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Does Fitbit Flex take speed into account?

michelleepotter
michelleepotter Posts: 800 Member
edited November 9 in Social Groups
I see many places the suggestion that you not log "step-based" exercises separately, but let the Fitbit account for them. So I am wondering if it takes speed into account when calculating your step calories? If I go for a fast walk around my neighborhood, and take 5,500 steps in 30 minutes (about two miles for me), that gets my heart rate up and takes a lot more work (thus burning more calories) than 5,500 steps just wandering around my house half the day, right? So does the Fitbit account for that, or is it better to wear my HRM and log it as exercise?

Replies

  • michelleepotter
    michelleepotter Posts: 800 Member
    Oh, also, a lot of times I wear my 1yo when I go for a walk. Obviously the Fitbit can't know and account for that, but when I log it as exercise I won't get double credit for it, right?
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Fitbit has an accelerometer—it knows how quickly you're moving. The only way to prove or disprove the accuracy is to trust your Fitbit for several weeks, then reevaluate your progress.

    Have you checked to see if your HRM can sync with Fitbit?

    Whatever you log in MFP overwrites your Fitbit data during that time. So there's never any "double dipping."
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    It does try to estimate distance, and distance and time is pace/speed.

    So if the distance is right, then the pace and calorie burn is right.

    So if you have a measured course, may be good to compare distance seen by Fitbit to reality - may need to adjust stride length.

    It can only be a good estimate if starting with good info.

    And it has no idea you are doing incline, carrying extra weight, or pushing weight, and therefore burning more calories.

    That would be exactly the time for manually logging walking or running because you burned more than level would indicate by a decent amount, like a 2 hr walk at good clip.

    Or just use the increased weight and use the calculator Fitbit is using.

    http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs.html

    Use the Gross option to replace what Fitbit came up with. But be accurate with distance and time to get speed, and weight with baby, well, and probably clothes too, since most don't walk nude.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    It'll take trial & error to find what works for you, but I trust my Fitbit and let unlogged extras (like carrying a baby, or playing Wii Fit) reduce the margin of error in my food logging.

    Plus it's way less complicated! (Again, YMMV.)
  • michelleepotter
    michelleepotter Posts: 800 Member
    Thanks for the info, this was very helpful! :)
  • shrinkyy
    shrinkyy Posts: 21 Member
    Yeah, I don't mind underestimating. If I'm carrying something for a while on my walk, I don't log it manually, I figure losing more weight or getting fitter than anticipated can't be a bad thing
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