How a FitBit follows your steps and how to check your step count

Health experts have long touted the benefits of at least two to three hours of moderate physical activity each week. For most adults, walking at a speed of at least three miles per hour is the basic level of such aerobic training. The other commonly used measure is the goal of 10,000 steps per day.

If you save at least 10,000 steps every day, according to many experts, your long-term health will be beneficial. Opt for 15,000 or more, and so much the better. But unless you count every step you take during the day or during a single long walk, how do you know how many steps you did?

Fitbit, your faithful Fitbit, will of course follow your steps, your heart rate, your sleep cycles, etc. Here's how it counts your steps.

How a Fitbit tracks your step count

The Fitbits feature a three-axis accelerometer. They can tell when they are moving back and forth, from one side to the other and from top to bottom – for example, move in three dimensions. And by correcting the recorded movement data, your Fitbit can tell if you were walking (or running) or simply hitting your hand on a desk.

The Fitbit uses complex algorithms to indicate when you are moving on both feet rather than when you are, for example, in a vehicle, or moving your arms, but still motionless. It excludes movements that are not steps, so the number of your steps at the end of the day will be remarkably accurate.

How to check your not counting on a Fitbit

To see the number of steps you have recorded at the end of the day, first press the main button located on the side of the Fitbit. You can now press the side button several times or tap the screen to switch to different statistics.

You can also open the matched Fitbit app on your phone or access your dashboard on a computer to view both your daily log and the history of the steps. Go to the "Activities" tab, then click "Today" or choose a date range.