Hey everyone. I checked my swimming stats to see how many laps I’ve done since I lost count. The laps, minutes, and time are correct, but I’m confused about the calories tracked. How reliable are Fitbits for this
I burn 72 calories just getting ready to swim.
Ripley said:
I burn 72 calories just getting ready to swim.
Those swimsuits are super tight.
Nope. Those calorie trackers aren’t accurate at all. Everyone is different, and calorie burn depends on many factors that these apps can’t track.
Wearable devices are often inaccurate for calorie tracking, especially for swimming.
Ridge said:
Wearable devices are often inaccurate for calorie tracking, especially for swimming.
Do you have any general advice on calorie numbers to keep in mind? I’m looking to stay motivated. Thanks.
@Firth
You might want to set goals that don’t focus on calories. Tracking those can be tricky. Try focusing on time or distance instead.
Pax said:
@Firth
You might want to set goals that don’t focus on calories. Tracking those can be tricky. Try focusing on time or distance instead.
I think they want to track calorie deficits.
@Dru
Exactly. Depending on their goals, tracking intake could be far more accurate than tracking calories burned.
Pax said:
@Firth
You might want to set goals that don’t focus on calories. Tracking those can be tricky. Try focusing on time or distance instead.
I understand that, but I deal with anxiety and depression that downplays my efforts, so I like to have solid evidence that what I’m doing matters.
@Firth
The point is you might keep feeling anxious chasing after misleading numbers.
@Firth
A good estimate is around 8-10 calories per minute. It’s a conservative figure.
Dez said:
@Firth
A good estimate is around 8-10 calories per minute. It’s a conservative figure.
That’s really helpful. It makes me feel like each minute counts. I like that. Thanks!
@Firth
Another metric to consider is how you feel after exercising. Most people feel more energetic and better when they stay active. Focus on how swimming makes you feel.
@Firth
You need to look for metrics that truly reflect your situation. Calorie estimates are usually unreliable. If you want to gauge intensity, check your heart rate. For performance, focus on time for distance. For efficiency, measure maximum distance.
Swimming is one of those sports where calorie estimates just do not work well because everyone has different techniques. An Olympic swimmer may swim relatively easily at your pace, while a powerlifter without swimming experience could burn over 1000 calories per hour trying to match you.
Check your weight, age, and height settings in your phone’s health settings.
Jasper said:
Check your weight, age, and height settings in your phone’s health settings.
All that info is correct. I use the Aria scale, so my weight is accurate, and my height and age are set. It’s strange. Thanks for the suggestion though!
@Firth
It calculates calories using heart rate and time. What heart rate monitor are you using for swimming?
Ashby said:
@Firth
It calculates calories using heart rate and time. What heart rate monitor are you using for swimming?
Fitbit Inspire HR.