Active minutes

[Ddogskip]

So how is it I can go to the mall, walk around for15 minutes, run a couple of other errands and have 57 active minutes yesterday, then get on my spin cycle for 20 minutes and my elliptical for 10 minutes today and only have 10 active minutes. Makes no sense.

[QuizKidPatrick · Accepted solution]

Which Fitbit do you have? Is it strapped to your wrist? If you have stationary bars on your elliptical and bike that might explain the difference. Since you have stabilized your hand, the Fitbit isn't tracking the motion of your lower body as well.

[Dominique]

There are two thresholds for active minutes: time and intensity. It’s described in more details in this help article.

I would look at the 24-hour activity graph that displays calories burned in slices of 5 minutes. This is mine for yesterday:

Look for bars that are at least three times taller than the base level. In my case, I had 189 active minutes yesterday. I think it’s consistent with the number of green bars on my graph.

[emili]

the 10 minutes may not have been long enough for it to register as active minutes. as far as the mall... depending on the sale.. 🙂

[MarreFitbit]

Welcome to the Community Forums @Ddogskip! 

I agree with what @emili, @QuizKidPatrick, and @Dominique has shared and provided to you.

I was also wondering if you've changed something on your recent activity? The duration or maybe the intensity? The algorithms detect subtle differences in exertion that may explain why two seemingly identical activities result in different active minute totals. For example if you took a brisk walk along the same route two days in a row, differences in your speed and exertion levels (e.g. out of breath vs not out of breath, etc) will cause different active minute totals for the two activities. 

Because our trackers primarily track movement through the use of an accelerometer, they more accurately detect active minutes for step-based activities (brisk walking, running) than non-step based activities or activities that require more than steps (yoga, tennis). Trackers like the Versa, with a heart rate monitor detect active minutes most accurately, since heart rate data allows us to better estimate caloric burn and, in turn, exercise intensity. 

Also; note that if you're manually logging activities, your Versa uses a standard MET score and your (optional for custom activities) calorie burn to calculate active minutes. Said that, high calorie burn activities will give you active minutes. Therefore, since custom activities don't include a MET score associated, you'll only get active minutes for those activities if you also log a high calorie burn. 

If you are working out in a max, and not getting active minutes, as you know, the intensity is necessary to get the active minutes. If you are not getting them, I suggest you to restart your Versa. Then use it for a few days and let me know the results. 

Keep in mind that what is provided in the article: What are active minutes. This is the key to earn your minutes. 

I've moved your post to the Versa & Versa Lite board since there are more chances the get related replies here.

We'll be around if there's anything else we may do to assist you with.