adjusting stride

[Jabrat]

How do you adjust your stride with a Fitbit Zip?

[WendyB]

Stride length
https://help.fitbit.com/customer/portal/articles/176045-how-do-i-measure-and-adjust-my-javascript&co...

[demarya]

We were discussing it in the Facebook group that's part of Kathy's 'signature.

I originally just used my height, weight, sex and age and let Fitbit figure out the mileage based on steps. But there was one day recently where I walked about 1.5 miles and got credit for 1.75 miles.

So I measured my stride [using the 10 step method] and this time, I walked on an indoor track whereas before, it was outside] and I wasn't given credit for the whole distance. So I added 2-3 inches and again, it came up short but it was a bit closer to the distance I did.

There ARE things that may affect the distance, like when I walk from home where it's hilly and that may affect the stride lenth. Also, I'm pretty short; am 5 feet, half an inch [it's enough to say I'm over 5 feet; when we're this short, we'll take any help we can get. :-)c]. So it will take more steps for me to walk a mile than somone who is considerably taller.

[demarya]

Wendy, all of the other places I've read about stride length have said to use 10 steps, which is what I did on 2 separate occasions, Though it wouldn't hurt to try doing with with 20 steps.

[Dominique]

---

@Jabrat wrote:

How do you adjust your stride with a Fitbit Zip?

---

It shouldn't make any difference whether it's a Zip or any other model, should it? The main problem is that, if you are walking fast enough, Fitbit "thinks" you are running. But your fast walking stride is typically shorter than your running stride, so you end up with distances that are too long and calories that are too high. If you're only walking at a slow/normal pace and jogging/running, this is not a problem.

[Mary]

I would forget 10 or 20 steps and would walk at least a quarter mile, which should be more like 500.  It takes 4-5 minutes and you'll get a better value.  If you don't know a quarter, half or mile stretch near you, a smart phone GPS app or Google Maps can show you distance.  

[SunsetRunner]

Very useful to know!

I have another device that is quite well calibrated and my new fitbit with the same stride length setting  is giving me an EXTRA mile for every 4 miles I walk! So as I complete 4 miles it tells me I've reached a 5 mile goal when I know I have not. I keep trying to change my stride length in my settings but have not got it tweaked quite right yet. I am getting closer. I do keep a decent walking pace but I would not think it was so quick as to warrant thinking I'm jogging. Maybe that's my issue though. Between the 3 different step counters I get varying numbers within +/- 100 so I'm not too worried about how many actual steps I take or get recorded. I get in well over 10K per day anyway. The rest is icing on the cake that I can't eat 😄

[Heybales]

---

@SunsetRunner wrote:

Very useful to know!

I have another device that is quite well calibrated and my new fitbit with the same stride length setting  is giving me an EXTRA mile for every 4 miles I walk! So as I complete 4 miles it tells me I've reached a 5 mile goal when I know I have not. I keep trying to change my stride length in my settings but have not got it tweaked quite right yet. I am getting closer. I do keep a decent walking pace but I would not think it was so quick as to warrant thinking I'm jogging. Maybe that's my issue though. Between the 3 different step counters I get varying numbers within +/- 100 so I'm not too worried about how many actual steps I take or get recorded. I get in well over 10K per day anyway. The rest is icing on the cake that I can't eat 😄

---

Stride length doesn't effect your step count anyway.

But do you care about calories burned estimate being good or bad accuracy?

Guess what does effect that then.

[SunsetRunner]

I realize stride lenth has no bearing no how many steps. I believe the reason for the differences is just sensitivity and that does not bother me. My primary tracking is not steps. And to answer your question regarding calories burned (energy output) I don't seriously track that either. I do not track calories in and I do not track calories out. I am mostly interested in know my mileage any given day. I walk to and from work as well as at lunch and then hit trails on the weekend and the routes vary from daya to day.

[TandemWalker]

---

@SunsetRunner wrote:

I realize stride lenth has no bearing no how many steps. I believe the reason for the differences is just sensitivity and that does not bother me. My primary tracking is not steps. And to answer your question regarding calories burned (energy output) I don't seriously track that either. I do not track calories in and I do not track calories out. I am mostly interested in know my mileage any given day. I walk to and from work as well as at lunch and then hit trails on the weekend and the routes vary from daya to day.

---

Reported distances for fitbit trackers is nothing more than an estimate derived by multiplying your step count by your documented stride lengths. It will NEVER be exact, simply because we cannot maintain the exact same stride length all day long. There is no point trying to fine tune your stride length any more than you already did; your stride length will vary throughout the day and day to day depending on your mood, time of day, weather, and the list goes on and on. 

    TW