Do HIIT afterburn calories get tracked by fitbit heart rate monitors?

[NYCypher]

So HIIT (when done properly) will cause increased calorie burn over the next 24 hours, more so than regular interval training or steady cardio but is it at all reflected in fitbit trackers?

Does the extra burn come from an elevated heart rate which is reflected on our trackers or does it come from somewhere else that can not be tracked?

[Dominique · Accepted solution]

First of all, I think you are confusing EPOC (the "afterburn") with the benefits of HIIT for fatloss. HIIT does lead to EPOC, but so does steady-state cardio too, only to a lower extent. At any rate, I don’t believe Fitbit trackers (even those with HR monitoring capabilities) could possibly quantify calories burned through EPOC. In my experience, it’s already tough for them to realize you burn more calories during the actual effort. I think you can safely assume Fitbit underestimates calories burned during and after HIIT. And estimating calories burned during effort isn’t an exact science anyway.  

[SunsetRunner]

Dominique hit the nail on the head there. 

What I would add is that I take those calories as a "bonus" and just eat within my calculated calories for the day (regardless of what exercise effects I may still be experiencing). In this way I keep on track of my weight/weightloss with relative ease. However, if after exercise I am extremely hungry and eating something would take me above my calorie allowance, I take that with a pinch of salt too. I don't over do it, but I don't let it stress me.