Gentler Streak, my favorite health and fitness app ever, is rolling out version 5.5 this week with two long-standing requests: support for non-recorded steps, and the ability to sync Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) from Apple’s Workouts app. Here’s what that means.
Daily steps now count, even if you didn’t log a workout
One of the app’s most requested features is finally here. Gentler Streak now pulls your everyday step data from Apple Health, and uses that to inform your Activity Path. This is especially helpful for people with chronic conditions or jobs/lifestyles that involve a lot of untracked walking.
In line with the app’s concept of meeting you where you are the new feature doesn’t present step count as a goal to chase, but it’s trademark soft visualization that helps you better understand how walking fits into your overall fitness instead.
Here’s Katarina Lotrič, CEO and co-founder on the new feature:
“Step count can easily turn into just another metric to chase – and that’s exactly the kind of pressure we’re working to avoid. To integrate steps in a way that truly fits Gentler Streak, we had to rethink both how they influence guidance and how they’re visualized. A ring might’ve seemed like a natural UI choice, but rings tend to create a subconscious need to complete them, which clashes with our core principle: adapting to where the user is, not the other way around. This solution is meant to reflect what is – not to drive behaviour, but to support better understanding of it.”
Here’s what’s included:
- a soft visual communicating your daily step count,
- current step count, total distance, duration, flights climbed, and walking heart rate,
- a progress chart compared to the typical day or your daily average (a Gentler speciality),
- tapping today’s date opens the calendar picker – you can scroll back up to two weeks,
- 14-day overview of steps, distance, and flights climbed,
- Insights related to walking
RPE from Apple Workouts now syncs automatically
If you use Apple’s built-in Workouts app and rate your effort after an activity, Gentler Streak can now import that RPE data and apply it to your Activity Path. Previously, only RPE logged inside Gentler Streak itself would count.
The result is more accurate guidance, assuming you’re familiar with how to use RPE effectively. If you’re new to it, Gentler recommends starting with the Gentler Streak 101 guide inside the app.
Gentler Streak version 5.5 is available now on the App Store, and I can’t recommend it enough.
Best Apple Watch deals currently on Amazon
- 42mm Apple Watch Series 10, GPS, Rose Gold Aluminium Case, Plum Sport Loop: 25% off at $299
- 46mm Apple Watch Series 10, GPS, Jet Black Aluminium Case, Black Sport Band: 23% off at $329
- 40mm Apple Watch SE 2, GPS, Midnight Aluminium Case, Midnight Sport Band: 27% off at $218
- 49mm Apple Watch Ultra 2, GPS + Cellular, Natural Titanium Case with Navy Ocean Band: 8% off at $734
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments