Wife got me a WHOOP for my birthday in early December. I’m really finding it useful and noticing that HRV definitely correlates to my general “feeling” of recovery.
That said, I don’t scrutinize it and have no issue getting myself deep in the red on the third week of a block.
Woke up in that situation today and destroyed my workout to the point I’m going to adjust my FTP.
I’m interested in this as I have a VA3 Music…
Where on your VA3/Garmin Connect do you get to see HRV scores?
From my digging online, I can see that Garmin uses HRV data in its sleep and all day stress monitoring, but I can’t see anywhere to get an HRV score along the lines you seem to be describing.
Out of curiosity, does anyone observe any relationship between TSB and HRV as far as any indication of mounting fatigue? I have yet to try HRV but might try it out, been curious about it for a while
Stress is HRV.
Garmin uses Firstbeat technology: Firstbeat Analytics
If I really hammer for 3-4 days straight if becomes obvious. Usually it is outside (of training) factors that have an effect. Not getting enough rest, alcohol use or sickness.
I have been tracking for just over a year now, it is a great cold predictor or nearing a cold, tells me when to rest more.
hugo, I understand that the Stress score makes use of HRV, but how specifically are you making use of Garmin’s all-day stress charts?
You wrote earlier:
I can clearly see that average HRV keeps lowering during an intense training period, like the TR mid volume plans. When sick, stressed or tired from lack of sleep, the same thing happens. During the planned rest weeks in TR plans, my HRV goes back to my normal levels.
So, when writing “HRV keeps lowering during an intense training period” you mean that your Garmin Stress score is rising, yes?
And “During the planned rest weeks in TR plans, my HRV goes back to my normal levels”, you’re saying your Garmin Stress score is falling, yes?
Specifically, are you using the ‘All-Day Stress’ charts (eg. 7-day, 4-week) within the Connect app or Connect website? Or something else?
I’m interested in understanding your method, and whether you’re able to get useful actionable insights.
Thanks!
I look at the stress scores for the last 4 hours directly in my watch. That’s the first thing I do when I wake up, to see if I’m well and if I’m prepared for whatever awaits me. When I’m sick or very fatigued, or just sleep horribly, my stress scores never get really low during the last 4 hours.
Inside Garmin connect, on my phone, I can see all day stress and trends during the week and month.
High HRV is low stress in Garmin (low blue bars). When I’m sick/fatigued, the bars are either high blue or yellow - never low blue.
OK, thanks. I’ve only begun wearing the VA3 continuously for the past week or so, allowing this data to be gathered, but I’ll be keeping an eye on it to see if I can get some insights along the lines you describe.
I don’t know, still measure it every morning. Sometimes it matches “feel” and shows expected behaviour, sometimes not. Does not really add so much, body/mind feel still trumps technology
Edit: chart deleted
What Garmin devise are you using? I have the new Fenix 5x plus, which has the All Day Stress score, but I was not sure what exactly is being measured. Is that HRV throughout the day? If so, I’m confused because the Garmin website indicates that the HRV Stress Level requires a chest HR monitor… Although, I do still see the all day stress scores and blue to orange/red bars in the app…
https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/fenix5x/EN-US/GUID-6F1082A9-D190-420E-A31D-C4474A015322.html
Different features:
Requires strap
Firstbeat Analytics
Doesn’t require strap
Firstbeat Analytics
I use VA3.
I use HRV4 training with my samsung s9+ phone and take a reading every morning, I use it as a guide, but still go on what I have planned in life for that day and week to ultimately decide on how I train/rest.
I also measure my blood pressure once a week just to keep track of BP… Is anyone else measuring blood pressure?
From what I read on HRVT4 website the phone camera is better that a watch. I use samsung s9+ with no issues
This morning, one of those days where HRV makes sense. Quite a drop:
→ rMSSD dropped
However, my first thought this morning was: no way I’m going into the basement now to do a 2-3hours post-intenstity-day recovery spin. I feel awful.
As before, the gadget just confirmed my feel.
Edit: chart deleted
Often I have no idea if I’m sick, fatigued, bored or sluggish. HRV/stress shows me what’s what. That’s primarily what I use it for.
When feeling like crap but HRV is good - HTFU.
When feeling like crap and HRV is bad - rest/sleep with a good conscience.
Since I started using it like this, and eating more carbs around workouts, I’ve been less sick and have had better gains and compliance with training plans.
@pkwell I have been wearing a WHOOP strap for a number of years now. I have found in very good in trying to change patterns (not getting enough rest), and how to focus on improving those things you can control off the bike. Interface/app is slick and the ability to charge while wearing with an external battery pack is nice too. I’ve had a good experience with WHOOP.
@Lawrence I’m just getting started with HRV, and I’m curious to know
I’m currently using Whiop (about 35 days now), and HRV4Training Pro (only 7 days). I like the simplicity of the Whoop, but have absolutely to clue what their methodology is, and notice marked discrepancies between the Whoop and HRV4TRAINING HRV scores. I’m measuring 1st thing in the AM, lying down, with my iPhone, and surprised the results can be so different. Ie this morning Whoop had me at 74, but HRV4TRAINING had me at 46. Given the VO2Max workout last night was pretty strenuous, and sleep was mediocre, and given how I felt this am and through the day today, I’d say the HRV4Training measure was far more accurate…
Curious to get your experiences…given the cost, I’d consider also doing the elite HRV, but don’t want to deal with another device to measure HRV nor deal with a chest strap every morning.
I’ve listened to a bunch of podcasts on the topic, and I find it all very interesting, and recognized tru HRV analysis needs to go beyond a rMSSD number. Whoop is a total black box, and I’m skeptical of the guidance it’s providing. Ie it told me I was recovered and to go hard today, NFW could I do that. Pettit was enough this morning, and resulted in a HR about 5-8 beats higher than a more rested ride would’ve been…
If your RHR is around 50 or below HRV, results in laying position most likely would not be accurate picture of your recovery. You will find some studies showing no differences between standing and laying position whilst other show better results in sitting/standing position. I did a test for 2 months on myself to find out standing position gives me more accurate results. Even simple HR measurement in standing position showed much broader range than in laying position.
Last week I did 24 hours trail running race in the mountains. Next morning after the event HRV laying score was still green. 
Standing score thrown below average number to back off exercise.
What app(s) are you using for HRV, and what device(s) are you using to measure it? HRV4T doesn’t seem to allow multiple measures. With Whoop, my RHR fluctuates b/w 52/3 on the high end, and 44/5 on the low end, with an avg right around 50 ±1. Numbers with HRV4T are about 3bpm higher.
I’m 10 days now with HRV4T, and I use my iPhone laying in bed first thing in the am for my measurements. I think the RHR measurements are a little higher, as I think I’m battling some low caliber bug; notching workouts that are 5-8bpm higher than my “healthy body” would produce.
I like the “intended” simplicity of Whoop, but I am finding the hardware seriously flawed (poor battery life, unstable sensor contact). I also don’t like the “black box” nature of the alogorithms, and the lack of correlations and ability to see actual daily measurements. For a company 2 years deep in this product, they’ve transitioned too far towards marketing and away fromR&D. Once Garmin or Apple puts a better sensor in their watches to capture HRV, Whoop is done. And when they’re done, your data is gone, because it’s not shared with Apple.
The main issue with the Apple watch right now is battery life for continuous monitoring. I’d actually love if Apple build a fitness oriented version that was slimmed down like the Fitbit Charge 3 SE, which I’ve been using for a few weeks since I got one for free.
The charge 3 doesn’t have HRV (but has a disabled SmO2) but if they added that to the Charge 4, I’d buy one. If you disable the continuous sync, you get 8 days of battery life, really good HR tracking (picks up my workouts automatically really quite accurately), sleep tracking and it has contactless payments. But sadly, Fitbit makes it really annoying to get it to sync with Apple Health.
In summary, ideal device for HRV tracking from my perspective: