High Heart Rate while sedentary = way more calories in budget

[murdochi]

So my RHR is pretty high, because I'm obviously an unhealthy goblin. However, my fitbit decides that when I drag my **ahem** out of the shower, walk down a flight of stairs, or put a pair of jeans on it sees that spike in HR (which tbf, goes up to about 120bpm!) and decides I'm working out. This happens a LOT during the day. I went out for a 30 minute jog today, great, I can see how I've got 30 minutes in the zone there. Nope, the app thinks I have been in the zone today for THREE HOURS. Today, I have (other than the jog) sat in a cinema, cooked a dinner for mum, and played video games. I've probably burned the least amount of calories possible other than that jog. I've got the app set to lose weight (the "Harder" setting, so -1000 calories per day) - and it wants me to eat 2700 calories! 

I guess my question is, how do I do any either of the following:

1. make the minimum heart rate required to be classified as " in the zone" or whatever higher

2. stop fitbit awarding me all these bonus calories based on what exercise it thinks I'm doing and just stick to say 1500 calories a day, plus any exercise I tell it to

[LZeeW]

Hello @murdochi and welcome to the Community.  You don't say what model Fitbit you use.  I looked at your public profile and see that you joined in 2020.  What model do you use and does it give active minutes or active zone minutes?  If it gives active minutes (example - Charge 3 and older), then that is an out of date method for estimating activity.  Devices that give active zone minutes (example - Charge 4 and newer) use an equation uses your RHR when it calculates your zones.  It should take effort to earn active zone minutes.  That being said, there is something you can do to change your zones if your Fitbit gives active zone minutes.  Fitbit uses the 220 - age = your maximum heart rate equation.  You can change that:

• Tap on your profile avatar on your Fitbit app
• Tap on Activity & Wellness
• Tap on Heart Settings
• Tap on Heart Rate Zones
• Toggle Custom Max Heart Rate to On -- you will see your 220 - age number
• Tap on it and edit the number to a higher number (add 20 bpm to start, maybe)

It will take some trial and error to get a good number for you.  This is the way the US CDC describes your fat burn zone.  If you are walking, you are walking fast enough to speak the words to a song, but you can't sing it.

I'm not sure you can do anything about those calories.  Fitbit uses algorithms that use your age, height, and weight.  They are estimates at best.

[murdochi]

Hiya, it's actually a Google Pixel Watch I'm using. I'll try putting the MHR up to 200 and see if that sorts it. Thanks for the suggestion!