The Accuracy Of Calories Burned In Fitness Activity Monitors

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People like to use fitness tracking information in a number of ways. The number of calories burned as shown by a fitness tracker is commonly used to reach a personal goal for weight loss or other training. The information can also be used to assess how hard a person is working in comparison to some other activity. However, many people wonder how accurate the calories calculation of fitness activity monitor is.

The Calorie burned:  A Unit of Measurement

Calories burnedA calorie is a unit of energy. The calories that are talked about in terms of human diets and exercise are actually kilocalories, but they are usually simply called “calories.” Simply staying alive burns a certain number of calories because bodily functions such as keeping the heart pumping require energy. Methods of estimating the number of calories required by a person doing absolutely nothing include the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR).

Calories are burned above and beyond the BMR and RMR when a person performs activities. How strenuous the activities determine how many calories are burned. However, fitness levels determine how strenuous a person perceives an activity to be, which may or may not be a good gauge of how many calories are being burned.

How Fitness Trackers Calculate Calories

Fitness trackers attempt to calculate the calories being burned by using a set of variables, some that are pre-set and some that are input by the user. Factors that affect the number of calories burned include age, gender, weight, body composition, and exercise intensity. Heart rate is also a key piece of information when it comes to these calculations.

LifeTrak C200/C400 calories burnedSome of these factors are easy for a person to provide, such as their age, gender, and weight. However, things like body composition, or the percentage of fat that a person has, are not things that are widely known. Exercise intensity is also difficult to pin down because different people perceive activities differently.

When a factor is not easy to figure out or the device is not designed to measure it, manufacturers set their activity trackers to assume a number. This number is based on scientific research, but it is typically an average or the most common number. This means that while it will be accurate for many people, there are those for whom the number will be wrong.

The less the activity tracker has to assume, the better. This means that the more information that is input into the system that is specific to the user, the more accurate the readout will be. As general classes, activity trackers that measure heart rate are more accurate than those on gym machines, which in turn are more accurate than apps or online calculators.

While the basic information that goes into calculating calories burned is usually the same, some fitness trackers arrive at those measurements by estimating other information. Pedometer-based fitness trackers use a combination of distance covered and steps are taken to estimate the speed, and therefore the exercise intensity, when calculating calories. The information on speed is added to the information that the user inputs, such as weight and age, in order to reach the estimated calories burned.

Fitbit One Activity tracker

Fitbit One activity sleep tracker on saleThe Fitbit One is a high-end fitness tracker that also functions to monitor sleep cycles. It is essentially a smart pedometer that measures activity by counting the number of steps users take. Since some activities are not easily estimated by this type of technology, the associated website where users can input their other fitness efforts is essential to its success.

The Fitbit One must be worn on the body in order to track activities, but it can be worn in a number of different ways. The flash drive-sized tracker has a clip on the back for hooking onto a belt, waistband, bra or other clothing. It can also be placed in some pockets. A wristband is included for wearing the Fitbit One during sleep.

The special accelerometer on the Fitbit One measures movement patterns. In combination with the number of steps taken and the speed of these steps, the device calculates calories. An included altimeter tracks when the user is climbing stairs, which increases the number of calories burned per step. The Fitbit One is 95-97 percent accurate in calculating the number of steps a user takes. Calories accuracy is not listed for the device.

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Lifetrak C200

Buy Lifetrak c200The Lifetrak Core C200 is a wearable activity tracking device that resembles a watch. It actually functions as a watch as well so that users don’t have to wear both the activity tracker and a watch. The Lifetrak C200 measures steps taken, distance covered, calories burned and heart rate.

The Core C200 requires no setup, which is a bonus for some users. However, this means that the device is assuming certain values, which can mean that it is less accurate than a device that requires personalized information about the user. However, the fact that it measures heart rate is also important. In most cases, devices that measure heart rate are more accurate than those that rely on other figures.

Calories accuracy for the LifeTrak C200 is not a listed spec. However, given that it measures exercise intensity by using steps and distance, which is an individual measurement, in addition to exercise or activity the Lifetrak series activity trackers allow for a more comprehensive calorie count by factoring in calories burned simply through living, this is a great tool to compare against the daily calorie intake. The device will also provide a more accurate calorie count by calculating the heart rate reading whenever it is taken.

By adding the heart rate data, it can probably be assumed to be reasonably accurate for the average person.  Remember to get the heart rate throughout the day and more frequently during a workout in order to have more accurate Calorie counting.  People who are considerably over or under the “assumed” weight, body composition or age may find it less accurate.  Also note that your body is always burning calories, even when sleeping or not in motion, the Lifetrak all day calories counter accounts for these calories burned, so don’t be surprised to see calories burned number on the device even you are not wearing the device.

See Best price online and on sale now, purchase Lifetrak Core C200 here

Lifetrak C400

Lifetrak C400The Lifetrak C400 actually comprises two models, both of which are expected to available for purchase in June 2013. The Lifetrak C400 Fit and Lifetrak C400 Pace offer the option to include personal information such as weight, gender, and age. Combined with the heart rate monitor on the C400, this should make it more accurate at calculating calories.

