Advice interpreting calories burned

[AliceCalorie]

I've been using Fitbit (Charge 5) for a month now and still don't fully understand how it calculates calories burned. For example, I did a relaxed walk on the beach (1 hour, 5 zone minutes), and today I did a much more intense workout (also 1 hour, but 44 zone minutes). Surprisingly, Fitbit reported 374 calories burned for both activities.

According to the Fitbit FAQ, calorie estimates are based on heart rate and BMR. But based on my experience, it seems like time is the main factor influencing calorie estimates, regardless of workout intensity. I'm assuming workout intensity is measured in terms of heart rate.

Does workout intensity actually matter in the calculation? Are calories from walks overestimated or intense workouts underestimated? I'd love to understand how it works and hear how people go around it.

[BackwoodsChris]

Hey, I'm not really sure on your problem, but you did work out for longer on your walk. Exercise (cardio) for me seems to not burn nearly as many calories extra than I would hope for. I literally picked up my fitbit today after years of not using it, so we'll see what kind of results I get with workouts. Just stick with it though, long workout will make you healthy regardless of what the watch says. Nice job.

[luckypenguin]

I’ve wondered the same thing, especially when my calories burned seem high on a day I didn’t do much. Turns out, your basal metabolic rate (BMR) makes up a big chunk of it — basically, the calories you burn just staying alive. It can be a little misleading if you're not moving much but still see big numbers. Lately, I’ve been trying to walk more just to feel better overall. Dream scenario? Doing those walks somewhere scenic like the coast I saw on Real Estate Portugal — looks like the perfect place to stay active and relaxed.