Versa 4 is tracking steps while dancing

[jtguacci]

I'm new to Fitbit and I'm trying to figure something out as far as the dance exercise options goes. I also use MyFitnessPal for calorie tracking etc...

I dance (play beatsaber) and today was the first time I used the Versa 4 while doing it. I manually started a dance exercise, which it tracked fine. But in addition to tracking the dance, it also tracked my steps, which blew my daily goal out of the water.

I'm trying to understand, should my dance exercise be counting towards my steps goal? I understand from a logical standpoint you're "stepping" while dancing, but I feel like these are two different goals, with different outcomes on calories out.

tl;dr: should dancing count as steps, thus - blowing my daily steps goal out of the water and possibly creating inaccurate calorie data?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Triletics]

Calories are estimated from heart rate not steps.

Steps are detected by wrist motion and Fitbit never stops tracking it regardless the activity (you will get steps for cycling, swimming, rowing as well, just as an artefact of wrist movement). Whether you want to count it towards your goal it's up to you (you can do math on paper to know steps excluding those activities if you want) but Fitbit will certainly add those steps to your daily total.

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @jtguacci. Welcome to the Fitbit Community Forums. Thanks for the details provided in your post about the inconvenience with your data. I understand where your concern is coming from. Thank you so much for your help and the information provided @Triletics.

Please note Fitbit devices have a finely-tuned algorithm for step counting. 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, cooking, or performing other activities with arm movements, a device on your wrist may add some steps. When you’re doing activities that involve arm movement you often walk a few steps in-between stationary periods as well, so the device tries to give you credit for those steps. For most customers, the number of extra steps added by arm-based movement isn’t significant when compared to your overall stats. For more information, see How does my Fitbit device calculate my daily activity?

For more details, please see How accurate are Fitbit devices?

[Triletics]

@MarreFitbit I wouldn't call 2000+ steps for an hour of bumpy bike ride insignificant.

[jtguacci]

Thanks for the response, I know that on a basic level it will track arm movement as steps etc. I think more of my question is - am I double counting exercise?

To clarify, since I wasn't really walking, but dancing, shouldn't I just get exercise credit for the dance? Not the dance AND steps? 

Won't Fitbit think I'm being more active if it thinks I did 5x my goal and some exercise?

Should I cancel out the steps by logging a driving time?

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to understand and do this right! 

Thanks!

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

Hi @jtguacci!  I don't think you should cancel out the steps by logging driving.  That is unnecessary micromanagement.  I use the Dance shortcut regularly.  If you are moving your feet on the floor, it counts.  A side to side step is not the same length as a forward step.  That will affect your daily distance, but it still isn't worth the effort to micromanage it.  Many new users want to do it right, but what's right is what works for you.  Keep it simple.  These are estimates.

[jtguacci]

Hiya,

This makes sense - I do believe I'm trying to micromanage a bit for something that is overall, supposed to be an estimate. Thanks a ton for your help and answer!