Wrong steps and calories being calculated

[sknikoo]

Hello , 

I have recently purchased the Inspire HR. I have noticed that the green light at the back of the tracker ( Im guessing it is a heart rate monitoring sensor light) will still be on ( green ) and active even though I am not wearing the tracker. And when I am not wearing it, just holding it and moving it in a up and down motion, the tracker is calculating that as steps Im taking. So the number of steps and calories are both increasing. Is mine a defect one that i need to return or do they all work the same way? From my understanding the tracker should not be tracking and calculating anything if its not being used ( worn) .

Thank You

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity

[JohnnyRow]

If you are not wearing it, just let it sit still, not moving it up and down and you shouldn't get steps.

But your calories are always going to keep increasing from your BMR (basal metabolic rate) calorie burn, the calories you are always burning just by being alive.  These are always credited, even when not wearing the tracker.  They usually account for  more than half your daily calorie burn.

[sknikoo]

Thank you for your amazing smart mouth comment... 

Even when I do have it seating still, sometimes I need to move it ( example q) if its seating on my table and I am cleaning the table, I have to move it to another spot, and when i do, it will count it as steps ). There are many other examples for me needing to move it without wearing it . Example 2 ) when I need to recharge it . My point is, If I am paying for a fitness tracker with a heart beat detector.. I am expecting it to only count calories/ steps when it is detecting a pulse. I was asking is this the case with everyone or mine is a defected one. So please keep your smart mouth comments to your self Jhonny. 

Thank You

[JohnnyRow]

Your approach would prevent getting steps by putting tracker in pocket or pinned to clothing as many do when pushing baby carriage or shopping cart, or holding hand rail on treadmill.  It also would negate the whole point of the Inspire having a clip to hold it.

[sknikoo]

At this point I don't think you are even reading the post, and just responding with random facts. I did not mention anywhere in my writing that I have the device in my pocket or pinned to my clothing.

Thank You

[JohnnyRow]

You said you only want it to detect steps when it is detecting a pulse.  In your pocket or pinned to clothing or in the separately-sold clip would not detect a pulse.  So by your wish, also would not detect any steps.  And people do wear them that way to detect steps.

I know you were not wearing it that way.  But I was pointing out the effect you wish would have on many other people who would not like it.

Or to put it another way, your wish of not detecting steps without a pulse might be good for you, but it would be bad for some other people.

[sknikoo]

I was asking why mine does detect steps and CALORIES while not being used...... for  example last night around 2am i took it off and placed it on my night stand. This morning when i woke up around 7 and checked the tracker, it shows that 1000 Calories been burned .  So my issue is how does the tracker calculate 1000 calories by just being on my night stand in only 5 hours period. Now i do get we burn calories even when we sleep. Calories for just being alive. So yes i do get that. But 1000 calories for 5 hours of being sleep ( lets not forget i was not even wearing the tracker) is toooo much . Again Johnny if you read the topic, its WRONG STEPS/ CALORIES BEING CALCULATED. 

If the tracker, tracks 1000 calories in 5 hours of not being used ( assuming its calculating the minimum for just sleeping and such ) . that means in 24 hours in a day it will be showing 4800 calories have been burned while its not even being used. Im pretty sure that number is way off.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @sknikoo. Welcome to the Community Forums and thanks for letting me know about this thread. @JohnnyRow, thanks for stopping by.

@sknikoo, thanks for the information that you've provided and I'll help you out with your inquiries. First, about the green lights let me share that it's expected to have them blinking even if you're not wearing it or if the heart rate is off. However, you'll receive heart rate readings when you're wearing it on your wrist. But, in you're getting this data when you're not using it, please let me know so I can further investigate.

Now, with your other concern, as you may know the calories will be tracked based on your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and the exercise that you do. Please note that the BMR will be recorded at all time, regardless if you're wearing it or not as this is calculated by our system based on your demographics (age, gender, height and weight). If these details aren't correct, the BMR and the total amount of calories will also be incorrect. For this reason, I'd recommend to verify that everything is correct in your profile with the steps described in this help article.

Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting and its algorithm is designed to look for intensity and motion patterns that will indicate that you're walking or doing an activity. That being said, while your Inspire HR will track your steps when you're wearing it on your wrist, it might track extra steps when you're working on a desk, moving it of place or doing any other activity that involve arm movement and distance traveled, your device will try to give you credit for that.

I'll be around.

[sknikoo]

Hello @LizzyFitbit . That still does not answer my questions. Maybe I am not explaining my self clearly so i will try to be more clear. As mentioned before my fitbit device is showing I am burning 200-220 cals per hour while not even wearing it or sleeping. Now yesterday for example that I went for an hour power walk it calculated that in that hour i have burned 246 cals. 

How does that make any sense to burn 200 cals each hour being asleep and also 240cals each hour for being active and power walking. That number ( 200cals/hr of being asleep ) is clearly wrong .

Thank You

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @sknikoo. Thanks for getting back with more details about your inquiry. I'm sorry for my delayed response.

Just to confirm, have you verified that your personal information is correct in the Fitbit app? If not, please do so as this will affect the amount of calories (BMR) recorded when you're sleeping or resting.

In line with this, depending on your personal data 200 calories per hour while sleeping seems a higher than the average. To further investigate, could you please take a screenshot of the Fitbit app and attach it in your reply? I'll need you to go to the Fitbit app > tap on calories > today's calories > zoom in > tap on any record and take the screenshot from there.

I'll look forward to your reply.

[sknikoo]

Hello . Yes I have inserted my information on the app .( my weight , height
, and gender ). I am attaching a screen shot of tonight’s calories . 405
cals showing for 3 hrs of not wearing the device .

Thank you

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @sknikoo. Thanks for getting back and I'm sorry for the delay.

I also appreciate you for sharing more details about this situation, as well for verifying your personal information in the Fitbit app. It seems that the screenshot wasn't attached correctly, so please check this post for instructions to do that. This will help me to take a deeper look.

In the meantime, I'd recommend to give a try to the following steps so we can refresh how the information is being recorded in your account:

1. Remove your Fitbit device from the Bluetooth settings.
2. Reboot your phone and restart your Fitbit device.
3. Open the Fitbit app, tap your profile's icon > setup a device.
4. Choose your Inspire HR and follow the onscreen instructions.
5. Once that is done, set the notifications one more time to pair your Fitbit device via Bluetooth.

Keep me posted about the outcome.