Ok what the heck. Did updates screw up activity tracking and calorie burn or what?

[Ghost31]

I haven’t had my Apple Watch since sometime in September because I sold it to wait for my backorder to come so I’ve just been using my old Fitbit ever since. The trusty old reliable one trick pony.


Finally got my series 4 a couple days ago and wowwww. I’m burning on sedentary days almost what I used to burn on active days. I’m just sitting here sick in bed and I’ve already burned 2100 calories by 5pm. Normally I wouldn’t be at this point until like 9pm. My resting calorie burn is off by about 300-400 calories. And I should know. I’ve had the Apple Watch since the beginning and have always obsessing looked at my daily active and total calories.


I just now scrolled up and compared my day to another day just like this one activity wise and the entire day my total burned calories was something like 2486. If my burn is following a predictable trajectory, my burn by the end of the day will probably be 2800-2900 calories. Just like yesterday.


Is there something going on that screwed all this up?

 

[roncito]

I haven’t had my Apple Watch since sometime in September because I sold it to wait for my backorder to come so I’ve just been using my old Fitbit ever since. The trusty old reliable one trick pony.


Finally got my series 4 a couple days ago and wowwww. I’m burning on sedentary days almost what I used to burn on active days. I’m just sitting here sick in bed and I’ve already burned 2100 calories by 5pm. Normally I wouldn’t be at this point until like 9pm. My resting calorie burn is off by about 300-400 calories. And I should know. I’ve had the Apple Watch since the beginning and have always obsessing looked at my daily active and total calories.


I just now scrolled up and compared my day to another day just like this one activity wise and the entire day my total burned calories was something like 2486. If my burn is following a predictable trajectory, my burn by the end of the day will probably be 2800-2900 calories. Just like yesterday.


Is there something going on that screwed all this up?

I’m sure that’s your total calories. What’s your active calories? You still burn calories just for living, breathing etc.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I haven’t had my Apple Watch since sometime in September because I sold it to wait for my backorder to come so I’ve just been using my old Fitbit ever since. The trusty old reliable one trick pony.


Finally got my series 4 a couple days ago and wowwww. I’m burning on sedentary days almost what I used to burn on active days. I’m just sitting here sick in bed and I’ve already burned 2100 calories by 5pm. Normally I wouldn’t be at this point until like 9pm. My resting calorie burn is off by about 300-400 calories. And I should know. I’ve had the Apple Watch since the beginning and have always obsessing looked at my daily active and total calories.


I just now scrolled up and compared my day to another day just like this one activity wise and the entire day my total burned calories was something like 2486. If my burn is following a predictable trajectory, my burn by the end of the day will probably be 2800-2900 calories. Just like yesterday.


Is there something going on that screwed all this up?

Update tp 5.0.1

 

[Ghost31]

Update tp 5.0.1

Already updated

 

[Ghost31]

I’m sure that’s your total calories. What’s your active calories? You still burn calories just for living, breathing etc.

Oh I know. I used to be a personal trainer. I know all about basal metabolic rates and active calories and such. And like in my original post I’m saying with the watch os 5 update I’m being given hundreds more calories for the same things. It just doesn’t make any sense

 

[roncito]

Oh I know. I used to be a personal trainer. I know all about basal metabolic rates and active calories and such. And like in my original post I’m saying with the watch os 5 update I’m being given hundreds more calories for the same things. It just doesn’t make any sense

Okay good. So look at the move data in the activity app. As you can see mine says 719 active and 2717 total calories. What do yours show?

 

[Ghost31]

Okay good. So look at the move data in the activity app. As you can see mine says 719 active and 2717 total calories. What do yours show?

Mine for a totally sedentary lazy ass day says I’ve already burned 2500 total calories and I still have 3 hours left in the day. Figuring by the end I’ll have burnt 2800 for doing absolutely nothing. For me and my usage, that is about 300-350 above usual

There are threads that have addressed this a bit Apparently
Higher calorie burn when running in WatchOS 5


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=13661&share_tid=2131858&url=https://forums.macrumors.com/index.php?threads/Higher-calorie-burn-when-running-in-WatchOS-5.2131858/&share_type=t

 

[tl01]

I had the same issue on my 3 and 4 until I recalibrated them by walking with the watch for 20 mins again. There is some place in the watch app where you can reset to redo the calibration.

 

[Ghost31]

I had the same issue on my 3 and 4 until I recalibrated them by walking with the watch for 20 mins again. There is some place in the watch app where you can reset to redo the calibration.

I’ll give that a try. Does just any walking do it or do you have to go outside for a walk and log it as a workout?

 

[tromboneaholic]

There are threads that have addressed this a bit Apparently
Higher calorie burn when running in WatchOS 5


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=13661&share_tid=2131858&url=https://forums.macrumors.com/index.php?threads/Higher-calorie-burn-when-running-in-WatchOS-5.2131858/&share_type=t

That was occurring under 5.0, which I why I suggested updating to 5.0.1.

Since you already updated your Watch after receiving it, hopefully calibrating it solves the issue.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Even after updating my watch seems too generous with it’s achievements. Rings closing early for sure. You would think Apple could at least keep this straight. Oh well, I just use this for comparison from day to day but is different than my series 2 and 3 watches.

