Return to counting activity min. bouts of less than 10

Very disappointed in Fitbit stopping the recognition of exercise minutes of less than 10 min as per the CDC.  There have been many studies done that dispute this.  Here are just a few.
 
 
There's building evidence that short but frequent bouts of exercise can yield plenty of health benefits. Consider the following fitness findings:
  • A study published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2006 showed that short walks after dinner were more effective than long exercise sessions in reducing the amount of fat and triglyceride levels in the bloodstream after a hearty meal.
  • Research published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health showed that short bouts of exercise helped lower blood pressure as well as shave inches off the hips and waistline.
  • In a study published in Preventive Medicine in 2006, researchers found that multiple workout sessions as short as 6 minutes apiece could help sedentary adults reach fitness goals similar to those achieved by working out for 30 minutes at a time.
  • In a finding published in the journal Psychopharmacology, doctors found that short bursts of exercise could help reduce the craving for cigarettes and help people quit smoking.
"There is no question that short amounts of exercise can help you get fit, help you stay fit, and help you maintain your health," says personal fitness coach Susie Shina, author ofSixty Second Circuits. "You can stay fit in increments as short as 4 and 5 minutes at a time." ...
 
 
New research suggests that micro-bouts of activity—shorter than 10 minutes—can lower one’s risk of obesity as long as the intensity level is sufficiently high. Furthermore, those who focused on shorter bouts were much more likely to meet or exceed the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
 
The study, published in the American Journal of Health Promotion, found that even brief episodes of physical activity that exceed a certain level of intensity can be just as effective in helping people control their weight as does the current recommendation of 10 or more minutes at a time....
 
 
Micro-exercise or workouts of short duration are now gaining in popularity because the benefits have been proven by scientific studies. Micro-exercises of much less intensity also prove to be of benefit, climbing the stairs and vacuuming all count toward your daily physical activity score.
 
Ultra-short bouts of activity or micro-exercise where never considered to be beneficial until recently.  At least, that’s what exercise physiologists and public-health authorities have been telling us for years. They reported that exercise generally would follow the rules of mathematics. 4 ten minute workouts = 2 twenty minute workouts = 1 forty minute workout at least in terms of health benefits. Exercise lasting less than 10 minutes was not considered to be an exercise and was not considered to provide any health benefits.
 
The American College of Sports Medicine are now reconsidering the value of ultra-short bouts of activity called micro-exercise. A Canadian study done  at Queen’s University in Kingston, by Dr. McGuire, suggests that the gradual accumulation of “incidental physical activity”contribute to your cardiovascular fitness level.
 
Recognizing the role of these micro-bursts of activity, – sweeping the floor, taking the stairs – in bouts as short as one minute can also  encourage people who are currently sedentary and find the prospect of structured exercise daunting, says Dr.Ashlee McGuire....
 
/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/even-brief-bouts-of-exercise-can-prevent-weight-gain-researchers-show/

 

Brief periods of physical activity, provided they are intense enough, can prevent weight gain just as well as the 10-minute-plus intervals that are currently recommended, according to a study published this week in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

 

"What we learned is that for preventing weight gain, the intensity of the activity matters more than duration," says Dr. Jessie X. Fan, professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah and the study leader.

 

"Knowing that even short bouts of brisk activity can add up to a positive effect is an encouraging message for promoting better health," she said in a statement

 

But the study showed that higher intensity activity was associated with a lower risk of obesity even if conducted in bouts of less than 10 minutes. Taking the stairs instead of an elevator, parking at the far end of a parking lot or walking to the store or between errands can add up, the researchers found.

 
There is so much more information based on scientific evidence available showing just how beneficial smaller bouts of exercise than 10 min. are to our cardiovascular system and other areas of the body.  Please reconsider this recent change that you have made and bring back the recognition of exercising for less min. than 10.  Thank you!
 
Moderator Edit: Updated label
131 Comments
bonniegate
Recovery Runner

I totally agree.  I play singles tennis for 2 hours and before the change I had 75 to 80 active minutes.  Now I have NO activies minutes.  Tennis points do not last any where near 10 minutes so I get zero credit for a total body workout because of the stop and start play after each point.  GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS - PLEASE

 

WellnessWoman
First Steps

For individuals who exercise in urban areas, this change is truly short-sighted.  We must STOP at lights and crosswalks; we may be walking our dogs and have to stop to pick up behind our pets.  Active is exactly that.  If the Fitbit can tell the difference between "active" minutes and "inactive periods," then allow the USER to decide how to make meaning of the active minutes tracked.

