Change in # of steps for 5 days. Was 10k+ Now 5k to 8k. Help

[TikiTiyo]

• Change in # of steps for 5kdays. Was 10k+ Now 4k to 5k to 8k. Help!   
• I received the Versa for Christmas.
• Suggestions?

[DavideFitbit · Accepted solution]

Hello @TikiTiyo, welcome to the Community forums. 

Thank you for sharing all this information about what you've been experiencing with your Versa watch. 

Before considering other options, let me know if you're experiencing this behavior with a specific activity as well, or if you're seeing this during the day with regular use of the watch.  

In the meantime, you can find more useful information about the accuracy of Fitbit devices here. Make sure that you've tried to complete the restart procedure described in this article as well. 

Please keep me posted. 

[TikiTiyo]

The concern I had regarding steps has basically corrected itself.  However, a quick question.....

○  When I am Costco shopping and pushing a cart. . .  I am questioning my # of steps.

Does FIBIT count steps using not just footsteps-however arm movements?  I noticed this Christmas 🎄 shopping as well. . .same scenario no arm movement-just steps.  I was really disappointed with the low number.  Trust me-I want shopping several times and it made me sad because I actually had a good workout.  Perhaps a addition of shopping could be added, LOL.  Some of us are shopping addicts!

Respectfully,

Tiyo

-------------------------------------

I watch my steps religiously! However, when I go shopping and have to use a cart, zero steps are counted.  This is so depressing!  Plz tell me what I can do.

Plz tell me how this can be fixed on your end.

[JohnnyRow]

When your wrist is held steady, the device on your wrist cannot see any motion.  It infers steps from the swing of your arms in walking.  The same thing happens when holding hand rail on treadmill.

You can get better step count by putting tracker in a pocket.  But that loses heart rate data for that time.  Or leave it on your wrist and know calories are based on heart rate so they will be correct, even if steps are not.

Or you can try to push cart with one hand.

[DavideFitbit]

@TikiTiyo thank you for the update, it's good to know that problem you mentioned was resolved. 

Regarding the number of steps while shopping, as @JohnnyRow mentioned earlier, the device on your wrist cannot see any motion when your wrist is held steady. Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting and the algorithm is designed to look for intensity and motion patterns that are most indicative of people walking and running. 

When working at a desk, shopping, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps as well. During these activities mentioned earlier, you often walk a few steps in-between stationary periods, so the device tries to give you credit for those steps, but keep in mind the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. 

As it was mentioned earlier, you can also try to push the cart with one hand to check if this works for you, to get some extra steps recorded. 

I'll be around if you have further questions.