Built-in step counter yes or no?

caaber01
caaber01 Posts: 28 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm really new to all of this and I've been logging for eight days today. I was looking around at the settings in this app and clicked on "steps". Then, Where it says "use the iPhone's built in step counter" I clicked yes - just to see what would happen. When I went back to my diary, an automatic 75 exercise calories were added to my daily allotment of calories. Is this really and truly accurate? I haven't done much today, obviously - aside from grocery shopping and doing some measurements outside for a pool we are going to install. Do you guys recommend actually turning this function on?

Replies

  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    I have a Fitbit that counts my steps and have it linked to MFP. I like seeing the extra calories for the steps I've gotten in (or not) and it can motivate me to move a bit more so I can have that extra piece of chocolate :)

    You'll get additional calories if you move more than what your activity level on MFP is set to. If you have negative adjustments enabled, calories will be taken away until you move enough to be at that level.

    You could turn it on and see what happens after a month. If your weight loss slows down/stalls, then the step counter & exercise calories may be pushing you up to maintenance and you may want to disconnect.

    I've found my Fitbit to be very accurate about my calories burned so I've left mine enabled.

    ~Lyssa
  • almostplenty
    almostplenty Posts: 43 Member
    I do not eat back daily exercise calories. Usually whatever formula they use to calculate calories burned are far too generous. In general, we tend to overestimate how many calories we burn with exercise, and underestimate how many we eat.
  • caaber01
    caaber01 Posts: 28 Member
    In MFP I am set to sedentary, even though I don't know if that's true or not. I teach kindergarten and within the walls of my classroom I'm pretty busy. I just don't think my activity warrants much.
  • caaber01
    caaber01 Posts: 28 Member
    Thanks, guys :)
  • caaber01
    caaber01 Posts: 28 Member
    Where do I go to see "negative adjustments"?
  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    Negative adjustments should be My Home>Settings>Diary Settings. Scroll to the bottom & you should see Enable Negative Adjustments.

    ~Lyssa
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