Some of us may very well be working toward specific goals such as 10+minute bursts of activity.  Others may simply want to track total activty.  For individuals for whom five minutes of walking is exertion, who can get to 8 minutes before they reach their current limit, this change is a DISCOURAGEMENT of their effort.  Easy enough to type that some people may have to "work harder" to get to the 10-minute mark, but you as a Moderator and Fitbit as a company don't get to pass value judgements on your users' abilities or priorities.  In effect, your tone-deaf moderator comment and your sweeping change in terminology has decided that users with mobility impairments, individuas in urban environments, those who work out at home with interruptions--all of us will just have to let go of the 5 minutes, 8 minutes, 17 minutes (discounted to 10) that we put in to improve our OWN lives.

You would do well to listen to your users and acknowledge the wide range of customers you attract with your products.  You don't only need to cater to athletes or the able-bodied; you need to stay reachable and relevant to ALL of us.  We, after all, are the ones who purchase your products and keep your data collection relevant.  We may not all fit your need to prove how Fitbit serves CDC guidelines--but we all show a commitment to our health and wellbeing. 

That commitment needs to count--one minute at a time.

Opivali
Jogger
I understand how everyone feels about this change, but I am telling you it
is not going to be changed. Did you read the part where it brings things in
line with the CDC tracking standards?

Michael D. Kester (U.S.N. Ret.)
saphyress
Jogger

I undertand what you're saying about the 10 minute change, Michael, but I still feel they could easily allow us to track only the high activity minutes. Giving me my high and medium activity together is useless to me. There is no reason they cannot have an option in our profile to set as 'Runner' or 'Moderate User', 'Light User' or whatever designations work.

Seret42
Jogger

 

I wonder when the new feature was rolled out?  My user data for Active Minutes below is so NOT correct. I take TRX and work out HARD but since they are not in 10+ steady bursts FitBit no longer tracks it.

 

I agree with comments above regarding FITBIT is supposed to RECORD not ditcate. 

 

This reads like FitBit it in bed with the Health Insurance companies for Big Brothering user data.  http://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2014/06/19/wearable-tech-health-insurance/ 

 

Active Minutes.JPG

quetzal
Keeping Pace

Just counting the steps, rather than ALL the active minutes, make my Fitbit little more than an expensive pedometer. I know when I've exercised for more than ten consecutive minutes. It's the rest of the time, those stolen moments when I get up from my desk and squeeze in a burst of fitness, that I want to count and track.

 

No one would suggest that we only count calories from full meals or only large portions. Every bite counts. For me, every active minute counts, even when they don't happen to occur in blocks of 10 or greater.

 

Please allow those who wish to opt out of this arbitrary restriction.

Bwright4
Stepping Up
Interestingly enough, I currently have 6 minutes of active activity logged for all of today, which doesn't seem possible under the new 10 minute minimum rule. Did they change this back or is my Fitbit just defective?
pamela007
Jogger
Well said by all. Please bring back the old method of tracking active minutes. I purchased my Fitbit based on how it used to work. Would never have spent the money for this. How about a little encouragement and recognition Fitbit?
DesertGunR
Premium User
Runner

Your activity tracking is crap anyways! I do at least 60 minutes of cycling a day with an average pace of 5.5 miles and HR of 130+. Some days I get credit for 11 activity minutes other for 30 or slightly more. After your FW update most of those minutes are only tracked as fairly active. If cranking up hills for 60 minutes is only fairly active you guys must be the most sedentary pieces of crap on planet earth.

trainer
Premium User
Hill Runner

As stated by the OP, fitbit is NOT aligned with most up to date data on movement. Micro activity bursts are the most beneficial. The CDC data you cite is outdated and incorrect. Those of us who hold degrees in fitness and follow health issues closely know that micro bursts of activity throughout the day have been proven to be most effective. Forcing someone to be active for 10 minutes minimum is counter to the most current data. Rather than babbling platitudes at us and expecting us to just follow like sheep, I suggest fitbit actually do current (not outdated) research and allow actual users to dictate how the device should work. Since your update I receive almost NO active minutes! The update has not made it easier for me to see progress, it has effectively stalled my ability to use fitbit as an activity tracker. As a trainer I am on the go all day, every day and the current update no longer tracks my movements in a functional way.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

Derrick--But, Fitbit is NOT listening to us.  We are getting no response from you and many have posted convincing research and data to support us.  Not a good  sign from your company.  Thought you were customer focused, guess not.

