Separate BMR from Activity Calories Burned

[knelson2]

I will admit to being someone who quite recently learned what BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is and that we burn a certain amount of those calories just to live based on our gender, weight and height.  

Currently Fit Bit combines BMR and activity calories together.  While I think it's very valuable for people to be aware of BMR, it's also nice to see (and reward yourself) for activity based calories. 

It would be really nice to have a clear seperation of the two in a real-time tally on the Dashboard and even on the Fit Bit device.

Ex. Today:

BMR - 790

Activity - 560

Active Minutes - 200

Total - 1350

Frankly, throughout my day, all I care about is activity calories.  Right now as a user I have to do a calculation at end of day (total calories minus my avg BMR) to see how hard I worked that day, sweating my butt off, not just blinking and breathing.

Thanks! I'd love to hear whether or not i'm just missing something and this is available, or if it's something you'd consider for an enhancement. 

Kristi

Moderator Edit: Labels / Updated subject for clarity.

[AmadaAnzueto]

For the past week, my Fitbit has been counting the calories I burn without me wearing my Fitbit. Not interested in the calories I burn alive- interested to know the calories I burn with actual steps or working out. If an option would be available to turn on/off when the consumer wishes to have it- would be great! This new setting it’s  frustrating!!!! I will have to consider something else for near future.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @AmadaAnzueto! Great suggestion, thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request.  A lot of users are asking for this option, I hope we receive updates soon.

[Enbleu]

I agree!

Well, as I live and breathe...

[fbosak]

Haha I feel like such an idiot. I just got my first long-awaited fitbit and realized it lacks the most important feature to reach my fitness goals - what the hell, fitbit?!

Please let us know that you are working on this feature as we speak...? Otherwise I’m returning my watch and going for a fitness tracker that can actually be useful.

[zhaider]

the post is very old seems like fitbit will never come up with this
feature, i am also going to get other fitness tracker.

[aarsavage]

I figured out a work around, sync the Fitbit to Myfitnesspal app and use that instead.  Not ideal but it works. 

[Rashmig]

I want to know my active calories separate from passive calories.....please fitbit do something in this issue...as soon as possible..Its really needful for those who want to be fit through your device...please we want separate the active calories from passive calories in fitbit band...and app too..

[Bit-Twiddler]

'Active Minutes' are defined by internal measurements of calories burned and intensity of effort, calculating a metabolic equivalent (MET) threshhold.
And that's fine for those users that NEED that complexity in their exercise routine.
I'm a recovering runner/walker, and while I do a pretty brisk walk/jog, climbing dozens of floors, and often getting Active Minute 'awards', I DO NOT need that. I just need to know that I am active for those minutes ... ALL of those minutes ... at a glance ... on the same display as steps, floors and distance. Simple.

I am in constant panic that if I pause for traffic, water, bathroom, overheating, dozens of reasons, that I will LOSE up to 10 minutes or more of exercise 'credit' for EVERY pause when the timer resets. Yeah, I'm the only one that cares, BUT I do, and I want the most important device I use for fitness to recognize ALL activity. A MAJOR improvement and draw for many MORE sales, would be to give users OPTIONS for use of this feature.

This is REALLY easy to fix. Like the 'Normal' and 'Sensitive' options for sleep, give users TWO or more choices for Activity Recognition. Let them choose between the current algorithm for 'MET Minutes' and much simpler 'ALL Minutes'.

Basically 'ALL Minutes' would be any sustained movement, with or without a user selectable time limit.
The FitBit should work simply for the wearer, NOT some vague or complicated MET internal measure most of the public don't understand. Give users recognition for THEIR level of achievement, not be blocked by an arbitrary level most people can't reach. 

Minutes duration of exercise is the one therapy that most doctors recommend to patients for a variety of health conditions, like weight and hypertension, cardiovascular, depression, anxiety, cholesterol and arthritis. Making this more visible, understandable and easier to recognize ... and see achievement at a glance, would greatly expand the growing market for seniors and medical patients, to make FitBit part of their daily routine. Some insurance plans and Health Maintenance Organizations will also see lower costs by promoting FitBit to patients.
Sure, some patients will be able to hit MET intensity levels, but MANY MORE will not. Doctors rarely expect patients to perform at 3-MET levels. Why reduce their satisfaction with this excellent product and importance to their health? Read the angry complaints on the Community Forum about confusion on 'Active Minutes'.

