Bootcamp & HIIT workouts but not burning enough ca...

SunsetRunner · ‎01-28-2015

Hello everyone, I got the latest Fitbit for Christmas from my awesome hubby. Before Fitbit SURGE I was calculating my calories burned with MyFitnessPal. I've been going to bootcamp and doing HIIT workouts, running, cycling, etc. I'm always very active. But, according to fitbit even my most intense workouts don't burn enough calories.

For example. MyFitness Pal said that with 50 minutes of Bootcamp I would burn 500 calories, but my fitbit tells me I only burned 243!! Help! It's so dissapointing. I'm very obsessed, so now I have to run and do someother cardio to burn between 500-600 calories a day. Still trying to lose 5 pounds, but not burning enough calories is depressing me. 😞

Any advice? IS the fitbit correct?

lynnmarie · ‎01-28-2015

Your fitbit won't be able to accurately calculate your number of calories burned unless you have the CHARGE which can be hooked up to a heart rate moniter. The fitbit can't know your actual level of exertion simply by how many steps you take. You will need to upgrade to a system that includes a heart rate monitor if you would like an accurate calorie burning count. Hope this helps.

PamelaHazelton · ‎01-28-2015

@lynnmarie wrote:
Your fitbit won't be able to accurately calculate your number of calories burned unless you have the CHARGE which can be hooked up to a heart rate moniter. The fitbit can't know your actual level of exertion simply by how many steps you take. You will need to upgrade to a system that includes a heart rate monitor if you would like an accurate calorie burning count. Hope this helps.

I think that's only sort of correct. I can walk the same distance on a treadmill than around the neighborhood and the treadmill will always result in more burned because of the concentrated walking. Yes, HR would be more accurate, but the Flex and other models can tell when you're "active" vs "very active" and whether your performing a more concentrated walk or run.

I'm an ecommerce and online business consultant who sits most of the day. Getting off my butt with a Fitbit Flex since 12/2014.

HopeGraceLove · ‎01-28-2015

@SunsetRunnerI don't know which is more accurate, but are you logging your workouts in addition to the data that your Fitbit automatically calculates? If not, that may be the cause of some of the discrepancy.

KristiJ · ‎01-29-2015

I've noticed the same thing as I regularly attend a HIIT class at our gym. I created an activity under Track Exercise--> Log called HIIT. And I searched on the internet to see what a general HIIT class burns and added that there. So after gym class, I go into Tracking, then log the exercise. The FitBit will add those 'Calories burned' to your 'Calories Burned' for the day.

SunsetRunner · ‎01-29-2015

I have the latest.. Fitbit Surge.

SunsetRunner · ‎01-29-2015

Thank you. I thought that my Fitbit Surge was accurately logging my workouts. If not, what's the use?

Fireresq7 · ‎10-30-2016

Hello Lily,

I recently bought a FitBit Charge 2 and I too have been doing HIIT Classes, running, and Spinning, for about 6 years. I also have been using a chest strap for the same amount of time. After a while you can figure what you'll burn during an intense workout. For example I always know 1 hour of HIIT will give me from 700-850 calories depending on intensity.

So when I got my fitbit I used it with my chest strap for the first week and noticed my final total "Calories Burned" was off. But it tracked my average HR and Peak pretty good. My brother also bought the same Fitbit and I noticed his numbers were very close to my chest strap, but not my fitbit. (we workout together)

I asked him what he did different and he said "nothing, but I do weigh more than you." And then it hit me. What if FitBit's numbers were off because it's not properly calculating my calories burned based on my BMR formula?

So i decided to do a test: for the next week I increased my profile's weight about 40lbs to match my brother's weight. (I weigh 165, he weighs 200lbs).

And to my surprise the FitBit was matching up to my Chest Strap. Now mind you, my chest strap is calculating my proper calories based on my height and Proper weight of 165lbs. And both are coming out very very close.

Many people might say by putting the wrong weight will affect the diet portion of the app, but I personally don't use that so it works for me. All I care about is total calories burned and daily HR and Sleep.

And in the end if it's close to the chest strap then it must be right because the chest strap is the most accurate. I will provide a few pics for you to see and compare. each pic has my Chest Strap results on Top and the Fitbit on bottom.