How to Use Heart Rate Zones During Apple Watch Workouts?

Apple WatchOS heart rate zones explained; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

Apple’s watchOS 9 brought in an array of advanced workout features to enhance users’ personal fitness. Among these features is the new addition of heart rate zones. Apple continues to expand its fitness offerings with each new iteration of the watchOS. Now, the question is How to use Heart Rate Zones During Apple Watch Workouts.

With the release of watchOS 9 and iOS 16, a new health and fitness feature has been added that can be accessed during and after workouts. This feature includes the ability to view heart rate zones on both your Apple Watch and iPhone, as well as learn their significance, see your maximum heart rate, and manually adjust your zones. Apple Watch and iPhone utilize the Heart Rate Reserve method to automatically generate five heart rate zones, with maximum and resting values updated at the beginning of each month.

Heart rate zones are calculated as a percentage of your maximum heart rate, which is the number of beats your heart performs per minute. These zones serve as training levels, providing insights into your intensity level, how hard your heart is working, and whether your body is using carbohydrates or fat as an energy source. Let us see how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

How to Use Heart Rate Zones During Apple Watch Workouts?

Apple watch; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

Heart Rate Zones on Apple Watch are customized and computed utilizing your health data, but it’s essential to note that they are only automatically generated if your date of birth is correctly entered in the Health app on your iPhone. The Heart Rate Zones are displayed in five distinct segments, representing different levels of exertion ranging from light to increasingly difficult. Additionally, you can view your current zone, heart rate, time spent in the current zone, as well as your average heart rate.

To See Heart Rate Zones During a Workout:

1. Ensure that your Apple Watch is running on watchOS 9 and that your birthdate has been entered in the Health app on your iPhone. 

2. Initiate a cardio-centric workout, such as running or cycling (though Apple has not specified which workouts include heart rate zones apart from “cardio-focused” ones).

Heart  rate on Apple watch; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

3.  Swipe down on the first Workout screen to observe your heart rate and the zone it is currently in.

To See Heart rate Zones After a Workout:

To view heart rate zone data after a workout,

1.  Open the Fitness app on your iPhone.

2.  From the main Summary screen, select a workout or tap the rings or Show More to choose a different date/workout.

Heart rate zones on Apple watch; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

3.  Next, swipe down until you see Heart Rate and tap Show More. 

You’ll now see a detailed breakdown of the time spent in each heart rate zone.

How to Edit Heart Rate Zones?

It is also possible to manually adjust your heart rate zones if you prefer not to rely on your Apple Watch’s automatic calculation based on your health data.

1. To access the Heart Rate Zones settings on your Apple Watch,

2. Navigate to the Settings app and tap on Workout, 

Changing heart rate zones; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

3. Tap on Heart Rate Zones.

4. Select Manual from the Heart Rate Zones menu in the Apple Watch’s Settings app.

5. From there, tap on either Zone 2, Zone 3, or Zone 4, and manually enter the lower and upper limits for each zone.

Zones of heart rate zones; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

In the Watch app for iPhone, you have the option to modify zones. Simply navigate to the My Watch tab, select Workout, and then Heart Rate Zones. From there, tap Manual, and you will be able to set upper and lower limits for the same three zones.

Different Heart Rate Zones of Apple Watch

Different zones of heart rates; how to use heart rate zones during Apple watch workouts.

Now that you know How to Use Heart Rate Zones During Apple Watch Workouts, let us learn about different zones.

1. Zone 1 corresponds to a very light effort level and ranges from 50% to 60% of MHR (maximum heart rate). 

2. Zone 2 corresponds to a light effort level and ranges from 60% to 70% of MHR.

3.  Zone 3 corresponds to a moderate effort level and ranges from 70% to 80% of MHR. 

4. Zone 4 corresponds to a hard effort level and ranges from 80% to 90% of MHR.

5.  Finally, Zone 5 corresponds to a very hard effort level and ranges from 90% to 100% of MHR.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, utilizing heart rate zones during Apple Watch workouts can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your exercise routine. Understanding the five different zones and their benefits can help you tailor your workout to your specific fitness goals, such as fat loss or endurance training. By monitoring your heart rate during exercise and staying within your target zone, you can optimize your workout and ensure that you are pushing yourself enough to see results without risking injury or burnout. 

With the Apple Watch’s ability to track your heart rate and display your Heart Rate Zone during a cardio workout, staying on top of your fitness goals has never been easier. So, whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting on your fitness journey, incorporating heart rate zones into your workouts with an Apple Watch can help you reach your goals and improve your overall health and wellness.

Hope you enjoyed reading about How to Use Heart Rate Zones During Apple Watch Workouts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many heart rate zones are there in the Apple watch?

There are five heart rate zones in the Apple watch.

Can being in heart rate zone 5 be dangerous?

Being in heart rate zone 5 might be dangerous for some people.

What does MHR stand for in heart rate zones?

MHR stands for Maximum Heart Rate.

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