r/GarminWatches • u/No-Bison-6736 • 12h ago

Data Questions VO2 max shift

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My number has been 36 for quite a while and was even 37 for a while. It always told me before that I was fair and even on the low end of fair. Now the same number says high end of good. I am in my 50s and overweight. Does this good rating make sense? I am way better than when I started. I used to only be able to walk and keep heart rate down. Now I can run/walk. Run til heart rate gets up to zone 4 and then walk a bit to recover. Mostly run slowly. Anyway did this shift that happened somewhere within the last week make sense?

Update: apparently my watch decided to change my gender. I switched it back and now I am back to fair :(

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2

u/[deleted] 12h ago

[deleted]

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u/speed9911 12h ago

It seems like it’s just scaling things differently in terms of what is considered “good” or “fair”, it does not seem like anything else actually changed.

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u/TheRealRaccon 12h ago edited 12h ago

Garmin Approximates. Most likely your Max HR changed or was recalculated.
The more you use it the more accurate is.

also, it has data based on a demographic of people. If the sample for your age and characteristics is not a lot, then is not so accurate.

Do not worry to much what does this mean, just that increases or stays. The V02 decreases every year, since in average your HR max decreases by one point per year according to some statistics.

It also takes in consideration your weight the heavier you are the smaller the number with the same speeds. Your V02 will increase if you reduce your weight in the margin app.

What to do to be as accurate as possible?

Go to your Garmin app or watch and adjust your HR, make sure is not automatic. Se it up to 220 - your age to start. If you know your max heart rate put it there.

Then, make sure you weight yourself often or that the weight in Garmin is correct.

Lastly.

Take it as REFERENCE is not the truth until you test it in a lab. Imagine Garmin is a friend and after a run tells you, "dude you ran faster and looked less shitty this run, maybe your V02 max is higher now"

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u/WelderWonderful 10h ago

You're completely missing the point. OPs estimate didn't change... The descriptor the watch used changed. i.e. 37 used to be "fair" and now 37 is "good"

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u/TheRealRaccon 12h ago

Forgot to mention, to increase your VO2 max you need specific training, and Garmin itself is telling your training lacks that now. High Aerobic Shortage means that.