How does Charge HR calculate TDEE when its off your wrist?

YorriaRaine

I am thinking about getting the charge HR to compliment my polar HRM. I was wondering if it NEEDS to be on your wrist 24/7 to give proper TDEE calculations that you would get from just living. (I know without it on it will not get the calories you get from activity, but will it still count the calories you burn by just living, or does it halt your TDEE when its not on?).

Reason I'm asking is because of two reasons. While I don't swim everyday, it is a favorite exercise of mine and I do it often enough, my polar can be in water and that's what I use already to help me figure out exercise calories (but I want to see my day to day activity level too which is why I'm interested in fitbit). I also really don't like the idea of sleeping with it and would rather set it on my bedside table when I sleep.

So I guess the real question is would it be possible for it to work as closely as intended if I take it off at night (and still give accurate enough numbers), and then just manual log the calories burned while swimming that my polar gives me? Does it give you a base TDEE based on your weight, height, gender, age, etc. and then adds to that throughout the day based on your activity or does your TDEE start at 0 and only adds to it when its on your wrist?

Also how bad are the tan lines? I'm outside a lot and I've never had a watch tan line before lol!

Also just wondering people's general opinion of the device?

editorgrrl

The tan line is awful. (I didn't have one at all with my Flex.)

I would leave your Charge HR on except when in the pool or shower/tub. When you log your HRM burn in MFP, it'll overwrite your step burn during that time.

NancyN795

Yes, it will work fine, even if you take it off when swimming and sleeping. It still counts up your BMR rate when you're not wearing it. Just log your swimming manually either in Fitbit (my preference) or MFP. However, you might try wearing it while sleeping at some point. Once you get used to it, it isn't that bothersome and I find value in having my sleep tracked. However, other people don't care and just charge it overnight.

Yes, you'll get a tan line. If you're not doing a lot with your dominant hand while outdoors, you could switch it from wrist to wrist to minimize it. Also, use sunscreen so that you don't tan so much. It's better for your skin.