Overview
At Count.It, we offer various wellness challenges including steps, exercise, meditation, and sport-specific challenges. Many of our challenges combine multiple activities – for example, you might participate in a challenge that includes both daily steps and exercise minutes.
In all challenges with steps, each step earns one point.
The number of points earned for other activities varies based on which other activities are included in the challenge. See below for the points conversions for all the different combinations of activities in Count.It challenges.
Pro Tip: For a simple explanation of how Count.It challenges work, including the basic mission, and what sets the "finish line," and the difference between "activity points" and "goal points" see: How do Count.It challenges work?
Step Challenges
1 step = 1 point
In all steps challenges, one step equals one point!
Exercise Minutes Challenges
1 min of exercise = 10 points
In exercise-only challenges, one minute of exercise generates 10 points.
Note: in "exercise minutes" challenges, all workout types generate points based on the number of minutes of the activity logged, and all exercise types generate the same number of points per minute.
That is: An hour of weight lifting, yoga, pilates, boxing, etc. (more than 140 activities!) will all generate the same number of points. In short, for the purposes of a general exercise challenge, a workout is a workout!
Combination Challenges: Steps & Exercise
1 step = 1 point
1 min of exercise = 167 points
Real world example:
A 10,000-step day will earn you the same points as about 60 minutes of exercise.
And here are some other quick examples of point-equivalent activities:
30-minute workout = 5,010 points = 5,010 steps
8,000 steps = 8,000 points = ~48 minutes of exercise
20-minute workout = 3,340 points = 3,340 steps
Important Note for Runners and Other Step-Intensive Activities:
When you join a "combination" steps and exercise challenge, and you log activities that generate both steps and exercise minutes (like running), we'll count your steps rather than your exercise minutes to avoid double-counting.
PRO Tip: A person running a 9:35 minute mile would earn about the same points whether we count their steps or their exercise minutes. Faster runners will earn more points from their steps than they would if we credited them for exercise minutes, while slower runners or walkers earn fewer points.
How We Set Our Point Values
Our points system is based on extensive research into calorie burn and exercise intensity. Here's what the science tells us:
Moderate walking burns about 4 calories per minute
Most exercises burn 1.5-1.75 times more calories than walking:
Swimming: ~7 calories/minute
Cycling: ~7 calories/minute
Weight training: ~6 calories/minute
Yoga: ~4.5 calories/minute
Our conversion rate (167 points per minute) reflects this higher intensity of exercise compared to walking. Since the average person takes about 110 steps per minute while walking, earning 167 points per minute of exercise means you're getting about 1.5 times more points for exercise than walking – matching the typical increase in calorie burn.
Meditation minutes
Meditation-Only Challenges
1 min of meditation = 10 points
Meditation Minutes in Combo Challenges
1 step = 1 point
1 min of exercise = 167 points
Meditation minutes are generally credited very similarly to exercise minutes. In meditation-only challenges, one minute of meditation earns 10 points. In hybrid challenges, one minute of meditation earns 167 points.
FAQ
Why does Count.It treat all minutes of exercise equally?
The first goal of a Count.It challenge is to help everyone become more active. For some, an intense Crossfit workout is normal. For others, a slow two mile jog might be equally terrifying. The challenge encourages each person to exercise in their own way. Also, most people do not yet have fitness trackers with heart rate monitors that can effectively and fairly monitor workout intensity. As the technology becomes more common, we will begin to offer challenges with point generation based on workout intensity and calorie burn for those that want them!
Important note on auto-tracked "Exercise Minutes" vs. Workouts
Your fitness tracker will attempt to automatically log the amount of time each day when you are being active. If your heart gets pumping walking up a long flight of stairs, for example, you will earn "exercise minutes" on the Apple Health app. On Google Fit, the same activity will generate "Heart Points." On Fitbit, these minutes are called "Active Zone Minutes," and Garmin calls them "Intensity Minutes."
While this activity is great, it will NOT generate points on Count.It. To earn points for exercise on Count.It, you must log a specific exercise activity. Typically, fitness trackers refer to this as a "workout," and Count.It tracks nearly 139 exercise types, from aerobics to zumba. Your wearable device may auto-detect certain common ones, including biking, swimming, yoga, and more.
Google Fit: Full details on Google Fit Heart Points here.