Turtle data
Walking is the workout women log most, and over half log strength training
Key findings
Of about 1,100 women syncing workouts from Apple Health to Turtle (January to September 2026), 86% logged at least one walk and 55% logged strength training. Strength training was more common than running (39%) or cycling (25%). Source: Turtle Method member data, turtlemethod.com/data/most-logged-workouts/.
of women who sync workouts logged a walk; 55% logged strength
Walking is by far the most-logged workout among women who sync their exercise to Turtle. Of about 1,100 women whose Apple Watch or iPhone sent workouts to the app between January and September 2026, 86% logged at least one walk. More than half, 55%, logged strength training, ahead of running (39%) and cycling (25%).
Share of women with synced workouts who logged each type at least once, Jan to Sep 2026
Source: Turtle Method member workout data · CC BY 4.0
Strength training is now mainstream
Strength work shows up under a few names on a watch: "traditional" strength training (33% of women), "functional" strength training (31%) and core training. Counted together, it's the second most common thing women log. A typical strength session ran about 39 minutes, and a typical walk about 28 minutes.
Pilates (18%) and yoga (15%) are popular too, though a watch records a class only if you start a workout on it, so slower, quieter sessions are probably undercounted.
| Workout type | Women who logged it |
|---|---|
| Walking | 86% |
| Strength training (any kind) | 55% |
| Running | 39% |
| Cycling | 25% |
| Pilates | 18% |
| HIIT | 17% |
| Swimming | 16% |
| Yoga | 15% |
| Mixed cardio | 10% |
| Elliptical | 6% |
Every type shown was logged by at least 50 women. Women often log more than one type, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
What the research says
A review of cohort studies linked 30 to 60 minutes a week of muscle-strengthening activity with a 10% to 20% lower risk of death from any cause, heart disease and cancer.
Momma H, Kawakami R, Honda T, Sawada SS (2022). Muscle-strengthening activities are associated with lower risk and mortality in major non-communicable diseases. British Journal of Sports Medicine. doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2021-105061
Adults are advised to do at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week, plus activities that build strength on at least two days.
UK Chief Medical Officers (2019). UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines. Department of Health and Social Care. www.gov.uk/government/publications/physical-activity-guidelines-uk-chief-medical-officers-report
Questions people ask
What exercise do women do most?
Walking. 86% of women who sync workouts to Turtle logged a walk in 2026, and 55% logged strength training.
How long is a typical strength session?
About 39 minutes, against about 28 minutes for a typical walk.
Method
Workouts synced from Apple Health to Turtle, 1 January to 30 September 2026, using Apple's workout type codes; about 1,100 women. Manual and Health Connect workouts are left out because their types are coded differently. Women only, staff accounts excluded; every group shown has 50 or more women and sizes are rounded. This shows a pattern, not a cause. Full methodology.
Cite this
Free to use with credit and a link to the source page. The figures and chart on this page are licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Journalists: for another cut of the data (aggregates only, same rules), contact scott@turtlemethod.com. More data on the Turtle data hub.
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