Garmin metrics in plain language

Support / Garmin metrics in plain language

A cheat sheet for Garmin training status, readiness, Body Battery, VO2 max, and Training Effect - what the words mean, and where DataFrame.fit shows them next to your plan.

Training status

Training status is Garmin's multi-week fitness report - how load and recovery are trending, not only how you feel this morning. When DataFrame.fit has it, the phrase sits near Form and fitness trends.

Peaking - you are primed and ready to perform.
Productive - your training load is moving fitness in the right direction.
Maintaining - not too shabby; add variety or volume if you want to keep progressing.
Strained - take it easy until your body catches up.
Unproductive - load may be fine, but recovery needs more focus.
Overreaching - load is very high; your body needs rest.
Recovery - lighter training is letting your body bounce back.
Detraining - training has dropped and fitness is slipping.

Training readiness

Readiness is a daily 0-100 score (sleep, HRV, recovery, and recent load). It can shift through the day after rest or hard work. Home and Recovery use it for today's call.

Poor - let your body recover.
Low - time to slow down.
Moderate - ordinary training can still fit; watch how you feel.
High - ready for challenges.
Prime - you are at your best today.

Body Battery

Body Battery estimates energy through the day. Sleep charges it; activity and stress drain it. On Recovery, the 7-day waking average uses your morning peak after overnight charge - not the last reading of the evening, which is often much lower. If Body Battery stays low, treat that as a rest cue, not a badge of honour.

VO2 max and Training Effect

VO2 max is aerobic fitness - how well your body uses oxygen when effort rises. Higher is better. Garmin may show separate estimates for running and cycling; Fitness and Form charts them when sync has them.

Training Effect (0-5) is how one session hit aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Aerobic TE reflects endurance stimulus; anaerobic TE reflects high-intensity stimulus. Both appear on activity summary when Garmin recorded them.

What DataFrame.fit adds

Garmin remains the source of truth for status phrases, readiness, and Body Battery. DataFrame.fit puts those signals next to today's plan, Form, and load balance so you decide in one place. Open Recovery for overnight trends and Fitness and Form for the longer fitness picture.

Steps

Sync Garmin - Use Sync so wellness and training status from Garmin Connect are current.
Check Home and Recovery - Morning readiness and overnight signals sit on Home and Recovery. Training status can appear with fitness trends on Fitness and Form.
Use this guide when a label is fuzzy - If Garmin says Productive, Strained, or Low readiness and you are not sure what to do today, match the word to the action lines below.

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This project is currently fully supported by Scope (www.scope.mt).

DataFrame™ is a non-commercial personal project. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Garmin, TrainingPeaks, Peaksware, or other fitness brands.