Calories Burnt Too Low?

I am new to Garmin and its calorie algorithm. Just purchased a Fenix 6 Pro Sapphire. I have done quite a bit of reading, but I just cannot seem to find a solution to this problem. My stats are:

Male
5'10"
180 lbs
6% body fat
HIIT/MTB at least 7 times per week

I am very active and muscular and eat at least 3500 calories a day to maintain weight. However, Garmin is putting my resting calories at 2,056 per day, and with my exercises that might only tick up to ~3,000 calories per day. I have checked my profile, but this number just seems way too low for my activity level and body type.

I should also mention the wrist HRM is usually way off and low while I am training (HIIT or MTB).

Does anyone else think only ~3,000 calories a day seem low? Am I missing something here? Anyone know what the algorithm is that Garmin uses for calories burned? TIA!

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0 3704102 over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

Hey phn55, sorry for my super slow reply! I believe what is happening during your workouts is the "calories burned" shown by the watch during the activity includes resting calories. Then in your active calories, it is showing the calories that are in addition to your resting ones.

With that said, I still believe the resting calories burned in a day given by Garmin are way too low. Given my muscle mass and activity level, Garmin is giving me ~2,200 calories a day to maintain weight, where even on days I do not exercise I am above 3,000 to maintain. That is more in line with what Apple Health would give me.

0 phn55 over 5 years ago in reply to 3704102

Nope, not the case. See screenshot I posted. I used to check calories widget before entering the pool regularly just to be sure I know the baseline.

After swimming of 3km and ~900kcal I dont have increase of resting or total calories. More and more I think this is only swimming bug and if you check my original thread mentioned below you will see lot of people reporting it.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to phn55

Hi phn55, lately I experienced the same issue with my Fenix 5 and running. The running activity shows e.g. 1000 calories but the burnt calories in the widget still don't update. You mentioned you've already reported this issue tô garmin. Already received an answer?

0 phn55 over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Nope.

I chased Garmin support (Benelux then US) for ~ 50 days. Both were responsive but US team was technically much more advanced (my advice for anyone with issue to go to them), they acknowledged the issue but could not promise the fix.

Finally I consulted EU Consumer protection centre and was supported to return the watch to retailer - who was understanding and made me full refund after 2 months (EU laws are strong and clear if product is not delivering product features within its 2y warranty period).

Happy with 850eur back in my pocket - but monitoring the forum on when the issue (hopefully) would be fixed.

Cheers

0 AT over 5 years ago

I'm having this same problem with my Fenix 5 and new Fenix 6X Pro. Very discouraging. I also am doubting the calories burned for the activities that I do. I just ran 6.2 miles at 9:51 pace and it said that I burned 582 calories. With the clothing I wore I weight about 170lbs. I think that I should have at least burned 100 calories per mile. I also did a workout earlier this morning that it said I burned 397 calories during. However, my "active calories" only shows 787 for the day which is -192 than when I add the activities separately.

0 Hammster over 5 years ago

On my second F6s - low calorie count major issue. 16k + of walking only 2880 calories on active class 6, been playing with this activity class as per UK tech support, but still out ..... Yesterday turned activity class to 'none' calories burnt increased to 3133, switched it back to activity class 6 before bed .... This morning yesterday's number back to 2880!

£800 watch? It's just a glorified gps tracker, I'm sure cheaper and better must be available.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

has

Exactly same here. I just got my Fenix 6s and it is really inaccurate. Basically it is useless, because it counts calories wrong as well because heart rates are totally wrong (160-->90). I used to have forerunner and polar products and they worked fine, this is just a trash, maybe for golfers this is ok.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago

honestly I have seen the same issue comparing to my Fenix 5x and now I bought the Fenix 6 sapphire >>> my old watch I would easily burn 3,000 calories plus... based on my intense activities but on my Fenix 6 sapphire I will do the same activities and its hard even to hit 3,000 calories I am really frustrated about this issue and different reading that I am getting on my new watch !!!!

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

I totally agree I am having the same issue and my Fenix 5x was just fine comparing to my new Fenix 6 sapphire I am really frustrated about this issue

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to jlgranth

I wish if I had the same reading comparing to my Fenix 5x I am having a low burning calories on my new watch Fenix 6 sapphire and I am doing the same activities that I used to do before. I am really frustrated about this issue and I hope soon Garmin give us an answer about this problem I have Been always proud owner of Being a Garmin user but now I am really disappointed what I am getting from Fenix 6 sapphire