Fitbit not accurately tracking

Pebbles5280
Pebbles5280 Posts: 24 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I wasn't confident that my fitbit was accurately tracking so I started using MapMyWalk thru my iPhone to compare. The two are rarely the same so I started relying more on MMW to track my steps. I have gps and location enabled on both. I like features on both but know myself well enough to accept that documenting in two programs won't happen. I need to choose.

Does anyone else have problems with their fitbit not being accurate?

Replies

  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    I do believe it over counts as well. I had a Polar Loop for a while that reporr aroun10 to 20 percent fewer stepa each day. Count me in the not loving the Fitbit crowd.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    edited October 2014
    Based on my experience with my FitBit Flex, the longer the timeframe I look at, the more accurate it seems to be for calories burned (I never paid attention to steps). For example, it's generally WAY off if I look at any given 30 minute span during the day, but over a full 24 hours, it's more than close enough for my needs.

    FitBits are activity monitors - they monitor how active you are over long periods of time. They are not meant to estimate calories over short workouts.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    mapmywalk is not accurate except for walks outside of a building...it's not a pedometer.
  • Pebbles5280
    Pebbles5280 Posts: 24 Member
    Thanks Wheelhouse15 & Jacksonpt. I want a "big picture" monitor, I think that's the most logical way to approach my weight loss and activity needs.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I've hit 10,000 steps both while washing my face in the shower and while driving. It's not very accurate, and neither are a lot of the running/pedometer apps or even heart rate monitors. Use all the tools that you can to best guess how many calories you burn, and track as accurately as possible. Then, see if after 4-6 weeks you've lost the amount you expect to based on what you think your deficit is, and then adjust your calories accordingly. That's really the only "precise" way to do it, and even then, you're still guessing at what you think the right number should be. But, it's the best we can do.

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