Epix 2 - HIIT Workouts - Not Counting towards Training Status

1) Power on HIIT - doesn't record power as a data metric, hence no option. However if you were to use indoor row then I suspect that a power meter would be included and would work. Would suggest you run this as a multisport using the hot key "Change Sport". I.e. Start with indoor row; then when done use hotkey "Change Sport" and select HIIT to do your 10x core; then do hot key "change sport" and select indoor bike, then hotkey "Change sport" core etc etc .

2) Anaerobic: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/blog/fitness/anaerobic-training/

3) Counted towards training status: Training status only activates and continues with an acceptable outdoor run to give a run VO2max and or an acceptable cycle with a power meter to give a cycle VO2max (can have both, takes the best). However all activities that generate a load will count towards training status.  See training status links to see what is "acceptable": https://support.garmin.com/en-GB/?faq=apva7Th82K6Mm0zY4shzD6. Based on your indoor bike workout part it wouldn't be sufficient to generate a training status.

4) How can I see my training improvements without a training status: Go to Seven Day Load (7DL) and see how your optimal band is tracking - if flat you are maintaining, if the trend is upward your fitness levels are increasing and if downwards your are detraining.

Training status worked for me when all I did was run. However, it became useless when I started a serious exercise program that includes weights, biking, and cardio. It's a metric that I find to be useless, and I would recommend it to anyone doing some serious workouts. What drove me nuts was burning some serious calories, pushing my heart rate through the roof, and seeing no status, but now I am past that. To me, the most effective method to judge your effort or lack thereof is the old, tried, and true calorie counting and monitoring of the heart rate zones. As long as you have a good heart rate monitor, you can set goals based on calories, such as the minimum calories you should burn per workout or per a certain period. The good thing with this approach is that you can clearly see the correlation between your effort and calories burned. I have tried other statuses and "scores," such as the suffer score, but I always go back to the calorie counting method. Even with the latest updates, I don't see any difference. For instance, I normally do 2 days of 15-mile cycling, 3 days of weights (1 hour each), and one day of 1-hour cardio. Despite being in the best shape of my life, I show no status. 

Exactly this. Just use 7 day training load and it tells you if you are productive. Maintaining etc... for the last 4 weeks. Jammgans is correct 

Ah yes, I do use this, but its not very good as it looks a 7 day period by 7 day period, and it should be a rolling period, as some training cycles go in 10 or 12 day blocks.  Therefore on a sunday I might have some great training in the week, but on a monday morning it resets.  Needs to be selectable to my training cycle, but also on a rolling 10-12 (or whatever period) cycle so you can see where you are constantly, and not a weekly standalone snap shot.

If you hit  the 4 week period in training status, it will show you the last 4 weeks if you are maintaining or productive. It also has 6 weeks and 6 months. This is in GCM and not on the watch itself.

You aren't looking at the 7DL number - you are looking at the optimal band i.e. the green trending line (which seems to run off load focus which is a rolling 30 day value).. You are considering that trend. your 7DL numbers may be jumping up and down, but what is happening to your optimal band trend - you will notice that isn't nearly as reactive as the 7DL: numbers (suspect its working with a much larger base)

Training status is based off: 

What Information is Used to Calculate Training Status?

The calculation utilizes several dimensions of your personal physiology.  This includes changes to the following:

• VO2 Max Estimate

• Heat and Altitude Performance Acclimation

• Training Load

So only difference here is that heat/altitude not included, though its impact would in your 7DL. So not picking up changes in VO2max - which you can see yourself, but suspect those are used to refine the status within the category i.e. productive vs peaking etc.