 

[roncito]

Mine for a totally sedentary lazy ass day says I’ve already burned 2500 total calories and I still have 3 hours left in the day. Figuring by the end I’ll have burnt 2800 for doing absolutely nothing. For me and my usage, that is about 300-350 above usual

There are threads that have addressed this a bit Apparently
Higher calorie burn when running in WatchOS 5


https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=13661&share_tid=2131858&url=https://forums.macrumors.com/index.php?threads/Higher-calorie-burn-when-running-in-WatchOS-5.2131858/&share_type=t

Just upload the screenshot to see the difference

 

[Ghost31]

Just from yesterday as a comparison between my Fitbit and my Apple Watch. Check the calorie burn. Wowwww

 

[roncito]

Just from yesterday as a comparison between my Fitbit and my Apple Watch. Check the calorie burn. Wowwww

I guess it really depends on your body build. Height age weight. I’m sure you know that.

 

[Ghost31]

I guess it really depends on your body build. Height age weight. I’m sure you know that.

Well yeah but my body info is in both Fitbit and apple and I’m getting drastically different numbers. I’m getting drastically different numbers even from apple now in watch os 5 than I did in os 4! So I think there’s definitely something going on here. Hopefully it’ll be addressed in 5.1

 

[CaleM3]

Well yeah but my body info is in both Fitbit and apple and I’m getting drastically different numbers. I’m getting drastically different numbers even from apple now in watch os 5 than I did in os 4! So I think there’s definitely something going on here. Hopefully it’ll be addressed in 5.1

I agree with you. After updating to both 5.0 and 5.0.1, my calories have been off. Everything was working find before Watch OS 5. I'm getting anywhere from 200-400 move calories extra when "Not Exercising" in a day. I'm a Fidgeter/Have ADHD, so I'm moving around all the time, but I'm not sure if that is the cause.

As an example, my Move goal was always set to about 620 or so and that would usually require about 8000-9000 steps at a minimum. Now, if I hit 9000 steps, I'm at about 800 or 900 Move. This is not even working out, just a casual walk here and there. I played basketball last week and I only played one game and my move calories were through the roof and I had like 10K steps (Move was like 1100). I think something is still screwed up with the algorithm.

 

[ttforever]

Yeah mines the same, if I go back to my original watch thats still on os4 and do mostly the same across a day its about 50% less calories than using my series 4 watch with os5 - I've deleted the calibration data and started the watch as new and no difference

 

[MxChino]

Agree the calories are way off. Starting a workout seems fine, but day to day step calories are way too high.

I walk about 10,000 steps a day at work. I used to leave with around 250-270 active calories. Now I’m close to 500.

 

[rgyiv]

Agree the calories are way off. Starting a workout seems fine, but day to day step calories are way too high.

I walk about 10,000 steps a day at work. I used to leave with around 250-270 active calories. Now I’m close to 500.

10,000 steps used to only net you 250? Just picking a random day for me back in August where I had a walking workout, I had 6,000 steps and 435, which sounds about right for what I used to get...now I get 435 without doing anything. (I'm 6'4" 170). Mine have definitely inflated, but yours sounds like it is about where it should be....unless mine has been screwed up for the entirety of owning the watch ha.

 

[MxChino]

Well my garmin tracker and Apple Watch used to be within 25 calories of each other so I always considered that close to accurate.

 

[<3raining]

I workout every day for 50-60min.I use 2 devices to track my progress. Both show very similar results (20-25 difference), so active calories are close to accurate on my AW.
Here is example on Friday it showed 836 active calories ( including 502 from active gym workout) , total 2475 cal ( I have no idea were this number comes from). that day.
Saturday 877 active total ( including 470 gym workout) , total that day 2545.
Sonday 891 active total ( including gym 536), total during day 2515
I check only active calories and those are close to accurate on my watch.

 

[rgyiv]

Well my garmin tracker and Apple Watch used to be within 25 calories of each other so I always considered that close to accurate.

Oh wow! Yeah, I don't have anything to base my numbers off of....so maybe mine have always been inflated, and now even more so....eesh

 

[Newtons Apple]

A lot of people take these health figures seriously. After 5 and 5.1 I am breaking records daily. My move calories are about 25% more "generous" when comparing to last month.

It was WAY over with 5 and 5.1 helped decrease it some but still way higher than it should be.

 

[ggibson913]

I haven't been stressed or exercising at all and have been filling my rings on my Series 3 since 5.01 update by like 1 PM. Something is definitely going on where the watch thinks I am exercising when I am not. I haven't tried recalibrating my watch but if that doesn't work off to Apple I go.
[doublepost=1539634837][/doublepost]

I haven’t had my Apple Watch since sometime in September because I sold it to wait for my backorder to come so I’ve just been using my old Fitbit ever since. The trusty old reliable one trick pony.


Finally got my series 4 a couple days ago and wowwww. I’m burning on sedentary days almost what I used to burn on active days. I’m just sitting here sick in bed and I’ve already burned 2100 calories by 5pm. Normally I wouldn’t be at this point until like 9pm. My resting calorie burn is off by about 300-400 calories. And I should know. I’ve had the Apple Watch since the beginning and have always obsessing looked at my daily active and total calories.


I just now scrolled up and compared my day to another day just like this one activity wise and the entire day my total burned calories was something like 2486. If my burn is following a predictable trajectory, my burn by the end of the day will probably be 2800-2900 calories. Just like yesterday.


Is there something going on that screwed all this up?

You aren't the only one I have noticed that the rings fill like mad crazy without me doing anything.

 

[Ghost31]

Wow guys I’m a calorie burning machine. I was sick again yesterday and only got 3,000 steps. Burned 3200 calories! Must have been that trip to the bathroom