Fitbit One and Zumba

[liliannsmama]

I am confused as to what I should be doing when I am at zumba.  The other day I had a 2 hour class and I wore my fitbit.  My calories burned were 721.  So I manually entered that number into my log.  Then earlier today I was reading some information that states that it might not be accurate to take those calories burned as its not taking into effect my arms and hips moving, hence burning more calories.  The post stated that one should manually log the activity and use the calories burned number that comes up.  Well i tried that today and the manual entry had a lower number of colories burned, than what the actual calories burned was on the One.

So what should I do? I really feel that the calories burned number that the fitbit calculated is too low for the intensity that I was at.

[EdsonFitbit]

@liliannsmama The information recorded by your tracker while doing Zumba might not be accurate. The number of calories burned that your manually logged activity calculates should be the correct amount. The Dashboard estimates the calories you burned during this activity based on your BMR (age, gender, height and weight). More information about how calories burned are calculated can be found here. Keep on stepping! 

[MRose]

If it is more motivational to use the calories logged with the tracker, I'd do that. Really, if you body burns 823 calories, it's going to be 823 calories regardless of the number on the tracker. If it's a little low, that might actually be best so you don't see 1200 calories burned and want a milkshake the next day. I'm always careful not to try to "trick" my Fitbit so I know that I probably got a few more steps than it clocks, but it keeps you from seeing 15,000 steps when you only got 13,000. At the end of the day, it's a good feeling to know you out-worked the tracker!

[DiSa]

I wrote this in another forum but haven't received a reply. Once you sync your monitor for updates here on line, does the monitor automatically start over when you wear it again?

I wore mine just one time for an hour at a zumba class, where I move as much as possible, I am 5'5", 55 years old and 220lbs but I CAN MOVE, the monitor indicated it was 1024 calories burned, could that be correct?

[EdsonFitbit]

Thanks for joining us @DiSa! Fitbit trackers reset the recorded information only at midnight to start each day from zero. You can sync more than once during the day and the data will remain on your device until midnight. For activities like Zumba, where the step count is not a good indicator of the amount of calories burned it is recommended manually logging the activity. You will obtain more accurate readings of the amount of calories you have burned on this way. 

[BurdsNest]

So if I understand you correctly, Edson, I should log my 42-45 minute Zumba class manually????  I simply turn on my timer and it not only times my workout from start to finish, my phone and then my dashboard records all the data.  I burn anywhere from 287 - 307 calories.  I assumed my calorie burn is based on my heart rate, which is based on my movements. And let me tell you something, I know how to move!  

My gym partner is doing the same class using the timer, and shoe burns about 400.....weighs more.

I want to have the most accurate data I can possibly get from my FIT......so what should I be doing?

Sincerely,

Zumba, Zumba, Zumba

[Heybales]

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@liliannsmama wrote:

I am confused as to what I should be doing when I am at zumba.  The other day I had a 2 hour class and I wore my fitbit.  My calories burned were 721.  So I manually entered that number into my log.  Then earlier today I was reading some information that states that it might not be accurate to take those calories burned as its not taking into effect my arms and hips moving, hence burning more calories.  The post stated that one should manually log the activity and use the calories burned number that comes up.  Well i tried that today and the manual entry had a lower number of colories burned, than what the actual calories burned was on the One.

So what should I do? I really feel that the calories burned number that the fitbit calculated is too low for the intensity that I was at.

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I'm going to disagree with database entry.

While Zumba is indeed step based, meaning impact seen is totally related to how high you are getting your body off the ground (I don't think you drive or pound your legs in to the ground, do you?), which means it is missing times of low leg movement but high upper body movement, it's still going to have a much better idea of your level of intensity than a database entry based on a study where they folks where going at an intensity totally unknown to be comparable to your own.

For database entries that have some level of intensity known by a quantifiable level (running 6 mph, compared to say running slow, medium, or fast?), and an exercise that is not totally step based - sure the database should win on accuracy.

But I'd suggest this is just opposite. There is nothing to compare your level of effort to what the database is considering the level of effort for it's calorie burn.

But the Fitbit sure saw your steps, and how hard and frequent they were, and will be much better estimate of calorie burn.

But - why are you manually logging a calorie burn that the Fitbit already came up with.

It's already in your daily stats - there is no need to log it as a workout.

Now - if curious about the calories given and steps and distance from steps, then create an activity record for the start/end time.

The stats are already in your daily stats - no need to log a workout at all with exactly the same info.

Besides which, if the calorie burn was on the line of active level, you could lose that status replacing the calorie burn with manual entry - even if exactly the same.

[liliannsmama]

Thank you. I'm not using the Fitbit app to track my workouts. I'm actually using My Fitness Pal and that's why I wanted the calorie burn.

Sent from my iPhone

[HelenaFitbit]

I have to agree with @Heybales on this, since your Fitbit is tuned more accurately with your personal information and step frequency or intensity of the workout, while the database (any database) uses a pre-assigned number to determine your caloric burn. 

Now, let's go back and rock on the zumba classes! 

[Heybales]

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@liliannsmama wrote:
Thank you. I'm not using the Fitbit app to track my workouts. I'm actually using My Fitness Pal and that's why I wanted the calorie burn.

Sent from my iPhone

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You actually use the MFP exercise diary to keep track of your workouts?

Or do you think you are supposed to log the workouts there?

Or you want your workout to post on your wall so your FL knows you are exercising?

If the latter - just make a wall post about your workout, with better stats than a single line can give you.

Put the same info in the Exercise diary notes section in case review is needed.

Fitbit has a better review ability for workouts if it's truly that aspect you desire.

In which case just log activity record in order to see your stats.

[SuperStephSteph]

Personally I prefer to just wear my fitbit and record the steps that I got in Zumba rather than logging it manually. I find that I normally log about 6000 steps during a normal Zumba class, and I figure that since some of the steps probably aren't recorded due to the nature of the class but that many of the arm movements are recorded that it evens out. 

Also you should keep in mind that nothing short of actually having your metabolism tested by a doctor will accurately tell you your calorie burn. Because I am trying to lose weight I personally prefer to err on the side of caution and count my steps rather than adjust and manually add how much I think (or something else thinks) I burned.