Fitbit question

[Raspb3rry]

I just did 30 mins on the exercise bike, average heart rate about 115-120 bpm, peak was 136 bpm. My bike tells me I burned 240 calories, however my Fitbit tells me I burned 126 calories. Which is right? I definitely feel like I've had a good work out, and am struggling to understand why there's such a big difference...can anyone help? Thanks!

Hmm. Are both the bike and the Fitbit aligned to your own stats - height, weight, etc?
And how much resistance did you have on the bike?
With that fairly low heart rate, and presuming your Fitbit is set up for you, I'd presume the Fitbit is right. Only exception would be if you were cycling slowly with loaaaads of resistance on the bike, which the Fitbit wouldn't know about; but in that scenario I'd expect your HR to be higher.

Thanks @Runningonempty84 , the fit bit is set up for me but the bike isn't. I had it mostly on high resistance but the bike is quite basic so even the highest resistance still feels fairly easy.

I just did a work out on pop sugar using the fit bit, it was one of the ones where they all use their fit bits too. They had all burned 300 cals or there abouts for the 1/2 hr work out, whereas I only burned 180. My max heart rate was 151bpm, average was 125bpm. I feel shattered and like I was really working hard, so I'm just a bit down hearted that I'm not burning as much as everyone else!! Do I just need to push myself even harder? Thank you, I'm new to this intense working out (I have been an avid walker for years but as I can't do that as much at the moment I'm trying to do more intense stuff at home) do I don't really understand how it all works. Thanks!

I wouldn’t worry about the exact numbers for how many calories you have burnt during exercise. It’s just an indication and it will be some where I’m the middle.

If you want to lose weight don’t eat / add the calories on and eat them.

Think about how the exercise makes you feel - perhaps energised and mood lifted afterwards? Enjoyment of the movement and sense of achievement as you can do more.

One thing to track for progress is resting heart rate. As you get fitter it will lower. And there is a bit on Fitbit which shows your cardio capacity for your age - this will improve too.

If you are already fitter than them you will burn less calories doing the same workout.

I go for a walk with my sister when she visits for a week. She is slim and superfit. I am not. We drive to the start; do a circular walk; then I drive home and she walks the extra mile that is all uphill. When she gets home, we compare fitbits. She has walked a mile further than me; has clocked up the equivalent of 20 flights of stairs and I have still burned more calories (according to fitbit) than her.

Despite this, at the end of a week of doing similar daily and both having eating more or less the same (she's had slightly more). I have gained weight (1lb) due to the extra alcohol (I'm guessing) and she has stayed the same.

I think the fitbit is excellent from comparing my own daily exercise and calorie expenditure on a day to day, week to week basis but absolutely pointless in comparing mine with anyone else's.