I thought I had it sussed

ScottF83

So I've read a lot of threads about logging exercise and where to do it and blah blah blah

And I thought, yep, I know what to do when I come to logging something!

I did a session of P90X3, recorded the start time and didn't do anything to my Fitbit Surge (just let it run as normal on my arm).

I then went to myfitnesspal after I'd finished and went to log this new custom exercise. It asked for the name, fine, it asked for the start time, fine, but then it asked for the Calories Burned?!

Well I was sort of hoping it would tell me that!! haha

In the end I've just deleted the exercise entry because then the fitbit will just count my naturally higher heartrate as an 'output' for the day.

Any advise on what I was meant to do?

fatjon73

Personally I just let my Charge HR do all the work for me.......I don't log nothing in MFP other than food.......

I am only doing mild Cardio and a fee weights mixed in.....not a mental thing like P90.......lol.......but still I just let my HR adjust....

After a few weeks of this, I found I looked lazy on my feeds as I had stopped logging exercise....so I just type my own diary now....to let people on my FL know what I have done.....

I use the FB dash to log all exercise by using the button to start / stop my activity.....no matter what it is and change the name in FB so I have an accurate log of my workouts.........(bar swimming obviously)..........

retirehappy

I would have done a snapshot of a new exercise routine. That way I can see how my heart rate changes, the calories Fitbit thinks I burned etc.

P90 is HIIT, so Fitbit won't be exactly right, read the FAQ for more info about that.
I prefer to have MFP handle all food activities and Fitbit all exercise, YMMV.

ScottF83

retirehappy wrote: »

I would have done a snapshot of a new exercise routine.

How do you mean?

editorgrrl

Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn during that time, so I never, ever log exercise in MFP. Trust your Fitbit! If you want your exercise to appear in your newsfeed, post it as a status update.

Here's what Fitbit has to say about accurately tracking P90X with your Surge:

With high-intensity interval training, P90X, boxing, or other activities where your wrist is moving vigorously and non-rhythmically, the movement may prevent the sensor from finding an accurate heart rate. Similarly, with exercises such as weight lifting or rowing, your wrist muscles may flex in such a way that the band tightens and loosens during exercise. Try relaxing your wrist and staying still briefly (about 10 seconds), after which you should see an accurate heart rate reading. Note that your tracker will still provide accurate calorie burn readings during these types of exercise by analyzing your heart rate trends over the course of the workout.

retirehappy

ScottF83 wrote: »

retirehappy wrote: »

I would have done a snapshot of a new exercise routine.

How do you mean?

When you push the button on the device, you get a snapshot of that activity. From the FAQ:
The activity record from the device button press is merely to allow viewing those stats for that block of time....

You can see if the activity gives the burn you expected it to or not. If it is way off for some reason, HIIT etc., then you can delete it and manually add back a record with what you feel the burn was.