The App is already set up to allow minute limits for several exercise types and that doesn't need to change. It would be nice IF that time setting could also alert the wearer that they have reached the set limit. If the doctor orders 10, 20, 30 minutes of physical activity a day, the time limit is set for the spec and if 'ALL Minutes' is the choice, buzz when that time goal is hit.

Only one last step to make this golden ... change the label displayed on the FitBit screen to 'MET Minutes' or 'ALL Minutes' for clarity.
This will open FitBit up to be more friendly to many more buyers.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Bit-Twiddler! Great suggestion, thanks for sharing your feedback. I've moved it into a similar request. You can also check this other suggestion, post a comment or click on the thumbs-up to show your support.

[AmadaAnzueto]

@YolandaFitbit- I am very disappointed, I don’t even wear my Fitbit anymore. I will start shopping around for an Apple Watch instead, I have read reviews and it tells you exactly how many active calories you burn and not live calories. 

[AlexanderP]

I have been asking for this for years! It makes Fitbit incomparable with apps like MyFitness pal who treat these measures separately.

Its the number one bugbear I have with fitbits and the only reason I won’t upgrade to a better version.

[Gary71]

I don't wear my watch at night and it just sits on the table.  I wake up in the morning starting with 0 steps and anywhere from 600---2000 calories burned already.  This is just ridiculous.  I called support and they gave me some crazy reply that made no sense.  I don't have time to read through this forum.  This watch is a piece of crap.

[Julosekg]

Hi!

i just bought my fitbit versa today and the fact that does not separate “active” and “passive” calories is a deal breaker for me.

Can anyone from fitbit tell me if you are working on this function? Given the date of the first comment on this threat it doesn’t seem to be important for fitbit to include this option.

If there is no estimate, I’m returning my watch as it does not work for what I’m looking for.

[KeaneEL]

Come on guys, let's get this function up please.

[yas05]

seriously. 

[Kate29]

I would love to see the BMR calories separated from total calories after a workout like the apple watch does. I feel this would help gage how many total calories I burn more accurately. 

[SunsetRunner]

Be able to set your fitbit to only track calories burned from activity, not calories burned from doing nothing. 

[LuciaFitbit]

Hi @SunsetRunner, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback regarding calories with us. This feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here. At the moment it is not planned to implement it. Nonetheless you can still add your vote.

[Skynadine]

THIS!!! How has it been 3 years since this post and it still is not a feature? 

Hello fitbit, please get it together! 

[GoodnessGrace]

It would be wonderful to disable the calories burned associated with the BMR on fitbit devices.

I have a Blaze, and a history of an eating disorder. I love my Blaze, and have for years, however on bad mental health days it can be triggering to see that "calories burned"' number and I personally notice I become fixated on it.

If this can be disabled on the watch display, I'm sure this would help a lot of people with similar histories.

Thanks for listening.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @GoodnessGrace, thanks for taking the time to share why you'd like to have an option to disable calories burned with BMR when using your Fitbit devices. This feature suggestion already exists, so I’ve moved your post here. This is not currently planned at this moment. You can keep adding your votes to this suggestion so we can keep tracking this request overtime. Learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs. I hope to see you around!

[BekahM]

Another naive purchaser who had no idea this wasn't already a thing on FitBits.

Most other brands display separate counts. It's not that hard and it's been years. Between this and the music controls not working on Android, my Garmin is seeming better and better than I thought.

[Dhanesh2392]

Please include feature to check calorie burnt without BMR.

It feels useless to see the burnt calories when you wake up in the morning doing nothing.

Apple watch is much better than this.

(Using Versa 2)

[Yellow218]

disagree, I like the full days calories. If a calorie count without BMR is added, please keep the current count as an option

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @Dhanesh2392, thanks for taking the time to share why you would like to see this option on the Fitbit app. This feature suggestion already exists, so I’ve moved your post here. While we don’t currently have plans to release this feature, we always appreciate the passion and creativity that comes out of this Community. Since we know this idea is important to many of you, we have left voting open to continue tracking interest and will post another update if anything changes. To learn more about how Fitbit decides which suggestions get developed, visit our FAQs.

I hope to see you around.