Unlogged ("lost") Steps

[NY2TX]

Sounds ridiculous, but every time I go into a store like HEB (large supermarket here in Texas) or SAM's Club, my steps do not register on my tracker and are lost forever.

Why does this happen (to a FitBit person) and does anyone else have this experience anywhere else.  Is it a certain type of building that interferes with a Bluetooth transmission???

[BreezyMum]

Are you wearing a Flex and pushing a grocery cart?  If you are wearing a Flex that might be the issue, as your arm would not be moving the same way it does when you are walking naturally.

[NY2TX]

Thank you, but it's very recently been explained by a FitBiter that the sensor menasures footfalls as well as arm swings.  But I think that "the answer is still out there."

Anyone from the company???

[Heybales]

Never seen it.

So you think the step info is NOT stored on the device but immediately uploaded to a smart phone, and subsequently deleted from the Fitbit?

And the Bluetooth protocol, like any other data transmission method that confirms data was received and matches by checksum, had a confirmation sent back to Fitbit allowing deleting of the data, was indeed received by both sides, but not actually the data.

What you are suggesting is actually a far stranger idea than the fact your hands aren't moving.

Which is fact.

And no building is going to interfere with BT transmission, which is short range, between 2 devices that must be close.

They would have to be illegally sending out blocking frequency that would be interfering with anyone with a remote phone earpiece.

And illegal in public frequency space.

So if you see ANYONE talking on one - that isn't happening.

Keep searching for reasons.

Here's a test - turn the app off on the smart phone prior to entering the door so it's not able to receive any data anyway.

Then see if turning it back on going out the door causes an upload of recent step count.

[betpchem]

I would have to agree with BreezyMum - it's because you are pushing a cart in the store. That interferes. It's the same as holding on to the treadmill handle - the steps don't count. 

[slysam]

NY2TX, it is generally true for unencumbered natural movement that your fitbit should feel movement through your body beyond arm movements. The tri-axis accelerometer tracks movement forward and back, side ot side and up and down. I think impact is a factor too (maybe related to up and down) because I always get more credit for up and down movements. I don't have a Flex, but flex users (same with other wrist worn trackers) do frequently observe their steps are not coutned as well pushing shopping carts, holding railings, or pushing some strollers. I think holding/pushing the object just muffles the ability to sense the movement. With my One, I have a similar issue with some types of dance that involve minimizing the impact or the movement and isolating it. For example, in a 90 minute hula dance class where we practiced a choerography that involved constant stepping (soft, fluid steps) I earned something like 300 steps--Fitbit credited me with a sedentary activity level most of the class. Where I wore my fitbit, it just did not sense my movement. With more natural steps where the movement can be sensed throughout the body, my fibit has no problem. I usually get about 1,000-1,500 steps in the local larger supermarket with my One. You might need to log walking or you could try putting your Flex in your pocket or something (just when shopping with a shopping cart so it counts soem steps--usually you would want to wear it as directed for the most accuracy).

[NY2TX]

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@slysam wrote:
NY2TX, it is generally true for unencumbered natural movement that your fitbit should feel movement through your body beyond arm movements. The tri-axis accelerometer tracks movement forward and back, side ot side and up and down. I think impact is a factor too (maybe related to up and down) because I always get more credit for up and down movements. I don't have a Flex, but flex users (same with other wrist worn trackers) do frequently observe their steps are not coutned as well pushing shopping carts, holding railings, or pushing some strollers. I think holding/pushing the object just muffles the ability to sense the movement. With my One, I have a similar issue with some types of dance that involve minimizing the impact or the movement and isolating it. For example, in a 90 minute hula dance class where we practiced a choerography that involved constant stepping (soft, fluid steps) I earned something like 300 steps--Fitbit credited me with a sedentary activity level most of the class. Where I wore my fitbit, it just did not sense my movement. With more natural steps where the movement can be sensed throughout the body, my fibit has no problem. I usually get about 1,000-1,500 steps in the local larger supermarket with my One. You might need to log walking or you could try putting your Flex in your pocket or something (just when shopping with a shopping cart so it counts soem steps--usually you would want to wear it as directed for the most accuracy).

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@slysam I was about to agree with your assessment (especially the part about holding onto the shopping cart) - but then I decided to mow my lawn.  I have a gas powered push mower.  Every one of my steps was logged.

So now I'm not so sure, and I'm still unclear why when I went to Sam's Club yesterday, I know that most of my steps inside the store were not registered.  Why is holding onto and pushing a lawn mower different from pushing a shoppoing cart?

<Brag>On the otherhand, I walked 10 miles this morning in under 3 hours (a total of 42 miles for the week), mowed my lawn, logged almost 25K steps, burned over 3,000 calories and feel great</Brag>

[Heybales]

Arms shake much while mowing?

Super smooth lawn with no bumps, like concrete floor?

Stand and look at step count on Fitbit.

Push the running lawmower for a right foot count of 100 steps.

Stand and look at step count - up by 200 steps?

[slysam]

I don't know why it would pick up steps mowing the lawn more though it might feel "impact" from the vibrating of the mower or perhaps it just isn't as smooth as a shopping cart as Heybales suggested. I actually don't have this exact issue with my One (it is fine when I push a shopping cart), but mine does miss steps from some other activities as I mentioned.

[NY2TX]

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@slysam wrote:
I don't know why it would pick up steps mowing the lawn more though it might feel "impact" from the vibrating of the mower or perhaps it just isn't as smooth as a shopping cart as Heybales suggested. I actually don't have this exact issue with my One (it is fine when I push a shopping cart), but mine does miss steps from some other activities as I mentioned.

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@slysam and SAM | USA

I'll be ready to accept an explanation as a solution when the algorithm is explained again.  I can't find it because it was on another thread.  But if I remember correctly the explanation was that the step counter was not based on arm swing alone and that foot falls were also part of the way that the Flex tracker calculated steps.  I'd appreciate a technical answer.  Thank you.

[Heybales]

You are correct, even when your arm is swinging up, the impact force of a foot landing can still be sensed.

The age-old question of you falling in an elevator. If right before it hits the ground, you jump up in the air, are you only falling for that 1-2 feet then?

Of course not - you are going to be hurting like everyone else just standing on the floor, just a fraction of a second later though.

But the problem is a filter must decide what really looks like a foot fall, and what is random noise of arm going up and down.

That's why even hip or ankle attached Fitbit's likely won't get accurate count on smooth spin bike method or elliptical with certain style of usage, not enough impact to be seen as step.

And in those cases - the other foot isn't even seen at all.

So also on the wrist, if certain impacts are small enough, then just noise to filter out and not count as steps.

I can walk in such a way, and I'm not about to walk that way in public, that the majority of steps are missed by the Zip on hip. Well ok, walking stretch on soleus actually is done in public and that is close enough to effect.

You may be too smooth for your own readings!

[ManOnTheGo]

I have found that my steps do not register when pusing a cart in a large supermarket or parking lot.  If someone is with you and not tracking steps ask her/him to push.  You might also try attaching the zip to your underwear or waistband.  Your movements should be picked up as you walk and registered on the zip.

If you have a charge, try placing it in your pocket.  It should register.  Good luck!