Burning more calories when abroad based on Fitbit?

hoops1888

Hi Guys

I’m abroad in Cyprus and temperatures have been low to mid 30’s. I’ve noticed that the calories I have gained from the Fitbit seem much more than what I would’ve normally burned based on the steps I’ve done.

Does anyone have any idea why? Could it be that my heart rate is higher abroad due to the heat and if so, is it accurate that I should burn more calories that way?

Seffell

My average heart rate is much higher during the summer months when the temp is above 30C. Sadly that doesn't mean you burn more calories.

heybales

HR-based formula for regular daily activity is going to be very inflated - hence the reason activity trackers, Fitbit included, attempt to find that line when you move to actually doing aerobic exercise and start using it then.

Below exercise level the distance-based formula is more accurate, therefore steps count, if distance is accurate.

So either you could be taking longer steps and more distance is seen and therefore more calories.
That should be able easy to compare instead of just steps.

Or incorrect usage of HR-based formula because of HR going up too high for normal stuff.
Look at your daily graph in 15 min increments and find in the HR section places where it's high, and compare the times to the calorie burn graph.

While HR may be a tad higher dealing with heat and trying to cool you down, and that may indeed cause the above effect - in reality it's still inflated calorie burn for daily activity. Trying to cool doesn't use that many extra calories.

Actually - that is exactly a reason why HR-based calorie burn can be inflated even for aerobic exercise, because of inflated HR due to heat, dehydration, stress, ect.

While it's possible for HR-based to be a best estimate for steady-state aerobic exercise (same HR for 2-4 min) - it's also got some known caveats.

hoops1888

Thanks for your responses. I’m actually starting to wonder whether the negative calorie adjustment I have selected on my fitness pal is working anymore because I seem to be getting calories very easily and have not seen a minus despite not walking much.

heybales

That Fitbit Adj in your Exercise diary - merely tap on it or click the "i" for more info details.

Is the time stamp recent and calorie count claimed to be reported by Fitbit appear correct?
You correct the time zones on your accounts for where you are - Your Fitbit app is likely using the phone time & zone.
Like does time stamp say 10 am, and here at 2pm the calorie count matches?
Or it says 10am, and calorie count was probably correct for then, but isn't close at 2pm now?

Because negative would have nothing to do with the math.
If Fitbit reports less than MFP was expecting already (as shown on that page too), then you get negatives shown.

If Fitbit so far and the MFP estimate for rest the day is higher than MFP expected - you get positive.