Has anyone else noticed a change in their fitness results since the latest firmware?
I have observed a somewhat profound dip in performance numbers since about the time the latest firmware was pushed out.
Example:
Here are the numbers from a Bikram yoga class on Oct. 5th.
These are typical numbers from my many years with this activity.
Contrasted with the numbers from the two weeks since (this one is actually the higher of the two weeks since the 5th):
This is just one example, but there are several others, be it power lifting, strength training, cardio, etc.
I could post several others, but I'm trying not to test everyone's patience and attention span.
Suffice it to say that all activities typically are down sometimes several hundred calories.
It seems to me (and this is just a theory) that something has changed in the way heart rate is being measured.
This can effect the amount of calories being burned, which in turn effects your training load (which is down considerably), which effects your "Fitness Age" (which is UP, and admittedly a bullsh*t value).
Here's Training Load as of this morning. Of course it is way down from my normal numbers. Both numbers are usually in the 450-500 range.
The only "scientific controls" that I can apply here are 1.) my training has not changed in any dramatic way (in some cases I have been advancing) and 2.) these numbers have not changed to this degree in the many years I have been tracking my fitness with FitBit, Apple Watch and now Garmin.
I know not to treat these numbers as Gospel (I feel as strong as ever - maybe stronger), especially Fitness Age, but we trust these devices to be consistent in their manner of gathering information so that we can use those numbers to make the necessary adjustments to our fitness activities.
Ok - rant off.
