I have developed a really easy excel file (with VBA macros) to create a strength training workout following the same logic of Garmin Connect......ok so what ?

ah ah ! Actually, the fit file created by the excel can contain much more steps than 50. I tried with up to 77 without issues on my Venu 2 Plus.

=> The hardware seems thus not the cause of this limit but Garmin sometimes crappy software.

For those who want, here are my coded files: https://github.com/Daniel-Vitanza/Garmin-Strength-Training-Fit-File-Generator

How to use ?

1)WorkoutCreator.xlsm and enabled macros in your parameters.

2)Edit the file following the provided examples in the worksheet. For the moment, I only put the exercises which I use but you can add the ones you need in the tab "Reference List"\yellow table or just ask me ;)

3)Click on Generate Fit File => This will launch the macro and a slightly modified java fit file SDK to create the file.

4)Your output fit file will be available in the folder "fit-files". Just copy it on your watch by copy/paste in the Garmin\Workout folder.

NB: As you can see in my folder, I have copied my excel file for my different workouts (A and B). You can do the same of course as it is quite easier to get a progressive body building workout session after session.

The third party application that you mentioned is maybe my excel file ;p ;)

Btw, you message about the 54 steps gave me the hope and the will to create it. So thx for that

Thank you for setting this up! 

I'm not able to get it to function properly.  Initially, running the macro presented a FileNotFound related to the .jar file.  I installed the latest Java from java.com (https://www.java.com/en/download/), and re-ran the macro with no error, but the .fit file will not generate.  I opened a CLI and tried to run the .jar file, but get an "UnsupportedClassVersionError: com/garmin/fit/csv/CSVTool has been compiled by a more recent version of the Java Runtime (class file version 64.0), this version of the Java Runtime only recognizes class file versions up to 52.0"

I went through your numerous folders in the Github and tried different copies of the .jar file.  All presented the same issue.  It is "unblocked" in the file properties, and I have excluded the folder from AV.  Can you help me out?

Sure, let's check together to find the problem because on my side, it works flawlessly every week ;)

First, we need to check the versioning.

1)What is the type and versions of your Excel to run the macro ? - I use office 365 with the offline app of Excel to run the macro. The macro should work on Office 2019, 2016 and 2013 too. But not on online apps.

2)What is the version of your Java RE ? - I have Version 8 Update 361 (build 1.8.0_361-b09)

Then, we need to check the process. To be sure to test the file, we will generate the example directly.

1)Download the attached zip files. It contains the usual files that I used on my computer. 

https://file.io/CXNYUiOGAvDl

2)Extract the zip somewhere without modifying any folders or files.

3)Can you please run the macro via the dedicated button in the excel file "FullBody - Beginner - A.xlsm". It should create a fit file in the folder "fit-files". Tell me what happens then ;)