Level 1

52 points

Workout calories expended accuracy

Hi,

After a few workouts with my trainer, it appears the Watch's calculation of calories expended is off by a factor of 2. I have verified my personal data entry (age, weight, height, sex entries as being correct. During a recent spin workout, my heart rate was appropriately elevated, yet the reported calories were 296. My trainer estimated it should have been more like 600-700, based on the amount of work I was doing. Similar spin participants reported calorie counts in the higher range with other measurement devices (Fitbit, Polar, etc.)

Anyone else seeing this kind of issue?

Apple Watch

Posted on May 3, 2015 11:22 AM

54 replies

Jun 8, 2015 1:52 PM in response to eduardfromchicago

I'm not being picky . . . just curious. I run outside, never on a treadmill. I've never heard of the wahoo app you mentioned.

Jun 8, 2015 8:27 PM in response to Texas Susan

Sorry for picky, I understand, Yes, on treadmill you can burn easy 1000cal/hour fast walking and random(or just) hill. As I said was verified with Tickr Run Wahoo band(wahoo fitness app). The problem is the WATCH !!! I mean the software for workout app. The good thing is we can't do anything...we need to wait for update and discuss here of course!

arsook

Level 1

8 points

Jun 8, 2015 9:08 PM in response to eduardfromchicago

I have tried everything, even pulling my weight down to half. Even then they were way to high. Pass the word to please go to https://www.apple.com/feedback/watch.html and report the problem.…

Jun 9, 2015 1:05 AM in response to eduardfromchicago

I'm sorry I don't think 4 mph is a fast walk. It's typically the rate at which I walk to the pub, which ironically is 2 miles away hence a one hour walk there and back. I've done it many times with various apps and get around 350 Kcal for the endeavour. I'm pretty certain about this because the 350 Kcal is about 2 pints which means I have no net gain for having a couple if you see what I mean.

I also cycle and use Strava which gives me a 1,000 calorie count for around 3 hours cycling at 15-17 mph, so I'd find it hard to accept that an hours walk could clock up 1,000.

Jun 9, 2015 4:34 AM in response to Winston Churchill

yea, you're right, I'm kidding with you. Have a nice life , walking fast!

Jun 9, 2015 5:16 PM in response to Kyleotis

I also agree. I bought the watch for my SoulCycle classes. I find it soo soo off. The last thing I'm going to do is put on a polar and figure it out. SoulCylcle is a crazy workout. The instructor who has a polar on burns 600+ calories where my apple watch is always around 200. It's impossible! Walking to spin class, on a fast walk where I was never anaerobic burned over 61C for 10 minutes..for a 45-50 minute vigorous spin class using upper and lower body plusweights to burn around 200 is totally frustrating!!!!

Jun 9, 2015 5:20 PM in response to JohnZonie

yes..Same exact issue. My calories are under 300, usually right around 200. It's really frustrating!!!! I bought this watch specifically for my spin classes which are some of the toughest in NYC. I lost 60 pounds....and I know I didn't do it burning 200 calories per 45 minute class. I'm really uset about it. and very disappointed in the results. I'm going to get a blue tooth polar and compare. My instructors are also tracking 600+ for the class..and I know I'm working my *** off.

Jun 9, 2015 7:30 PM in response to JohnZonie

The problem with that site is that it uses the 220-age formula for your max heart rate, which can be very inaccurate. According to the formula, it's 152 for me, when I can hit 178. Even after scaling down my rate to match the actual percentage, the calories burned number still seems very high.

mpamike

Level 1

0 points

Jun 9, 2015 7:46 PM in response to Ron Goodman1

I'm running the 1.01 update

The image is off the lifecycle screen. My watch reports 595 cal using 69:29 minutes... the garmin with heart monitor nails it

Jun 9, 2015 8:10 PM in response to JohnZonie

I have the same problem. The calories on the Workout app are way below what the gym machine or other apps indicate.

That's really frustrating!

Jun 10, 2015 7:39 AM in response to venanciovp

What I do not understand is why we are not HERE(or all over the internet) all owners watches to say something about it? The others are satisfied? Or only some watches are with this defects? What's going on? Why nobody from Apple says something?

OR maybe I'm wrong and I missed something!

Jun 10, 2015 8:09 AM in response to eduardfromchicago

It could be because 1) most of us bought the Apple Watch for reasons other than it showing us how many calories we burn during a workout, and/or 2) most of us realize that no fitness device computes number of calories burned with 100% accuracy. I really like my Apple Watch, supposed flaws and all.

Jun 10, 2015 8:16 AM in response to Texas Susan

True. Today, I got accurate (close to elliptical) reading, may be my watch learned something new or majority of exercise was at in aerobic zone. I did high intensity in between.

mpamike

Level 1

0 points

Jun 10, 2015 8:44 AM in response to JohnZonie

This is from this mornings workout, Watch OS 1.01. I even ran Indoor Cycle about 2 minutes longer getting 580 vs 716.

When i was using my Garmin vivofit with the heart monitor the cal burned was dead on every time.

Why is Apple always playing catchup with Garmin?

I expect more from Apple, I expect more for my $1,000.00 !

Jun 10, 2015 11:26 AM in response to mpamike

Watch shows Total 720 (Active 580 + Resting 140) which matches with Garmin. Does Garmin (and others) include Resting calories in their calculation ?

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Workout calories expended accuracy