MFP vs Fitbit

Terpnista84

I set my Fitbit goal to have a 1,000 calorie deficit. I move a lot and workout and I averaged over 3,000 calorie burn for the day. I eat about 2,000 calories so I managed to hit my target deficit with a only a few hundred remaining calories available. On MFP I have about 700 calories remaining.

If you have a Fitbit, do you follow MFP calorie allowance or Fitbits. I noticed that Fitbit shows you the calories you can eat based on what your burned for the day, whereas MFP goes by what your goal is and adjusts as you add activity. Does anyone find a particular method more beneficial?

aqualeo1

You can link the two so mfp will adjust your calories depending on your activity. I set mfp on sedentary and let it add the appropriate calories depending on my activity.

ohmscheeks

I base my eating on MFP.

Christine_72

I follow mfp's calories. Fitbit for exercise, mfp for calories.

daniwilford

christinev297 wrote: »

I follow mfp's calories. Fitbit for exercise, mfp for calories.

This is what I do, too. It has been remarkably accurate in predicting my weight loss.

OldAssDude

I have a Garmin Vivoactive, and MFP always has a little less calories remaining than the Garmin app, so I follow the MFP calories remaining. MFP shows the correct calories burned for exercise, but seems to not show all the calories for steps taken.

LaurenAOK

You can enable negative adjustments from your FitBit in your MFP settings so that MFP will start showing you the amount FitBit recommends.

Personally I do not have negative adjustments enabled and I use the MFP number instead of my fitbit number. It is my understanding that FitBit can underestimate your TDEE because it assumes your RMR (resting metabolic rate) any time you are not taking steps or exercising. In reality, you are burning more than your RMR even when you are just sitting around. I think the MFP number is a little more accurate.

AuroraGeorge8393

It's the same for me. I use a FitBit Zip. I linked my accounts, have set MFP to sedentary and enabled negative adjustments, but MFP still "allows" me a few hundred calories (between 300-500 calories) more a day than the FitBit dashboard. Not sure why there is a difference between the two since they are based on the same intake and burn. I'm overly cautious, so I tend to rely on the lower calorie estimate provided by my FitBit.

Merkavar

I follow mfp but should they not be the same if you linked them?

Off to investigate, brb

Unless my maths is wrong looks to be my fit bit has an extra 50 calories. Not really anything to be concerned over.

But your saying yours are out by hundreds?

editorgrrl

Terpnista84 wrote: »

Do you follow MFP calorie allowance or Fitbit's?

Fitbit prorates your calories by time of day—and goes below 1,200. Ignore your Fitbit calorie goal and follow MFP's, eating back your adjustments.

But you must enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings