Some fitness devices lie!

Nathan

Nathan

SF VIP
Location
High Desert- Calif.
I've noticed over the years that fitness machines such as treadmills and ellipticals that have the fancy electronics and all kinds of sensors deliberately exaggerate the amount of calories burned. Maybe 'exaggeration' is not the right word, I think LIE is more accurate, to the tune of upping the calorie count by as much as 300% of actual, realistic value.

I love my Fitbit watch, I think it does accurately report my steps, heart rate, and is 'fair' with recording my sleep stats. I do not consider the Fitbit to be an accurate source of calorie burn, it has no sensors that can measure that, the figure it gives is simply a guess. I just groan when I see a post by someone on the Facebook Fitbit group complaining that they're not getting their calorie count stats.

Here's a screenshot of my Fitbit app. C'mon, burning 493 calories in 74 steps, I don't think so!!! :p

fitbit.jpg
 

I use an apple watch. I think it is pretty close to the stats on the treadmill I use. Mostly, I look at total distance and active calories.
 

Nathan said:
I've noticed over the years that fitness machines such as treadmills and ellipticals that have the fancy electronics and all kinds of sensors deliberately exaggerate the amount of calories burned. Maybe 'exaggeration' is not the right word, I think LIE is more accurate, to the tune of upping the calorie count by as much as 300% of actual, realistic value.

I love my Fitbit watch, I think it does accurately report my steps, heart rate, and is 'fair' with recording my sleep stats. I do not consider the Fitbit to be an accurate source of calorie burn, it has no sensors that can measure that, the figure it gives is simply a guess. I just groan when I see a post by someone on the Facebook Fitbit group complaining that they're not getting their calorie count stats.

Here's a screenshot of my Fitbit app. C'mon, burning 493 calories in 74 steps, I don't think so!!! :p

View attachment 317276
Click to expand...
Here's a prime example of the Fitbit just guessing: 0 steps= 450 calories??? Naw!
Screenshot_20231205-063741.jpg
 
No wonder their damned stock price tanked! I was on the unpleasant receiving end of that after listening to the advice of "experts" who highly touted Fitbit. :mad: I would venture to guess that all fitness devices and ads for those devices stretch the truth....errr LIE.
 
Nathan said:
I've noticed over the years that fitness machines such as treadmills and ellipticals that have the fancy electronics and all kinds of sensors deliberately exaggerate the amount of calories burned. Maybe 'exaggeration' is not the right word, I think LIE is more accurate, to the tune of upping the calorie count by as much as 300% of actual, realistic value.

I love my Fitbit watch, I think it does accurately report my steps, heart rate, and is 'fair' with recording my sleep stats. I do not consider the Fitbit to be an accurate source of calorie burn, it has no sensors that can measure that, the figure it gives is simply a guess. I just groan when I see a post by someone on the Facebook Fitbit group complaining that they're not getting their calorie count stats.

Here's a screenshot of my Fitbit app. C'mon, burning 493 calories in 74 steps, I don't think so!!! :p

View attachment 317276
Click to expand...
Years ago I tried a step counter and it would count steps even if my legs werenā€™t moving. At the end of the day it read that Iā€™d lost hundreds of calories. Walking on my treadmilll burns about 350 calories an hour @ 3 miles per hour . If I walk a 20 minute milk , I lose 115 calories. Itā€™s a lot of work to lose 115 calories and thatā€™s with no hills. A fit bit calculates steps taken with every moment you make. Thereā€™s no way itā€™s calculating accurately.
 
My neighbor uses FitBit and claims to walk five miles a day. I asked him his route and itā€™s only two blocks past my two mile route. I double checked with my car and, yep, his FitBit was way off. I never told him, not my business.

For measuring distance, the Map My Walk app is very accurate, even when you double back on the same route. For measuring heart rate, you can check how accurate your device is by comparing it to the tried and true method of using a stop watch and your pulse.
 
@Nathan To give the device the benefit of the doubt: It's a small c, calories, not Calories ( x1000) if my Jr High science teacher told us what is meant when talking about food and diets was right. So .45 Kcals would seem about right just standing there. I think anyway, but I don't know.

I do know someone who left their Fitbit in their glove box over night and it read they had used up a whole lot of calories, probably from shivering to stay warm...:unsure::rolleyes:
 
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