Accurate Calorie Tracking: Debunking the Mysterious Result from the ZeroPoxa App

Hello guys, I recently went cycling for 1 hour and covered a distance of 14 km. The average speed was 12 km/h, and my max speed was 29 km/h. A question I have is: is the ZeroPoxa app accurate in tracking my calorie consumption? When I finished my ride, the app showed 189 kcal. Is this result correct, or is the app providing skewed results?

Analysis of the ZeroPoxa App Result

First, it's important to recognize that the ZeroPoxa app might be providing results that are not entirely accurate. Different apps for tracking calories and fitness can have varying degrees of accuracy based on the algorithms and data they use. Here are the key points to consider:

The app's internal algorithms are not always calibrated to your specific physiology and activity pattern. Accuracy can be influenced by factors such as altitude, fitness level, wind resistance, slope, and weight. The user's heart rate and body movement must be accurately measured and incorporated into the calorie calculations.

While the ZeroPoxa app might not always provide precise results, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's entirely incorrect. However, it is important to evaluate the context within which the results were obtained and cross-check with other data sources to ensure accuracy.

My Experience with Garmin Fenix X5 and Chest HR Strap

To understand the potential accuracy of the ZeroPoxa app, I decided to use my Garmin Fenix X5 with a chest heart rate (HR) strap and compare the results with your example. Here are the details of my recent cycling trip:

Distance covered: 11.43 miles (18.41 km) Terrain: fairly flat, with 56 meters of elevation gain Average speed: 11.2 mph (18.0 km/h) Max speed: 21.9 mph (35.2 km/h) Calories burned: 718 kcal Heart rate range: 122 bpm average and 149 bpm max

While this distance and speed profile seem similar to yours, the calorie burn is significantly higher. My results suggest that the ZeroPoxa app might indeed be providing a skewed or underestimated result. However, it's important to note that my cycling session might have been more vigorous, or there might have been other factors at play.

Factors Influencing Calorie Burn

The calorie burn during cycling and other forms of exercise is influenced by several key factors:

Altitude: Higher altitudes increase the oxygen demand, which can increase calorie burn. Fitnes Level: A higher fitness level generally means you can cycle faster and sustain higher speeds, leading to more calorie burn. Wind and Air Resistance: Stronger wind can increase the resistance, making the ride more challenging and burning more calories. Slope: Uphill or downhill cycling can also affect calorie burn, as cycling up a slope takes more energy. Weight: Your weight will affect the amount of energy expended during exercise.

Based on my analysis, if your ride was on a flat path and you were riding at a relatively easy pace, the ZeroPoxa app's result of 189 kcal might be reasonable. However, if the altitude was high, or you were more intensive or vigorous in your cycling, the result might be underestimating the calories burned.

Reference Point: High-Velocity Cycling

For those who engage in high-intensity, high-speed cycling, the calorie burn can be dramatically higher. As a reference, if you were to cycle at full gas for one hour at a speed of 40 km/h on a flat path, it would be expected to burn around 900 kcal, with a heart rate of around 165 bpm and an output of approximately 300W. Given that you weigh 72 kg, the calorie burn would be significantly higher compared to a more leisurely ride.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ZeroPoxa app might be providing a skewed result, but it is not entirely wrong. To ensure accurate calorie tracking, it is a good idea to cross-check with other apps and devices, such as my Garmin Fenix X5 with HR strap, or even use a manual method to estimate your calorie burn based on the factors mentioned above.

By doing so, you can get a better understanding of your true calorie expenditure and optimize your training and nutrition plan accordingly.