MY Apple Watch is showing a much lower calorie burn, about half, compared to equipment at my gym and other apps such as Runkeeper. Why is this? I was expecting a difference but not that much. For example of the cross trainer I work out for 40 minutes with my heart beat over 170, the cross trainer says 55o calories, the Runkeeper app is similar and the watch was 240 calories.
Apple Watch, iOS 8.0.2
Two things to check, in addition to the other suggestions in this thread:
There were some reports early on with the first Watch that it didn't register very well against very dark or hairy skin. I don't know whether that's still an issue.
If you spend most of your day sitting at a desk, then 200 calories is low but not ludicrous. Excluding exercise, I usually get through about 4-500 between 7am and 11pm, but that includes walking to-from work (about 4 fifths of a mile each way)
I have the same problem. My Apple watch (series II) says I have burned 200 Calories today it's 5:00PM I think that would mean I have been sleeping for the past 5 hours. Something is wrong. Is there an easy way to calibrate the watch?
If calibrated and working correctly, in my scientific opinion, it should be the Watch that is the more accurate tool.
The Apple Watch calculates calories burned by tracking your actual heartrate and movement in relation to your personal data. And for movement, it uses GPS (when avail), to measure your personal stride and movement, not just an accelerometer from arm swing. Although if you are working in a gym (indoors) it is likely defaulting to accelerometer and your movement.
Make sure you choose the right workout to communicate to your Watch what you are doing. If you choose a "run or walk" Workout, and you are stopping to cross train, it won't get the best readings. Choose the Activity "other" and see if you get a better reading. This will focus on heart rate and movement, not distance, pace, stride etc.
Greetings Janebi1,
It seems you are concerned about the workout results after using your Apple Watch. The article below may help you calibrate your Apple Watch for better results:
Calibrating your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy - Apple Support
Get the best measurement
Your Apple Watch will estimate your measurements during workouts based on the information that you entered during setup, but you can further improve its accuracy using these tips:
- Wearing your Apple Watch regularly can improve the accuracy of the Activity and Workout apps.
- Choose the Workout that best matches what you’re doing. For example, if you're running on a treadmill, choose Indoor Run.
- For GPS accuracy when you walk, run, or cycle outdoors, select the appropriate Workout and bring your iPhone. This will also help calibrate the accelerometer in Apple Watch for times when you don’t have GPS, such as during treadmill workouts or when you're running outside without your phone.
- To get the most accurate heart rate measurement when you use Workout, make sure your Apple Watch fits snugly on top of your wrist. The heart rate sensor should stay close to your skin.
- You can also use another heart rate monitoring device, such as a chest strap. To pair an external heart rate monitor with your Apple Watch, tap the Settings app on the Home screen, then tap Bluetooth and select it under Health Devices. Learn more about the Apple Watch heart rate sensor, its accuracy, and its limitations.
I've included more resources which may help:
Use the Workout app on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Use Activity on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Thank you for contributing to Apple Support Communities.
Best,
Bobby_D
sorry but this dors not really help. It does not explain the massive difference in calorie burn usage. I have read all about calibrating etc before I used it. Anyone else found the same ?
A number of people have reported similar issues. One factor appears to be that the watch separates rating calories (i.e. what your body would have consumed had you done nothing) from active calories (burned because of the exercise), whereas most measurements on other devices combine the two. But that wouldn't explain either the big difference you saw, or the inconsistency that others are seeing.
In my case, the watch and Runkeeper seem to track quite well.
You could try resetting the watch - in some cases, that seems to make a difference.
The machines do indeed count total calories (metabolic calories + active calories). RunKeeper only displays active calories. The Watch shows both, separately as well as totaled. In my case, The Apple Watch is way, way off, whether RunKeeper and the machine somewhat agree (if I subtract the Watch's estimate of my resting calories from the machine's total calories).
I've had this problem while running outdoors with my iPhone as well, with the Watch estimating a 400 calorie burn for running 50 minutes at an 8:30/mi pace.
Apple Watch calorie burn
