Fitbit numbers not adding up.

newmom_2012

The last week or so I have noticed that the estimated distance doesn't match up with the number of steps I've taken, and I think that its messing with the number of calories it is allotting me.

The last two times I ran 5k, I did it first thing in the morning so I maybe had a few hundred steps before beginning. When I got back and checked the Fitbit app it said I went just over 5 miles, 5k is only 3.1miles. In the past the distance my Fitbit showed matched up pretty closely with the GPS.

Yesterday I went 10,018 steps which was 4.49 miles which is what I'm used to seeing. The day before it says I went double the distance (8.89 miles) but only 17,000(ish) steps.

Any ideas why my Fitbit is suddenly not adding up?

Kimsied

Have you calibrated your walking and running stride lengths? If not, the default for both is based on your height and gender. It sounds like your running stride length might be set too high. Usually with running, you do cover more distance with fewer steps. My actual stride varies day to day depending on what I am wearing, the route, how I am feeling and the intention. Sometimes if I take smaller steps than usual and end up taking more steps--my distance can be a little inflated. So if it is a once in while thing, it may be that. The official word (last I saw) was that the distance doesn't effect the calorie estimate. But... I feel since I calibrated my walking and running steps the fitbit calorie estimate for a given distance seems more accurate compared to other sources. Perhaps having fitbit credit the appropriate distance and pace just makes it easier to compare to other sources.