Elliptical Calories vs Fitbit Charge HR

[tdgross]

I have seen several posts pertaining to fitbit calories vs Elliptical, but most think their fitbit is under estimating their calories burned. I seem to have the exact opposite problem, and it isn't really close. This morning I was on the elliptical for 20 minutes. I entered my age and weight to get going. I kept a hold of the heart rate sensors the entire time. Upon completion, the elliptical said I had burned 202 calories. Later in the morning I took a look at my fitbit app. It correctly identified the elliptical activity and said I did it for 20:36 (almost exactly spot on). The calories the fitbit says I burned though were 341. 202 vs 341, this is not even close. This is a 70% difference in reported calories burned. Which is correct? Why is one more correct than the other? Thanks in advance.

[MariamV]

@tdgross thanks for posting in the Community! I'll be happy to help here.  As a friendly reminder, please note that you're comparing two different types of technology and different algorithms. Your Charge HR estimates your calories burned based on the physical data you entered when you set up your account: gender, age, height, and weight. Therefore, please make sure this info has been entered correctly in your Personal Info settings. Also a restart would be a good idea:

1. Plug your charging cable into the USB port on your computer or any UL-certified USB wall charger.
2. Insert the other end into the port on the back of your Fitbit Charge or Fitbit Charge HR. Your tracker will begin charging.
3. Press and hold the button for 10 to 12 seconds until you see the Fitbit icon and a version number (e.g. "V122").
4. Let go of the button.
5. Unplug your tracker from the charging cable.

Sounds like your tracker is doing a great job auto detecting your workouts. It makes me happy to hear that!  Keep an eye to your tracker's behavior after the restart and post back with the outcome. 

I'd dare to say that your Fitbit provides a more accurate reading than the elliptical machine, if you ask me.   Happy stepping! 

[tdgross]

Thank you for the reply. I have restarted the fitbit. This morning while on the elliptical for 20 minutes, the machine said 202 calories burned, and my fitbit exercise summary says 363 calories burned. I'd like to think the fitbit is more correct, but my concern is that most people complain that the fitbit doesn't say that its tracked as many calories as the machine states. I will continue to monitor it over time, but am just afraid that this would suggest I can eat an extra 150 calories per day. That adds up to quite a few extra calories over time.

[MariamV]

@tdgross I see! Thanks for getting back to me and for troubleshooting this with me. Well, in that case you could start a Food Plan to help you maintain your calorie intake in place. Check out this post on how to create or edit your current Food Plan (as with any fitness program, speak with your doctor before starting your new plan.) Also, keep in mind that your tracker uses a 3-axis accelerometer to understand your motions. An accelerometer is a device that turns movement (acceleration) into digital measurements (data) when attached to the body. By analyzing acceleration data, Fitbit trackers provide detailed information about frequency, duration, intensity, and patterns of movement to determine your steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, and sleep quality. The 3-axis implementation allows the accelerometer to measure your motion in any way that you move, making its activity measurements more precise than older, single-axis pedometers. Having said this, it could be that because your arm motions while on the elliptical involve more arm movement, it consequently thinks you're doing more steps and more calories but this shouldn't be a big discrepancy. 

However, I'd suggest specifying whether you wear the tracker on your dominant or non-dominant wrist: the dominant wrist setting decreases the sensitivity of step counting and should reduce any over counting of steps when your body is not moving. Hope this helps, keep me posted! 

[Janice399]

I was pondering  the same thing eliptical versus fitbit calories burn.  Your fitbit can tell you are at peak, cardio or fat burn.  I go with what the fitbit reports and never burn the calories the eliptical claims. 

You must be working harder on the eliptical then me.  My eliptical claims 400 calories and my fitbit says 180 calories because heart never left fat burn 94 bpm. 

[Dnette]

Hello. I have had my Fitbit for several months now. I do the Elliptical machine two times a week. I stay on it till I get about 503 or so, that takes me about 63 mins. I Fitbit has every time said I have from 577 to 614 calories burned. Always saying I have from 80 to 100 calories more. 😆🧐🧐now I don’t care a lot, since they are both over 500. However, I’d love to know which is more correct or do I avg the score? Thank you 🌹