bookthief
Recovery Runner

I work at a medical school and have had conversations with a few D.O.s who wear Fitbits who aren't impressed that Fitbit has raised the level of activity to 10 minutes. The other day I moved a lot, but in under 10 minute intervals, and I had nothing to show for it on my Fitbit. Literally 0 minutes when I went to bed despite 13000 steps and periodic bursts of activity. Instead of encouraging me to get my 30 in after work (which is not easy for me), I just said "eff it", whereas previously I would have been motivated to get in those last 10 minutes at home before bedtime. So this has actually discouraged and decreased my effort.That's what it's come to, Fitbit. Eff it. If you don't care about actual activity level, I guess I don't either. Now I just have an overly fancy pedometer.

cholly
Base Runner

How about this possibility:  I do 30-45 minutes of brisk walking daily, but I often need to stop for traffic during my walk.  Each time I stop, my Fitbit starts the active calculation all over again.  Therefore, I could possibly walk for 30-45 minutes with several 30 second stops for traffic and log in 0 active minutes.  This just does not make since to me; Fitbit made a major error with their active minutes formula.  In fact, their error seems to be causing people not to exercise as much.  I plan to reasearch other devices and purchase, and that new device will not be a Fitbit. 

Dunadan0000
First Steps

Good point. And Fitbit isn't even interpreting the literature properly. They have been unutterably ignorant on this one.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

Is anybody from fitbit even reading these any more???  They're total silence is beginning to speak volumes to me!

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

I noticed this morning around 12:30 that my FitBit app had recorded me as having 31 active minutes.  I hadn't done any exercise lasting more than 5 minutes during that time (I take a lap around my building every hour and that takes 5 minutes).  Has anyone else noticed this change or is it just a fluke?  Would LOVE if FitBit had returned to the old way of tracking active minutes, even if they did do it on the sly. 

quetzal
Keeping Pace

 I'm also doing research to find an alternative Tracker that will help me meet my fitness goals. I'd appreciate it if others post their research here. My FitBit One won't last forever and the next tracker I buy will NOT be one that places an arbitrary restriction on counting very active minutes.

Thanks, Everyone!

guitarwoman
Tempo Runner

I have noticed by following my active minutes accumulation carefully during the day that I am getting additions of less than 10 minutes in duration.  Don't know why.

 

I also noticed that the mobile app updated a few days ago for "bug fixes."

 

I also noticed that if I stop my treadmill walk for a short period of time I do not seem to lose any minutes.   Maybe the app allows short breaks in the 10 minute "rule."  

 

Confused, confused.

cholly
Base Runner

Hi,  Before I posted my first and only message, I checked with Fitbit about a short pause (15-30 seconds) occurring during a 45 minute exercise period, and the rep said you have to keep moving or the calculation starts all over again.  I believe I saved the email from Fitbit regarding this issue.  I would not have purchased a Fitbit device had I known beforehand about these changes.  My theory is pretty simple -- any exercise is better than no exercise.  Also, I wonder how often Fitbit has glitches with their server(s).  It seems that sometimes we get extra active minutes, and sometimes we lose steps and active minutes! 

elvina
Base Runner

Me too.  The sooner the old system comes back the better!

elvina
Base Runner

BRING BACK THE OLD SYSTEM NOW PLEASE.

travelkit
First Steps

I gather from Fitbit's comment that they are not interested in going back.

I got a Fitbit when I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue so I could monitor my activity as I learn to pace myself to manage the condition.

There is no way I can do 10 active minutes at a time. 

Very disappointed.

pattihabby
First Steps

I agree...i worked in the garden for 8 hrs yesterday, lifting, moving, digging, etc. and my FB One shows 7 minutes of activity...

I need the old way of active minutes showing...

Having the option to choose would be wonderful....

It's OUR FitBit and we should have the option !

Dunadan0000
First Steps
Taking away our choice is just plain wrong. FitBit even misinterpreted the literature in making its decision. There is no sensible reason for doing what Fitbit did. 


Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy® Note 4.
sferrell
Base Runner

I'm OK with the changes as long as all of the devices now use the same calculation. I was very disappointed in the way the zip and one varied in active minutes. I wore them both for the first day, and the one was very low active minutes from the zip.

 

So I"m OK with them now. It just motivates me to make sure my walks are at least 10 minutes!

 

Change is hard folks, but when your walk to get coffee is 4-6 miles, you get plenty of active minutes getting that coffee still!

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