Physical settings - Why are they important?
The physical settings you were asked to set to your Polar device when you took it into use affect all of the training data on your device and in the Flow web service and mobile app. For example, if you haven't set your weight correctly, you may actually be burning more calories than your device indicates.
To get the most accurate and personalized training data, it's important that you're honest and as accurate as possible with your physical settings such as your weight, height, training background and maximum heart rate. They affect calorie calculation, your training load as well as other Polar Smart coaching features.
The personal settings have an impact on several features such as:
- Activity goal: If your age and other background data are not correct in your account your activity goal might not match your needs and therefore not guide you towards your desired goals.
- Training Load: Your Training Load from an easy training session can be too high. This may be because your physical settings do not reflect your actual fitness level.
- Step calculation and cadence from the wrist: Your height has an impact on step calculation on any Polar device, and it also plays a big role with the cadence from the wrist feature.
- Zone limits and Training Benefit: Do you know your maximum heart rate value? If so, update it to the settings since it has an effect on the zone limits which then have an impact on the Training Benefit you get out of your workouts. If you’re not sure what your maximum heart rate value is, you can have it tested in a laboratory or alternatively estimate it from your age (220- age).
- Polar Fitness Test: It takes into account all the physical values you have entered into your device and web service to be able to give the most accurate estimation of your current fitness state.
- Swimming metrics: Not gathering any meters when swimming with your V800? Check that you’ve set which hand you wear your V800 from the product settings in Flow. If set incorrectly the data gathered from your swim might be flawed.
Have your training habits changed after you purchased your Polar device? Check if your training background needs to be updated. The Training background document will help you choose the right level for your current status.
Take a minute and have a quick glance at your physical settings in the Flow web service to make sure they’re up to date. Click your username in Flow and choose Settings to find all your personal and physical settings. Next time you sync, the settings will be transferred to your device. If you’re only using Flow app, you can find your personal settings by going to the more tab and then tapping your name.