Active minutes overestimated

[VykkDraygo]

I just got my Blaze on Sunday. I'm pretty happy with it so far, but I think it is overestimating my number of active minutes, and therefore the calories burned. To preface, I have been counting calories, and tracking my weight since late August. I was definitely underestimating my workouts before, and I think the calorie burns the Blaze gives for the logged activities are correct. (Looking at a 100-200 calorie increase over my estimates). Problem is, I can go to the gym, do 35 minutes of cardio, then go home, and just sit, and the Blaze still thinks I am active. It says about 50 minutes of activity for ever 35 minute cardio exercise.

Now, this is leading me to get an estimated 4000 calories burned on days I go to the gym twice, and giving me about 3k worth to consume at my deficit. Now, I'm not worried about gaining on 3k calories (I can currently maintain at about 2.6k, on sedentary days), but I'm pretty sure I won't be losing as fast as I'd like.

Is there any way to curtail this? For example, should I turn off the heart rate monitor when I am done exercising? Everything else is spot on (except for a couple phantom stairs while driving).

[juiceprof]

Dear AlejandraFitbit:  It's been a year now; and my Blaze is still doing essentially what it has done from the start--that is, reporting 3 to 4 times as many active minutes as the Flex that it replaced.  The issue for me is not the number of active minutes, but the additional calories burned that are reported by Fitbit and by MyFitnessPal.  I have been told that I could consume as many as 1000-1200 additional calories in a day.  I always thought that the Flex gave a pretty accurate estimate of the additional calories I had earned.  

My "workaround" with the Blaze is to ignore active minutes and "calories left to eat" altogether.  They are worthless.  I shoot for 1800 calories a day; and that allows me to maintain my weight of about 150 lbs.  To answer your question about activity--I walk on the treadmill 40-50 minutes, I do moderate strength training, and I am up and moving around quite a bit.  I do not run or do heavy lifting.  My age is 69.  I typically log 10000-12000 steps per day.  However, there have been no changes in my routine since switching to the Blaze from the Flex.

Thank you.  I'm off to get my 250 steps for this hour....  🙂

[Colinm39]

@juiceprof It's definitely the HR feature causing your extra calorie burn resulting in extra Active Minutes.. I have the same problem

You have to feel for us Seniors.. My Fat burn calories start at 72bpm.. MaxHR 143 and my RHR is 51.. I have been cleared on my annual checkup, normal heart function and size, bloods OK, V02max 42 and I'm no elite athlete.. The specialists tell me I'm genetically designed to be a slow, endurance work horse..

Yesterday a simple walk, on a flat walking path around our sports complex at 5+ kmh (3+mph). That gave me 8 calories/minute which for me is equal to 7+METS.. See this table

again... I was testing the Connected GPS for the Forums and mapped a perfect path.. At my age we have to keep busy and active..

[mgeorgalas]

I have the same issue and I am 33 and in shape.  My current resting heart rate is 49 while sleeping and 53 while sitting here typing this.

Despite this, at 9:30am, I have 92 active minutes on just 2,718 steps.

Something clearly isn't right.  My Blaze has been doing this for quite a while and it is throwing my calories on MyFitnessPal way off.

[Evanna]

Sorry deleted as posted in wrong forum