How does Fitbit track calories burned during a workout?

[aleatha47]

How do I get my Fit bit to calculate my exact calorie burn during workouts? I used a vivosmart previously and it would give me the calorie burn down to the minute.  The Fit bit doesn't seem to do this.  It just gives an estimate.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SilviaFitbit]

@aleatha47 Hi there. 

Fitbit devices combine your basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the rate at which you burn calories at rest to maintain vital body functions (including breathing, blood circulation, and heartbeat)—and your activity data to estimate your calories burned. If your device tracks heart rate, your heart-rate data is also included, especially to estimate calories burned during exercise. The number you see on your Fitbit device is your total calories burned for the day.

You may want to check these articles to learn how to track your activities with your Fitbit: How do I track my workouts with my Fitbit device? How do I track my activity with my Fitbit device? 

Let me know how it goes. 

[SunsetRunner]

It will.not calculate actual calories burned.  I contacted customer service and was very upset about this.  They say it estimates what it should be according to normal workouts. Bummer

[SilviaFitbit]

@SunsetRunner Hi there. Thanks for the details mentioned. 

I see where your disappointment is coming from. You may want to check this article to learn more about how Fitbit calculates your daily activity. 

I'll be around if you have any additional questions.