I just ran 3 miles on treadmill and my active minutes only recorded 15min .

[NMTlpn16]

Any suggestions how to record your active minutes if the fit bit doesnt count it?

[LilBudyWizer]

I can't answer the question but I can offer a suggestion. Check the speed to make sure it registered as running strides rather than walking. It's rather hard to imagine at the step rate of running it wouldn't register as a high level of activity even if it didn't register it as running, but the distance would be much shorter.

[awebz]

If you own a Flex I do know that people have seen better results when using a treadmill by putting the flex in their pocket when using a treadmill. You may want to try posting in the help forums under the specific tracker you're using and see what everyone suggests!

[Kapalua]

FWIW, the Force seems to record runs on the treadmill as very active minutes and counts the steps accurately. As long as your stride is set correctly for the pace you're running, distance measured should be pretty close too.

What will not be accurate is caloric expenditure as the fitbit does not monitor heart rate to help it measure energy expenditure. I find the fitbit overestimates calories burned during very active minutes (running).

I don't rely on my Force for distance measurements when running, but instead use a foot pod and a Garmin Sports dedicated running watch (620) calibrated to my stride at the pace I run, via calibration of the foot pod.

I believe the fitbit partially relies on your arm swing during treadmill running, to figure out your movement. Actually the Garmnin has an internal accelerometer as well, but the foot pod is more accurate if paired to the Garmin. The Force works fine too depending on your arm swing pattern as long as your stride distance while  running is set correctly in fitbit profile for the pace at which you're runnning.

[JoanneinCA]

I'm not sure it's the arm swing, Kapalua because I can walk with my iPhone in my Flex hand and watch it recording the steps. Maybe it has to do with the vibration from the impact of my steps? I don't know. If you use a smartphone I would take it on the treadmill and watch it to see what's recording. I'm still trying to figure this out, so if you could post your results here that would be great.

[Jim_M]

What fitbit do you use?  If it's a Flex or a Force, are you holding on to something while you are on a treadmill?

I have a zip, and 45 minutes on a treamill will give me about 42 active minutes.

[NMTlpn16]

I have a flex and Made sure I didn't hang onto anything. Maybe I will try the pocket and see if that makes a difference .

Sent from my iPhone

[Direwind]

when using the flex to

Cycle  >Put fitbit sensor in pocket

Tredmill > In sock

Swim > in a swim sock

Using an app like ://www.endomondo.com to log the activity so it will adjust the cal burn

[suebob]

Direwind, would your suggestions also work for the Fitbit Zip?  Right now I'm wearing the Zip around my neck because the clip is too tight for my pocket.  I'm trying some workouts on a treadmill but I don't think my Zip is picking up my steps accurately.  Could it be that my upper body is not moving enough since it's just walking?

[Mary]

The Zip is only programmed to predict calorie burn for steps based activities as worn on the torso and the Flex only on the wrist.  

A Zip on a chain should work fine at a walk.  

[Leslie25]

I find I get better results when running on the treamill with my flex, when I put it around my ankle.  I don't hold on but notice that it registers fewer steps when my arms are up in a running stance.  I can see the difference on the app on my iPad versus when arms are at a natural swing while walking.

[akame3]

I have been wearing my zip on a 28" and a 30" chain around my neck for the past 2 weeks. I did a comparison as to the accuracy of my step count. I walked in 1 mile increments on my treadmill. I wore it clipped on my  waist band, clipped to my bra, and in my pocket. I also counted off steps while walking through my house , and it is was pretty close.

[slysam]

Suebob, I think wearing a Zip around your neck would muffle it's ability to sense your movement. I have a One and had the older models similar to the One for a few years. The One (and similar) and zip are meant to be worn snug against your torso somewhere between the hips and mid chest level. I usually clip my one to one of my bra cups but sometimes I clip it to my waist band or pants pocket. It picks up a bit more of certain activities worn on the hip than the chest. Worn on the chest, I find I don't get false steps and floors in vehicles and I never really get credit for activity I feel I didn't do. I do think the impact makes a difference as I've always been credited higher for activities involving some impact than activities with little or no impact. The speed is also a very big factor, but that is assuming the Fitbit is picking up all or most of your steps.

[slysam]

Just adding, Suebob, have you tried wearing the zip on the chain inside your shirt? I've heard of people doing that. That might keep it snug enough against your torso to feel more movement. On rare occasion I have experimented with putting my fitbit loose in a pocket and it would sometimes dramatically undercount and sometimes overcount steps. I have the most accurate step count when the fitbit is snug against my body so it can sense movement but not move independently. I recently found it is slightly more sensitive to 'steps" worn on against the hip (I haven't tried actual waist as most of my pants sit between the hips and waist or at the hips). So lower placement might help on the treadmill. I still prefer the bra placement for normal daily activity.

[akame3]

Most of the time I wore it inside of my shirt, on a chain long enough to just nest in the cleavage area. This way it wasn't swinging around, and it remained in the bra area .( Which is one of the recommended locations to fasten the zip) I also wore it on the outside of my shirt while walking on the treadmill, and the results were the in the  same range (5-10 steps either way) Depending on what style of clothes you are wearing that day, or the shape of your body will determine where you can fasten it, (hip, waist, bra, belt, pocket, or chain) I think they also show the neckline of a shirt? It is finding what works for you! Good luck, and... HAVE FUN steppin!!!

[laraking]

whats a swim sock?

[Mary]

I don't know but I wouldn't wear a One in the pool.  It's not waterproof and it's not programmed to track swimming.  

[Cybertekkno]

I wear an Heart Rate Monitor watch when I run, and then once my workout is finished I log the start time, duration and caloric burn per my HRM in my Fitbit Activities log.  Once I do this I get credit for all of my active minutes, not just some of them.