I shoveled snow for 5 hours yet the Flex said I only had one active minute

[Gaye]

What's the deal with "Active Minutes"?  Does not seem to be very accurate. 

[SunsetRunner · Accepted solution]

Active minutes are calculated using metabolic equivalents (METs).  Here is a link to a wiki page discussing it in depth.  The short of it, because it can get technical, is that active minutes are calculated based on increased metabolic activity over a 60 second period.  So if you were to sprint straight out for 30 seconds, from my understanding of the way Fitbit calculates very active minutes it might not show up.

[Mary]

The Fitbit doesn't track resistance activities.  You can manually log 'shoveling snow'.  

[Walkmeister]

I am surely not an expert on the Fitbit, but I've done some

snow removal in my days up North.

I'm going to guess that you were "shortchanged" because

snow removal is mostly an upper body activity and if you

had your Fitbit attached to your waistband, it "cheated" you.

Next time, try putting the Fitbit on your wrist and see if that

makes a difference.   

[Heybales]

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@Walkmeister wrote:

I am surely not an expert on the Fitbit, but I've done some

snow removal in my days up North.

I'm going to guess that you were "shortchanged" because

snow removal is mostly an upper body activity and if you

had your Fitbit attached to your waistband, it "cheated" you.

Next time, try putting the Fitbit on your wrist and see if that

makes a difference.   

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Sadly the "steps" would not be steps, and the calorie burn based on formulas for pace and weight for steps would not be correct either.

If you want non-steps counted as "steps" sure move it, but still log the activity manually for a chance at better estimate of calories burned.

[Gaye]

Hi - I actually had it on my wrist (as it's a Flex) and it still missed it.
I just added it into my activities. 🙂

[gl61]

been shoveling snow and removing snow and ice from my roof with a roof rake. can anyone help estimate calories these activites take. It took my two hours to shovel, 3 hours to clean my roof, 2 hours to clean my mother's roof. Would like to add this as a activity as in Maine we seem to be doing a lot of it lately. thanks

[Heybales]

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@gl61 wrote:

been shoveling snow and removing snow and ice from my roof with a roof rake. can anyone help estimate calories these activites take. It took my two hours to shovel, 3 hours to clean my roof, 2 hours to clean my mother's roof. Would like to add this as a activity as in Maine we seem to be doing a lot of it lately. thanks

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Go to your activities and Log manually, type in snow.

You'll get 2 options. I'd say use both, let it estimate calories.

Then see which one you'll keep, delete other.

[Fergie1944]

Unfortunately you CAN'T manually put in "Shoveling snow" - the programme doesn't accept it !

[Fergie1944]

Unfortunately the Fitbit app doesn't allow us to manually enter "shoveling snow" - at least I can't!!

Would love to know how to get them to add it!! Living in Ontario (or any northern community) means we shovel - a LOT !!!