Daily steps and calories burnt

ameliaamaclean

Hi all.
I’ve been having some inconsistencies with steps and the corresponding calories burnt.
On Tuesday I did 15500 steps and burnt 730 calories and today I did 13000 steps but burnt a whopping 1050 calories.
I’ve got a Garmin tracker. Any idea why they vary so much?
Both were just days at work not doing any additional exercise

Lietchi

I have a Garmin as well. It's not just the number of steps that determines the active calories but your heart rate while taking them.
If your heart rate is elevated due to stress, heat,... you will get more active calories than when your heart rate is lower.
The past weeks I've had, for example:
- 5 extra calories for 5000 steps because my heart rate was lower than usual that day (hormonal issues, won't confuse you with the details)
- 500 extra calories for 15000 steps (stress +heat)
- 150 extra calories for 10000 steps

Just one of those things, activity trackers don't measure but they estimate (and heart rate isn't always a good proxy for calorie burn).

PS: not all steps are created equal - regular walking versus shuffling in the supermarket,...

AnnPT77

Also, your calorie adjustment can be from activity/movement other than steps per se. If I (hmm, say) stand in one place digging a planting space in my garden, I'm burning calories, probably making motions my Garmin "sees", but accumulating few or no steps while I do it.

ameliaamaclean

Thanks guys. Makes sense now!