FAQ - Syncing, logging food & exercise, calorie adjustments, activity levels, accuracy
Replies
-
MFP only synced FitBit calories as of sometime between 10 and 11pm last night, although I've synced this morning and have updates for today. is this a known bug? I notice failure to sync for entire day occasionally. same thing happened on Sat 3/12 but I discounted that as something to do with time change to daylight savings time.1
-
Problems and issues should be in the main topics for the group, not the stickies which are specific to whatever they are about - the FAQ in this case.
Mainly because most don't see responses in the FAQ, more views as a topic main group.0 -
I've read most of this thread but still can't find an answer.
I log my food on MFP and use my fitbit HR for cardio. I don't care about my steps, I only put it on to ride my spin bike. I press and hold the button to record my workout. It seems ridiculous that I then have to manually log it in either fitbit or MFP - isn't that why I recorded it in the first place? Today I burned 400 calories according to fitbit but it has yet to show up in MFP. I have done everything suggested in this thread to sync them and I think they are. Why isn't my workout showing up in MFP?0 -
I've read most of this thread but still can't find an answer.
I log my food on MFP and use my fitbit HR for cardio. I don't care about my steps, I only put it on to ride my spin bike. I press and hold the button to record my workout. It seems ridiculous that I then have to manually log it in either fitbit or MFP - isn't that why I recorded it in the first place? Today I burned 400 calories according to fitbit but it has yet to show up in MFP. I have done everything suggested in this thread to sync them and I think they are. Why isn't my workout showing up in MFP?
2nd question in the FAQ actually confirms your method of usage. You are doing it right.
4th question clears up your misunderstanding of your workout showing up in MFP. They don't.
No question on all possible sync issues, but couple of them do mention what is seen and not seen, and how to confirm they are syncing.
Is your food diary meals on Fitbit?
Are steps showing on MFP?
Do you have an MFP Exercise diary Fitbit adjustment?
You don't mentioned any of those to give a clue.
But since that is the remaining question - it would be best in the general Fitbit group topics so people actually see it, or read over the threads - there could be an issue right now - or another topic posted with exactly your question.
Might reread the 1st half of the FAQ again, because some info you may not even know you don't know about, or haven't seen something to know what it's talking about yet.0 -
@lmoore600 : If you only wear your Fitbit while you're exercising, then it will think you're asleep the rest of the day - totally inactive. So, the calorie burn it computes is going to be quite low and you'll get a Fitbit calorie adjustment that is low or even negative (or zero if you have negative adjustments disabled). Wearing it only for exercise isn't really the way a Fitbit is intended to be used. However, if that's how you want or need to use it, then don't connect your accounts and use the data your Fitbit gives you for your workout to manually log the exercise in MFP, just like you would if you used a chest strap HRM.0
-
how could I get the most accurate readings on my fit bit charge?
I work a desk job warehouse supervisor so I am on my feet here and there riding a forklift as well and noticed the fit bit picks up my driving as steps even when am driving my car .
can anyone help out with this.
also ive had my charge for about 3 weeks and it does not keep a a charge longer then a day and a have even while I charge it when I am in the shower or on my lunch break .
I also picked up a fit bit blaze and notice the count was pretty identical so don't think the hrm is much of a of a difference .
Thanks0 -
You could attempt to change the sensitivity settings regarding prominent arm, and hope that cuts out the majority of the false bounce steps from the forklift, but not too many actual steps taken - or a better balance between them at least.
Otherwise you can tag blocks of time as activity of car or bus driving, not sure which it still works with, which will wipe out the step count and attempt to give better calorie burn for still being active with something non-step based.
As to how those steps accuracy translates to calorie accuracy, depends on how much distance is being given already for those false steps - may be so minor the increased calorie burn is actually correct compared to the BMR level burn you'd get with no steps seen.
The battery should be doing better, you done a computer sync so the device can get a software update?0 -
i think my question was answered in the FAQ, but just to be clear, i do not need to manually add my elliptical work out in MFP if i have a fitbit HR device (i have the blaze)?0
-
I often wonder if I should add extra things, even minor things like housework etc, as I never do since getting my fitbit zip. I see so many other people adding extra exercise etc.0 -
No, wouldn't add minor things like housework. Your Fitbit should do an adequate job of tracking that sort of thing and you don't want to add exercise calories that are already accounted for in your daily activity level.0
-
No, wouldn't add minor things like housework. Your Fitbit should do an adequate job of tracking that sort of thing and you don't want to add exercise calories that are already accounted for in your daily activity level.
Ok thanks. I'm going to start badminton again at the weekend, what would you say to that type of thing?0 -
No add. Steps good enough for that level of intensity.
If merely curious what the stats are for that block of time, note when you start and finish.
Then manually create an Activity record in Fitbit that takes a snapshot of the stats so you can see them.
If it has place to enter calories, then you selected to create a Workout record, not the desired Activity record.0 -
No add. Steps good enough for that level of intensity.
If merely curious what the stats are for that block of time, note when you start and finish.
Then manually create an Activity record in Fitbit that takes a snapshot of the stats so you can see them.
If it has place to enter calories, then you selected to create a Workout record, not the desired Activity record.
Thanks very much for your kind help0 -
Can someone help with syncing issues? I read the sticky- uninstalled the apps via the web, as inctructed, re installed them and my exercise does not show up- it's at 0. Any ideas? Thanks!0
-
@AlexBoBalex79 : Does the food you log in MFP show up in Fitbit? When you go to the Exercise page in MFP (or the diary if using the mobile app), do you have a "Fitbit Calorie Adjustment" entry?
In my experience, I pretty much always see my food syncing over to Fitbit, so if that isn't happening, then I'd guess the accounts aren't actually connected.
If you have a Fitbit Calorie Adjustment entry in MFP, but it is zero, then you probably just have negative adjustments turned off and you haven't been as active as MFP expects you to be (based on your selected activity level).
If these ideas don't help, it may be time to contact MFP customer support.0 -
Hey, I'm still really confused by the calorie adjustment! I'm not sure if something is going wrong.
It's nearly midnight here and myfitnesspal with my fitbit adjustment says that I have 195 calories left to eat, however when I go to the fitbit app it says that I have eaten 100 calories over my allowance. Which one should I be listening to? Why is it so different, I thought at the end of the day that they should be showing the same thing!
According to MFP, I've varied from about 150 cals under to 100 cals over during the past week. According to Fitbit, i went 3000 cal over, total. According to the scale, I'm maintaining and, if anything, going down a tad.
Me, I'll stick with what I'm doing. If the trend continues, I'll either decide to re-set my goal weight down 5 lbs or give myself a few more calories.
0 -
Has anyone gotten MFP, Fitbit and MapMyWalk to work together? When I have both Fitbit and MapMyWalk going, I can't get my Android MFP app to take in Fitbit steps.0
-
@JanetMMcC : I use all three, but MMW isn't really connected to anything else. At one point, I had MMW connected to MFP, but didn't like that it overwrote my Fitbit data. I do have MMW connected to Fitbit, but I can't tell that they actually exchange any information. So, now, when I go for a walk, I start both MMW and the Track Workout feature in the Fitbit app. I use MMW because I am friends with some family members on it. I'm not sure I can justify also mapping the workout in Fitbit's app, but I do like having it.0
-
MFP only synced FitBit calories as of sometime between 10 and 11pm last night, although I've synced this morning and have updates for today. is this a known bug? I notice failure to sync for entire day occasionally. same thing happened on Sat 3/12 but I discounted that as something to do with time change to daylight savings time.
This has actually been going on for me since about the beginning of the year - I started a separate topic about it and have emailed support for help but they don't seem to understand what I'm saying...
Yesterday the last sync according to MFP was at 11:50 pm. Says my full day projected calories burned was 2211 based on 2121 cals burned as of 11:50pm. I received a 351 cal exercise adjustment and ended the day with 80 cals left. Unfortunately, I didn't burn 90 calories in the last 10 minutes of the day (how great would that be!) as I was asleep. My final calorie burned according to FitBit was 2129, so my projected MFP burn (2211) was 82 calories too high, essentially wiping out the little bit of a deficit I had left at the end of the day...
For me this is actually an every day occurrence, the last sync of the day is between 10 and midnight but never the official "close out" sync that I used to get where the two systems would then match up when I checked the next day.
0 -
That should happen every day actually, perhaps not with those bad values though.
But you are talking about bad prior day values that never show the updated status after a morning sync between systems?
Fitbit, or MFP telling Fitbit when to sync, used to be an increase of 100 calories since last sync before it would again.
In theory you could have your syncs lined up such that the last sync happens at midnight, and prior sync was therefore over an hour prior.
But it could be just as you describe, last sync 10 min till, so no correction until you sync the next morning, as it would probably be past 1 am on syncing the default Fitbit burn rate.
On my own account, perhaps it's device specific - it's increased to over 200 now. When I make a correction to a workout on Fitbit, and the daily calorie burn didn't bump up by at least 200 above prior sync - there is no new sync.
It's starting to make a mess of the evening, which is the only time I care about that.
2211 - 2121 burned = 90 per 10 min at MFP burn rate, or 9 x 1440 = 12960 activity burn rate for the day - wouldn't that be wonderful.
Well, except the negative adjustment once Fitbit reported in.
Is that on an app reporting that, or the website values?
Curious - what does the MFP expected daily burn show on the details screen (not projected) - and what Activity level are you using on MFP?
The math may indicate that despite the stats saying 11:50 pm for last sync - it was actually using a different time in the math.
May help MFP figure out where the issue is.
No time zone difference between accounts, right?0 -
That should happen every day actually, perhaps not with those bad values though.
But you are talking about bad prior day values that never show the updated status after a morning sync between systems?
Fitbit, or MFP telling Fitbit when to sync, used to be an increase of 100 calories since last sync before it would again.
In theory you could have your syncs lined up such that the last sync happens at midnight, and prior sync was therefore over an hour prior.
But it could be just as you describe, last sync 10 min till, so no correction until you sync the next morning, as it would probably be past 1 am on syncing the default Fitbit burn rate.
On my own account, perhaps it's device specific - it's increased to over 200 now. When I make a correction to a workout on Fitbit, and the daily calorie burn didn't bump up by at least 200 above prior sync - there is no new sync.
It's starting to make a mess of the evening, which is the only time I care about that.
2211 - 2121 burned = 90 per 10 min at MFP burn rate, or 9 x 1440 = 12960 activity burn rate for the day - wouldn't that be wonderful.
Well, except the negative adjustment once Fitbit reported in.
Is that on an app reporting that, or the website values?
Curious - what does the MFP expected daily burn show on the details screen (not projected) - and what Activity level are you using on MFP?
The math may indicate that despite the stats saying 11:50 pm for last sync - it was actually using a different time in the math.
May help MFP figure out where the issue is.
No time zone difference between accounts, right?
Here are the screen shots I sent to MFP to try and explain what I'm seeing.
One day last week, MFP last synced at 9:55 and estimated my burn would be 2416 at the end of the day. (Note the screen shot was taken the following day - so it wasn't like it said it would be that and later it changed, it still says that today). But when I actually looked at FitBit the next day, the burn was 2308. My MFP exercise adjustment that day was 556.
Historically though, the two systems used to true up and match exactly when I would check the following day, as shown below, when both systems report a burn of 2329. This is from last November. I had to go back that far to find a date where the two matched.
To your other questions:
But you are talking about bad prior day values that never show the updated status after a morning sync between systems? Correct - the mismatch stays the same even the next day and beyond
Is that on an app reporting that, or the website values? App and Web both show the same adjustments and "estimated total calories burned".
What Activity level are you using on MFP?Activity level - Active as I average 15K steps/day.
No time zone difference between accounts, right? Time zone - Central on both systems.
I've had the FitBit for almost 3 years and this is a recent issue. I'm an experienced user who has had great success using the two systems together to lose weight and maintain it. I'm still able to maintain even with these number discrepancies, but if I was a less experienced user and was eating all these cals back, or not aware of any potential mismatch - I might have less successful results and be mystified.
I've disconnected and reconnected the two devices as well - no change.0 -
So never changing is jacked up obviously, that is bad. I thought in the past when I tested updated a past date it couldn't happen.
Like if I added a food on MFP, it didn't sync over to Fitbit. Or it did but Fitbit wouldn't update actual values. Have to test again to remind myself and see if it still does that.
Just because I like to troubleshoot systems.
Active is 1.6 x BMR then. 1860 / 1.6 = 1163 BMR or 0.807/min.
1860 / 1440 = 1.29167 cal/min
Fitbit actual 2255 @ 21:55
MFP projected 2416 - 2255 = 161 MFP rate for 125 min = 1.288 cal/min (close to prior value)
So same syncing effect I've seen that the increase wasn't over 100 calories more than prior sync (2308 to 2255 prior)- so no sync that day.
But once it got to 100 more about 124 minutes later (assuming BMR level burn), Fitbit should have synced it's estimated burn with no real device data. And that's almost BMR level burn.
But really, an sync update coming in 4 hrs later still should have corrected that prior day on MFP just fine.
I've accidentally added a workout to a very past prior day and if more than 100 cal, MFP gets a new sync of that data and it seems to handle it fine.
Now your prior post example was interesting, being 10 min till midnight, but estimating 90 cal left at MFP burn rate.
Should have been 70 min worth of time at the above burn rate. 90 / 1.288
So it would appear the math on that day was actually from 10:50 pm - not the stated 11:50 pm.
That's a different bug worthy of screen shot and submission.
I don't understand why they can't understand your issues - pretty cut and dry - prior days aren't correcting their math on subsequent syncs from Fitbit.
Unless Fitbit stops sending end of day results after so long into the next day.
Like my last sync on Wed 10:38 pm was 3636. I corrected the exercise down and Fitbit day ended 3628 actually.
My guess is it'll never be corrected, because it never went up by 100 more than prior sync, before moving into next day
and ....
Your examples never increased by more than 100. Your good example may or may not have.
It didn't used to be that way.
Beginning to wonder whose error or change that was. I can't decide from MFP API's if they can tell the syncing in system how often they want a sync. Which wouldn't make sense in my mind, but they sure could set a limit that other side must abide by.
Imagine if Fitbit synced all accounts tied every time a 5 calorie increase to Fitbit daily burn. Talk about overload.
So I can understand a limit.
And if limit goes across midnight, then Fitbit is into the next day. So perhaps they stopped sending prior day's data.
Added food item yesterday in MFP.
Showed up in Fitbit in mere seconds.
MFP math on adjustment didn't change.
Added workout of extra 117 cal yesterday in Fitbit to make daily total 102 more than prior sync, got 3743 total.
(interesting, I click Activities tab, which usually shows today's stats. The date area says Today. But it is actually yesterday's graph still, but the stats are for Today Thu. Huh, buggy - after checking settings it works right now).
Refreshed MFP.
And now it shows last sync at 11:59 like mine usually does, along with that corrected amount 3743. I can't recall seeing blank with no time reference like you show.
Oh wow, I get to eat more now! Oh wait...... bummer.
So, confirmed it requires an increase in 100 calories more in Fitbit daily burn than prior sync or it won't sync.
That's the same and smart way of doing.
But bug is not getting a final sync even though it's moved on to the next day.
So perhaps Fitbit isn't tracking if it did final day's total for sync, and only syncing the new day's data.
I think it's a Fitbit change. Perhaps at the request of MFP.
Ok, removing bogus workout in Fitbit.
And as I suspected - no correction coming to MFP, because now it's less than prior sync. Bummer.
Removed bogus food in MFP. Fitbit shows correction.
Still no correction to calorie math.
Well, I guess I got another 100 cal to eat then!0 -
Thanks @heybales. Interesting that yours always shows an estimate based on time. You don't recall when there was just an official "total cals burned" number? I had to go back to November to find one but prior to that time period that's how my end of day/next day numbers always looked.
The MFP team gave me a stock answer about how negative calorie adjustments work and how these systems are estimates and will not always match. I don't think they even looked at my screen shots.
Here are my screen shots from yesterday.
Like I said it's more of a nuisance for me, I used to wholeheartedly recommend using FitBit with MFP because I found it to be fairly foolproof for the last 2 years and I achieved and am maintaining my goal weight with them. However now I pause when people ask if they are accurate, if you can trust those big exercise adjustments... I'm just not sure anymore.0 -
MFP project 2313 - 2204 Fitbit actual = 109 for 25 min = 4.36 cal/min.
4.36 x 1440 = 6278.4 full day MFP burn - obviously not correct.
But - 109 for 85 min = 1.282 x 1440 = 1847
13 away from their activity level base burn of 1860. so probably rounding error on their and my part.
But that's the issue with those inflated end of day estimates - they are 1 hour early in time for their math.
That is obviously a bug by itself. Probably not helping matters.
So 2 bugs that are making the end of day off by easily 200 cal if getting hit with both.
I'm going to just be starting back up on getting more exact since my cardio burns will be big - these bugs will effect me badly when I don't want more deficit than needed. Guess I'll need to rely on Fitbit more.0 -
That latest screen shot you posted shows the bug that I've been having happen, which I've been reporting to MFP whenever it happens to me. Your "Fitbit Tracker Calories Burned" number looks okay and is probably correct for the time it was synced (11:35 PM), but your "MyFitnessPal Calories Burned" number says "Includes 200 calories from exercise". Unless you actually manually logged 200 calories of exercise in MFP, that number is wrong and your adjustment should be 200 calories more than shown. If you had looked at it on the MFP website, on the day it occurred, you probably would have seen two Fitbit Adjustments, not just one (the 2nd adjustment disappears the next day, from what I can tell, and never appears on the mobile app, but the math stays wrong permanently).
The folks at MFP know about this bug, but I don't think they always recognize it when people report it because the symptoms vary and not everyone looks into the math used to compute their calorie adjustment. When I looked at the help page, I found it under "Known Issues: Integration Partners". This is how it is listed: Bug: "Some fitbit users are not seeing their steps syncing correctly and may also see multiple calorie adjustment lines when viewing your Diary on the website." Maybe if you point them at that when you contact them they'll pay better attention.0 -
That latest screen shot you posted shows the bug that I've been having happen, which I've been reporting to MFP whenever it happens to me. Your "Fitbit Tracker Calories Burned" number looks okay and is probably correct for the time it was synced (11:35 PM), but your "MyFitnessPal Calories Burned" number says "Includes 200 calories from exercise". Unless you actually manually logged 200 calories of exercise in MFP, that number is wrong and your adjustment should be 200 calories more than shown. If you had looked at it on the MFP website, on the day it occurred, you probably would have seen two Fitbit Adjustments, not just one (the 2nd adjustment disappears the next day, from what I can tell, and never appears on the mobile app, but the math stays wrong permanently).
The folks at MFP know about this bug, but I don't think they always recognize it when people report it because the symptoms vary and not everyone looks into the math used to compute their calorie adjustment. When I looked at the help page, I found it under "Known Issues: Integration Partners". This is how it is listed: Bug: "Some fitbit users are not seeing their steps syncing correctly and may also see multiple calorie adjustment lines when viewing your Diary on the website." Maybe if you point them at that when you contact them they'll pay better attention.
No that 200 cal adjustment is actually correct, yesterday I did circuit trading and logged it in MFP.0 -
Could someone tell me if all of these FAQ apply when using the Alta? It is supposed to calculate things like bike riding and elliptical automatically? Do you plug it in every night to sync? I though it would do that when the phone and devide were nearby?0
-
Yes the FAQ still applies to the Alta - it would be a step-based device since it does no HR.
So keep that in mind as reading through.
It also attempts to auto-start an activity record and get the exercise correct - that may or may not be accurate - but it doesn't change the calorie burn formula - still step based - and therefore inaccurate for things like bike riding and what the FAQ mentions.
Syncing depends on what you are syncing with - yes phone would work if it does.
For sure read through your manual too - which is online and should have been a piece of paper in package saying where to get it, to understand your device.
And then reread the FAQ to see what things apply to your device and exercise type and MFP syncing.0 -
Here's a handy link to the FAQ: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10098937/faq-syncing-logging-food-exercise-calorie-adjustments-activity-levels-accuracy/p1
I used to routinely post that when I suggested reading the FAQ, but then I rearranged my bookmarks and accidentally deleted it, so I stopped posting the link. I've now restored my bookmark.
Whoops. This wasn't where I meant to post this. That's what I get for trying to do things with a cat on my lap.0
