Calories Burned

[LoveSpinning101]

So I try to do Spinning 2 x a week. I can easily burn 400 calories at moderate intensity. I walk on the rest of the days and rarely do I get to 10,000 steps but close. Calories burned while walking vary between 100-300, depending on intensity and I usually walk low intensity because of back issues. Why is it that Fitbit shows less calories burned on Spinning days then walking days?

[Dominique · Accepted solution]

There are 24 hours in a day, and 7 days in a week. Let’s say your spinning sessions are 45 minutes each: no matter how intense they are, they’re only 1.5 / (24 x 7) = about 0.9% of the total time in a week. What you do during the remaining 99.1% matter a lot.

Your Dashboard has a graph (here) that displays (in slices of 5 minutes) calories burned across the day. Here is mine for today:

 

Have a look at these graphs for days with and without spinning. They should show you why Fitbit says you’re burning more (overall) on non-spinning days. You’re likely slightly more active on non-spinning days.

[LoveSpinning101]

Interesting! Eye opener. My Spinning days are days I telework, so I am home all day except for Spinning. I commute to work and most days I will just walk (weather permitting) instead of taking the bus home. Kinda seems like I am better off just walking everyday. Or walk every day and add Spinning 2/week see if that makes a difference.

[Baltoscott]

Hey @LoveSpinning101.  So long as you like it and can keep it up you are probably are better off doing both.  Sounds like your spinning + plus walking is getting you some exercise every day.  And different exercise works your body in different ways.  That's a good thing.  Keep it up.

[Dominique]

---

@LoveSpinning101 wrote:

My Spinning days are days I telework, so I am home all day except for Spinning. I commute to work and most days I will just walk (weather permitting) instead of taking the bus home.

---

How much time do you "save" when teleworking (and not having to commute)? Chances are only part of the savings is currently allocated to spinning and other possible physical activity. Even if spinning is a high intensity activity, calories burned during it do not offset what you don’t burn by not commuting. Try to allocate the savings to more physical activity. This can be household tasks like cooking, cleaning, anything that keeps you on your feet and moving, as opposed to sitting (especially if you have a desk job that keeps you long hours in front of a computer). Informal activity (referred to as "NEAT" by scientists) is an underrated way to burn more calories and can play a big role in weight loss (or maintenance).