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Original poster

Garmin and calorie used

39 replies

Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 18:45

I'm flumoxed, how do they calculate it

I've just started using a vivosmart, previously I'd been using the forerunner 210 in conjunction with a mio link hrm to log my cardio workouts.

Today I used both...expected the calorie burn to be different but not that different Confused

I ran/walked uphill for 80 minutes, my average heart rate was 83% of max.
Forerunner said a disappointing 435 cals:(
Vivo smart said a shocking 865 cals Shock

Now the calculator here:
www.shapesense.com/fitness-ex...alculator.aspx
(the one where you fill in VO2 max-I estimated my VO2 max from my heart rate after a 1 mile jog based on the calculator here www.brianmac.co.uk/vo2mile.htm)

gives me a calorie burn of 737 for the same workout so it seems as if the vivo smart is the more accurate of the two.

I know these calorie consumption figures are all only estimates but is it not weird that devices from the same manufacturer would give such different readings?

Does anyone know if the two devices use different formula to calculate calorie burn?
Furthermore is that formula any more sophisticated than the one I linked to which asks for weight, age, gender and VO2 max?

OP posts:
Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 23:46

surely there are others equally obsessed who will drop by shortly.

As for garmin calories, yeah it's a bit hard going Blush
apparently the best garmins use www.firstbeat.com/ for calorie metrics, but that doesnt seem to include the vivosmart and I cant figure out what it does use.

couple of other links
www.firstbeat.com/userData/firstbeat/download/white_paper_epoc.pdf
www.firstbeat.com/userData/firstbeat/download/white_paper_training_effect.pdf

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 23:27

complicatednosity Confused

maybe will just go and lie down until the morning . . .

Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 23:20

I always seem to turn it into the Suzanne and Mitchy show in which menopausal exercise addicts chat about gadgets and calories and shit Grin

am going to check out that link now

Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 23:11

well I guess no one else is much interested:(
Oh well...I found some info here www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/11/how-calorie-measurement-works-on-garmin.html

OP posts:
Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 21:05

ruined?
dont be daft:o
without your contribution I'd be all on me tod!

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 20:36

that's interesting, I assume I've been through it (we start late and finish early in my family) but no warm feelings yet

I've ruined your thread again

Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 19:37

I used to be always cold, until the onset of 'the change' now Im quite a lot warmer..I quite like it actually!

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 19:30

(not actually hypothermic but my internal thermostat is shit, I'm always cold, I wore two coats to run in today)

Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 19:29

I have an insanely slow heart rate and am hypothermic though

Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 19:28

that calculator comes up WAY higher than any comparable distance/pace Garmin has ever calculated for me

Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 19:28

I recon I use about 85 per mile running at 5mph, at which pace my heart rate is around 130bpm.

Thing is heart rate also goes up as you get hotter, so it doesnt only respond to exercise intensity

OP posts:
Original poster
Suzannewithaplan · 30/10/2014 19:24

yep, it's garmins version of activity tracker and smart watch, I do like it:o wanted something to pick up heart rate that didnt take up too much room on my wrist.

I suspect this calculator www.exrx.net/Calculators/WalkRunMETs.html is pretty accurate for running calorie consumption?

I get that it takes a certain amount of energy for a person of a certain weight to run a certain distance.

However HIIT type cardio apparently burns more cals than going at a constant speed....sooo running with fast and slow intervals should burn more than running at a constant speed over the same distance.

I'm wondering if the garmin calculation also takes into account changes in intensity during the workout, as opposed to just extrapolating from the average HR during the workout?

OP posts:
Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 19:05

is vivosmart the wrist thing? WANT

Mitchy1nge · 30/10/2014 19:04

no idea but am in for all the interesting and helpful responses

I've always had faith in my FR220 and HRM, it says I average about 79 calories per mile and I've actually based my life around those numbers so I hope they don't get any higher