When it comes to smartwatches and other gadgets that keep track of your fitness regime, step counts, and other health metrics and dynamics, the primary concern of all users is to have a look at the calories burned during the entire time.
Fortunately, Garmin watches efficiently calculate the calories you have burnt over a certain period. But what remains a mystery to many users is the mechanism that goes behind this calculation.
If you are curious and often wonder about the mechanism that works in Garmin watches for calculating the calories burned, this guide is the right place for you.
How Are Active Calories Different From Resting Calories?
Before moving towards the main part, where I will discuss how the Garmin watches calculate your burnt calories, it’s essential first to understand the difference between active and resting calories.
Active Calories
As the name shows, active calories are the calories burnt in your body due to engaging in physical activities or other active motions. These physical activities could be as simple as walking or complex as HIIT workouts.
However, one thing to be mindful of here is that the more intense the workouts you engage in are, the more would be calorie count you burn.
If I quote the standards of the Garmin smartwatch here, you will be able to burn around 2,000 calories if you do physical workouts for 2 hours, including different activities such as cycling, running, weightlifting, etc., it’s because, when your body is active, it will need a lot of energy and this energy requirement is fulfilled by fat burning.
Resting Calories
Resting Calories which also go by the name basal metabolic rate, are the calories burnt when your body doesn’t get involved in physical activities too often. For instance, if you are just lying around on your couch, enjoying your favorite show on the television, you will burn 200 calories.
As far as resting calories are concerned, they are vital for the operation of the nervous system, efficient blood circulation in the body, keeping the body cozy and warm, and breathing.
Methods to Calculate Calories Burned
If this is your first time trying to figure out the methods used by a Garmin smartwatch to calculate the total calories burned, you will be shocked to find out that there are actually multiple methods that work for this process.
Also, apparently, the accuracy of the results you will get varies from one method to the other. Here some methods can provide you with to-the-point scientific results while others just deal with giving you random guesses.
So, let me talk you through all the primary methods used by a Garmin device for calculating the calories burned.
Firstbeat Algorithm Method
The first method Garmin devices use for calorie measurement is the first-beat algorithm method. This method uses user the information you enter while setting up your device, including your gender, weight, height, and fitness class. This data is later combined with heart rate data from the ANT+ heart rate strap.
Moreover, the time between heartbeats, i.e., from one beat to the other, is evaluated to find out the estimated MET, i.e., Metabolic Equivalent, which determines the actual work expenditure.
FR60 Heart Rate Algorithm Method
This is another method used by Garmin devices to calculate the calories burned if the heart rate strap is enabled on your device. In the words of engineers, this method is typically based on the heart-rate-related calorie burn calculation with no added fancies included to make it a lot more precise.
Speed/Distance Algorithm Method
Unlike the FR60 heart-rate algorithm, the speed/distance algorithm method is used when the heart rate strap is not enabled on your device. As you won’t have heart-rate information in this method, it will simply rely on the distance/speed information and your weight to determine the calories burned.
How To Show Calories On Garmin Watch?
Now that you know how the whole process behind the calculation of calories burned works in Garmin watches, let me take you through some methods you can use to view your calorie information on the Garmin watch.
The first thing you need to ensure for this is that your device is synced with your Garmin account via the Garmin Connect app on your mobile device or the Garmin Express app on your computer.
Showing Activity Calories
Here are the 2 step-by-step methods you can use to view activity calories on your Garmin watch:
Method #1: Using the Garmin Connect App
Here is how you can view your activity calories on the Garmin watch via the Garmin Connect app:
- Head to the Garmin Connect app on your device.
- Select “Menu.”
- On an iOS device, tap “More” in the bottom-right corner.
- Select the “GCM” menu icon in the upper-left corner if you use an Android device.
- Go to “Activities.”
- Choose the concerned activity type and tap the activity you want to view the calorie burnt of.
You can see the calories burned on the watch’s screen during the selected activity.
Method #2: Using Garmin Connect Web
You need to follow the steps below to view the calories burned on your Garmin watch using the Garmin Connect Web.
- Log in to the Garmin Connect account,
- Choose “Activities” from the left menu.
- Head to the “All Activities” tab.
- Click to select the activity you want to see the calories from.
- The calorie count appearing on the screen will be the activity calories burned during the chosen activity.
Showing Total/Active Calories
If you are wondering how to view the active/total calories burned on your Garmin watch, follow the 2 step-by-step methods explained below.
Method #1: Via the Garmin Connect App
Here is how you can show the total calories burned on your Garmin watch via the Garmin connect app.
- Navigate to the Garmin Connect app on your phone.
- Go to “Menu” and choose “More” or “GCM Menu” on your iOS or Android device, respectively.
- Tap the “Health Stats” option.
- Choose the “Calories In/Out” option.
- You can now see the total calories burned during the day you have selected on the screen.
Method #2: Using the Garmin Connect Web
To view the active calories burned during a particular day on your Garmin watch via the Garmin Connect web, here are the steps you need to follow:
- Sign in to the Garmin Connect account.
- Head to the “Health Stats” option from the left menu.
- Click “Calories In/Out” to view the calorie count on the screen.
Conclusion:
Understanding how devices like Garmin calculate calories burned provides a deeper insight into the intricacies of wearable technology and its intersection with health. The algorithms and sensors employed by Garmin, as explored in “How Does Garmin Calculate Calories Burned?”, combine advanced technology with physiological data to offer users a comprehensive picture of their daily energy expenditure. While no device can claim absolute accuracy, the methodologies used are grounded in extensive research and real-world testing.
Being informed about the underlying mechanisms not only enhances trust in the device but also empowers users to make informed decisions about their health and fitness journeys. As wearable technology continues to evolve, fostering an understanding of its workings becomes increasingly essential for maximizing its benefits.
