Fitbit accuracy

smcfarli
smcfarli Posts: 2 Member
edited November 15 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so my Fitbit says I burned 256 during a run on the treadmill but the treadmill said 197 and had the distance at a higher mileage than the Fitbit did... Are Fitbit calories inaccaurate ?

Replies

  • ISO905
    ISO905 Posts: 17 Member
    Both your fitbit and your treadmill are doing the best they can but without being hooked up to expensive equipment, you will never know exactly how many calories you burn during exercise. Any device like a fitbit or a treadmill are just "pretty good guesses" at best. I would just split the difference and then feel really good about the work you put in....so much easier NOT getting on a treadmill but you did it and that's awesome!!
  • Agator82
    Agator82 Posts: 249 Member
    General distance will be off on the Fitbit if you do not adjust the stride length. Calories is a shot in the dark no matter what due to the limitations of the hardware. I use the treadmill calories and eat less than half back, if I eat any.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Agator82 wrote: »
    General distance will be off on the Fitbit if you do not adjust the stride length. Calories is a shot in the dark no matter what due to the limitations of the hardware. I use the treadmill calories and eat less than half back, if I eat any.

    Exactly. Fitbit counts movement of the device and assumes a constant gate. Just like the old pedometers.
  • OhMsDiva
    OhMsDiva Posts: 1,073 Member
    and MFP gives me what fitbit says plus more. I dont understand it and i have stopped trying.
  • brdoyle8
    brdoyle8 Posts: 38 Member
    Hi! I use a Fitbit Charge HR which measures my heart rate as I exercise. Fitbit also takes into account your stats when deciding calorie burn. I find this to be more accurate than the traditional pedometer, but I'm still wary of big numbers. I tend not to eat most of my exercise calories back.
  • barryplumber
    barryplumber Posts: 401 Member
    When it comes to distance your fitbit needs to be adjusted for your stride. You can go to fitbit.Com site and adjust it. The problem is as you change walking or running speeds it requires readjustment. I have mind set at 6.5 - 6.8 mph for running. Of I chose to run faster or slower it gets off again so I decided to use the distance in the treadmill.

    Calorie burns are something different, do not use any machine for accurate calorie burn. Your Fitbit should be pretty close mine is of you wish to check another way try this site is very good
    http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/running-calorie-burn-calculator.shtml

    Shapesence.com had other calculators as well, it will explan net and gross calorie burns which is important of you use machines.
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