bobkow wrote:
Third party app is Cyclemeter, which has been in the App Store from the very beginning and authorized by Apple. Cyclemeter helps by measuring ride analytics and managing Garmin Varia. I use HealthFit, another long-time App Store solution, when I swim.
Being in the App Store does not mean that Apple endorses the output of the app. It means that the app meets certain technical and security requirements, but it has no bearing on whether Apple says its calorie data should match anything else.
Here is what happened today. I went for a bike ride and used Apple’s Outdoor Bike Ride app.
What app is that? Do you mean you selected an Outdoor Cycling Workout on the watch (or iPhone)?
Did not turn on Cyclemeter. When the ride was finished, it said I rode 11.35 miles and burned 635 calories, among other statistics. However, Apple Fitness app said I only burned 435 calories, even though I received an audio statement saying my movement ring was closed at 500 calories.
For that ride, is the 635 "Active Calories" or "Total Calories." I am guessing it was 635 total calories (which includes calories from the exercise ["Active Calories"] as well as basal metabolism calories). The 435 was likely "Active Calories" for that ride. The Move ring includes all "Move" activity which can include your Cycling Workout plus other "Move" activity, such as walking around places or other types of activity. These are all different things and can be different.
I also see this with my Cycling Workouts as well as Outdoors Walking Workouts. "Move" rings are closed when all activities combined sum up to meet the "Move Goal." Those activities may include some or all or none of a workout (or workouts). The Move ring can be closed before you even start our Cycling Workout if, say, you were working in the yard earlier with lots of walking, stairs. I have had days when I am active doing things like carrying things around the house or yard, washing the car, climbing ladders and so forth. These all count towards the "Move" goal or ring. When you do specific workouts, those also count towards "Move" goals or rings.
When counting up calories, be sure to distinguish between "Active" and "Total" calories. "Total" is larger than "Active." These things show up in different places on the watch and iPhone. I do agree it can become confusing.
The way these devices measure calorie expenditure is v very rough and depends a lot on how they do it and their algorithms.
In my recent cycling workout, my watch and iPhone say I expended 987 Active Calories and 1172 Total Calories, reporting that I rode 25.16 miles with 1691 feet of elevation gain. On the other hand, my Garmin cycling computer for that ride says I rode 25.21 miles, expended 1510 total calories, and had 1768 feet of elevation gain.
My Garmin cycling computer knows that I am 6 feet and weigh 165 pounds but also that my bicycle weighs 22 more pounds. My watch and iPhone have my same height/weight but don't know about the weight of the bicycle. If I crudely increase my watch/iPhone calories by 22/165, assuming a very hilly ride with lots of climbing (exerting energy against gravity) might expend that much more energy, I get 1172 x (1.13) =1,328 calories, which is closer to Garmin's 1510 calories but still a bit lower.
I do believe that the Apple does calculate various calories that are internally consistent but other apps will come up with different numbers. Using different algorithms. The Garmin cycling computer is very focused on and includes the extra energy required to climb hills and mountains, but I wonder if the Apple algorithms always do this. For instance, do the Move calories properly include extra work required to go to higher elevations (walking, cycling, whatere). Do the Workout calories include that extra energy effort?
User level: Level 1 (8 points)