The other major difference between the C200 core and C400 models is that the Lifetrak C400 comes with Bluetooth LE capability. This can be used to send the data from the C400 activity tracker to any Bluetooth-enabled device.

Read more information and buy Lifetrak C400 here

 

 

The new LifeTrak Core C200 is now in the Market

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Smart Health’s LifeTrak C200 is the best accessory in the market you can have to track and monitor your health. It is so difficult to track your daily exercises and workout activities. You do not know if you are on the right track or you are not earning anything from your exercise. The LifeTrak C200 core activity monitor can tell you how productive your exercise is.

The device can give you 7 important functions for your physical activities. These functions are;

  • The burned calories
  • Number of steps taken
  • The covered distance
  • Heart rate on demand
  • Daily goals or expected outcomes
  • History of what you have done for the past 7 days
  • It can also serve as a wristwatch to track how long you have been into your activity

lifetrak core c200 white

The device is very easy to use. It does not require you to set it up like any other devices. You just simply wear it on your wrist and begin tracking your physical activity.
The Smart Health LifeTrak Core C200  is a device made by Salutron Inc. it is a California based company that leads the world in the production of heart and physical activity monitors. The products are very accurate as Salutron Inc. has been making these kinds of products for over 20 years. The Core 200 series is the one of the best products the company has to offer to the world.

The device is already available in the market.  You can buy it for $59.99. The Lifetrak Core C200 is not only very wonderful as a health tracking device but it can also become a great accessory due to its colors. The device is available in a variety of colors that you can choose from. It is directly available from sports and fitness stores. There are also online shops that offer the device, you can also order from here for great saving.

Several customers that have already purchased the device have nothing but good words for the Smart Health LifeTrak C200. It has been reviewed and praised by several shows as one of the hottest gadgets. It has also been selected as one of the featured products in a trade show in Chicago, so there is nothing to wait, buy your now!

 

Fitness products for your Workout

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woman exercise17There are many fitness products on the market that enable a person either to stay in shape, or to realize their weight loss goals. These products include free weights, weight machines, work out videos, balls, and cords. These fitness products work to develop, tone, or to build up various parts of our bodies. Fitness products can be a lot of fun to maneuver, and they can help to make work out time feel like play time. In some cases, these products are needed in order to build a person up in the way that they need to be built up. Here is a look at some popular fitness products, how they work, and what they do to improve the quality of one’s work out.

Weights and Dumbbells:

Cap Barbell 40-Pound Dumbbell SetThese are some of the oldest forms of fitness products. Of course, these products were created to add weight in the hands of the person using them. When they are used in a particular way, they work to tone, and to create muscle mass on the various parts of the body. Weights can be used either on a fitness machine, or via free weights. Dumbbells are used exclusively by hand. These can come as light as 2 pounds, or they can come as heavy as hundreds of pounds. These are most popular with males, because they want to bulk up their bodies. However, women tend to use light weights for strength training. While they might not want to bulk up, they certainly appreciate gaining muscle tone. One of the best buy is Cap Barbell 40-Pound Dumbbell Set, this dumbbell set is convenient and great for both beginners and the advanced fitness enthusiast.

Work out Videos:

INSANITY DVD Workout1These have been huge for the past 30 years now. Many a celebrity has lent their name to work out videos, and people buy these up like hotcakes, in hopes of achieving the same body of their favorite celebrity. Even if the video trainer isn’t a celebrity, work out videos are awesome fitness products, because they enable people to have the fitness club experience at home. Many might be too shy to perform certain routines in front of others. Alternatively, a person might be out of shape or scared to work out in front of others. When they watch a work out video at home, they can gain the same results, without any judgment, or embarrassment. Check out this Ten insane Workouts Video , the best workout video on the market today.

Cardiovascular Machines:

LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding TreadmillTreadmills anyone? Yes, treadmills are one of the first things that we think of when we think of cardio workout machines. A cardiovascular machine is one that gets the heart beating, and the blood flowing. There are many types of cardiovascular machines, such as treadmills, stationery bikes, and elliptical machines. These are great for those who do not want a workout that will add muscle mass on the body. These workouts are great for toning, and for burning off fat.  Check out the new 2013 model of LifeSpan TR 1200i Folding Treadmill here.

 

Fitness activity monitor:

There are variety of popular fitness activity trackers that look like bracelets, some resemble the wrist watches, and some are small unique clip-on device that is tiny to slip in the  pocket. All of them have step count feature to count your steps and tally the miles you travel, some even keep track of your heart rate during the workout. Although a favorable fitness activity monitor for many people is Fitbit One, however the Smart Health Core C200 is at much lower cost and having few unique features that worth considering, also many other good fitness activity trackers including Jawbone wristband, Body media fit core, Larklife, Nike+ FuelBand, and Striiv Play.