Double readings on daily steps/distance

[i tried a quick search and didn’t find a matching thread. If this has been discussed, please link to it, thanks]

so, here’s my issue. Not life threatening, but bad for my very slight OCD:

on days when I do activities (mostly running), the Garmin connect app (and therefore my Instinct...or the other way around?) seem to double up on daily steps/distance walked..

i.e.: if I run 10km, the watch obviously tracks my steps. Now, in the final daily, the activity of running 10km is counted, but the step counter says that I also WALKED 10ish additional km (which I know I did not, btw), so my walked distance for the day adds up to 20km.

any way to correct that?

Top Replies

razmichael over 3 years ago in reply to 2828556 +2

Glad I started with "If I fully understand what you are explaining then". So Apple Health is incorrectly interpreting the Garmin Data or Garmn is "presenting" it incorrectly. I do use…

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0 razmichael over 3 years ago

If I fully understand what you are explaining then …

the step counter is NOT measuring walking distance but total steps - including those during a run activity and all the other steps not during an activity. Assuming you are converting steps to distance here, you don’t add the two together as the step count includes the activity. Step count is measured against a daily goal and that goal can be met through your normal daily walking and a hiking/running activity in any combination.

0 gaijin over 3 years ago

It's important to bear in mind that the "Step" counter is actually measuring wrist movement, not actual steps. As such, it should be considered a general indicator of "Activity" and not a specific measurement of steps, or by extension, distance.

While wearing the watch:

- Wash the dishes and "Step" count increases

- Walk a mile while holding onto the handle of a shopping cart and "Step" count does NOT increase

HTH

0 razmichael over 3 years ago in reply to gaijin

Good point Gaijin - I was keeping it simple and focusing on the OP's apparent misunderstanding on how to interpret the numbers. Your comment is especially applicable to my note " Assuming you are converting steps to distance..."

0 2828556 over 3 years ago in reply to gaijin

I’m afraid I did not express myself cleary

and may have caused some confusion

First of all i am aware of how the step counter works. I’m not worried about slight inaccuracies rather than my lack of options to correct bigger ones

As I’m sure you are aware, you can determine a stride length with which Garmin Connect calculates a walked distance. If you go into your detail for your steps of the day, you will it does exactly that. (See attached screenshot)

now, I did a 10k run that day. So OBVIOUSLY this count includes steps that I did while running. That’s fine. It’s also fine that in theory I covered a distance of around 12.8 km IN TOTAL for that day (didn’t do too much other than running).

you can see in this screenshot, how my daily totals reflect a run and my steps.

so far so good.

now, if I go into my iPhones “health app” and look at my totals for the day, it tells me that I walked and ran 20km. If I look at where this data comes from, it is not from various tracker apps overlapping, it’s Garmin only.

so: is there any known way for me to edit this total somewhere?

0 razmichael over 3 years ago in reply to 2828556

Glad I started with "If I fully understand what you are explaining then". So Apple Health is incorrectly interpreting the Garmin Data or Garmn is "presenting" it incorrectly. I do use Applle Health but a quick google search hits a few things including Apple Health displays double the calories and steps after physical activity. - Garmin Connect Mobile iOS - Mobile Apps & Web - Garmin Forums

You will likely get more information and help in the Connect forum as this is not a Instinct issue.