When it comes to tracking calories burned, Fitbit uses a variety of sensors and algorithms to estimate your daily energy expenditure. One of the key metrics it calculates is your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is the amount of calories your body needs to perform basic functions while at rest. Your BMR accounts for the calories burned to maintain vital organs, regulate body temperature, facilitate cell production, and support other essential bodily functions.
Fitbit calculates your BMR based on the information you provide in your profile settings, such as age, height, weight, and gender. By knowing these details, Fitbit can estimate how many calories your body typically burns just to keep you alive. It’s important to note that this BMR estimation is just an approximation and may not be 100% accurate for everyone.
So, even when you’re not wearing your Fitbit, it continues to estimate your BMR calories burned based on your profile settings. This means that even if you’re not actively tracking your steps or exercise, Fitbit still takes into account the calories you would burn just by being alive. It’s a way for Fitbit to provide a more comprehensive picture of your overall energy expenditure.
However, it’s worth mentioning that without wearing your Fitbit, it cannot accurately track your non-BMR calories burned, such as those from physical activity or exercise. These additional calories burned would typically be tracked by the device through its motion sensors and heart rate monitoring. So, while Fitbit can estimate your BMR calories without wearing it, it cannot provide a complete picture of your total daily calories burned without the device on your wrist.
In terms of personal experiences, I have often noticed that my Fitbit still shows calories burned even when I haven’t been wearing it. This is because it continues to estimate my BMR calories throughout the day, regardless of whether the device is on my wrist or not. While it’s not as accurate as when I have the Fitbit actively tracking my movements, it still gives me a rough idea of the minimum number of calories my body is burning.
Fitbit estimates your BMR calories burned based on your profile settings, even when you’re not wearing the device. This allows it to provide a baseline estimation of the calories your body needs just to function at rest. However, it’s important to wear your Fitbit if you want a more accurate measurement of your total daily calories burned, including those from physical activity and exercise.