Newbie question about steps

ChibiNat

Hi

I'm still figuring my way around the MFP app and I was wondering, do the steps we take get taken into account as part of our exercise? If yes, how do we input them? If no, why?

Thanks!

Spice1973

Yes they do if you have a device that syncs with mfp like a fitbit or something along those lines. You can link them to mfp by clicking on apps.

editorgrrl

If you have an activity tracker (like Fitbit) connected to your account, then MFP adjusts your calories automatically. In the iOS app, go to More > Steps and select your device.

http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/1525167

cwolfman13

you set an activity level...that would include things like walking from here to there and whatnot.

ChibiNat

Hi everyone

Thanks for your advice

I've synced my account with jawbone up but while it shows how many steps I've taken, exercise is still zero.

Btw, I have a Samsung S4...

WinoGelato

I use a FitBit and have it synched with MFP, I get an exercise adjustment from that but MFP doesn't show my actual steps, I have to look at the FitBit app on my phone (or some devices show it directly on there) to see that.


Are you getting an exercise adjustment from your Jawbone?

ChibiNat

I'm not sure what you mean by exercise adjustment, but I've got a food score next to my steps

editorgrrl

ChibiNat wrote: »

I've synced my account with jawbone up but while it shows how many steps I've taken, exercise is still zero.

You're getting a zero-calorie adjustment because you've burned fewer calories than your MFP activity level (sedentary, lightly active, etc.).

Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

Click on the adjustment in your exercise diary to see the math. It's the difference between your UP total burn (which is TDEE) and your activity level.

ChibiNat

Hi editorgrrl

Thanks so much for your advice! Ive enabled the negative adjustments. But I don't know where to find the exercise diary...

WinoGelato

ChibiNat wrote: »

Hi editorgrrl

Thanks so much for your advice! Ive enabled the negative adjustments. But I don't know where to find the exercise diary...

Are you on the app or a PC? When I look at my food diary there is an entry at the bottom for exercise calories, it can read cardio, strength, or FitBit calorie adjustment.

ChibiNat

I'm on the app. I checked my food diary, it shows my meals and water consumption only. Do I need to manually add the exercise, for example as walking?

WinoGelato

ChibiNat wrote: »

I'm on the app. I checked my food diary, it shows my meals and water consumption only. Do I need to manually add the exercise, for example as walking?

Then go u to your diary, at the bottom should be an entry for cardio exercise and an adjustment from your Jawbone (I believe, that's how my FitBit works)

ChibiNat

I couldn't find any exercise section in the diary. It only appeared when I clicked on the + sign and then I see cardio and strength. I clicked on cardio and it gave me a list of activities but couldn't see anything for an adjustment for my jawbone... Is this something that only appears in the desktop version?

WinoGelato

A

ChibiNat wrote: »

I couldn't find any exercise section in the diary. It only appeared when I clicked on the + sign and then I see cardio and strength. I clicked on cardio and it gave me a list of activities but couldn't see anything for an adjustment for my jawbone... Is this something that only appears in the desktop version?

are you sure they are linked? Again, I don't know, I don't have a jawbone, but I see a FitBit exercise adjustment on the app automatically, either positive or negative.

Is there a Jawbone user group here on MFP that may be able to help you with your device specific questions?

ChibiNat

I think so, my steps appear in my home page...

I'll try to find one.

Thanks for all your help and advice

editorgrrl

WinoGelato wrote: »

Is there a Jawbone user group here on MFP that may be able to help you with your device specific questions?

Yes, but it's pretty quiet: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/13420-jawbone-up-bracelet

editorgrrl

Your UP total burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If you eat less than that, you will lose weight.

Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/apps/show/97

Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

Log food & water in MFP. Ignore your UP calories (the green tab) and follow your MFP calorie goal, eating back your adjustments. No need to log any step-based activity—your UP is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in UP or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your UP burn during that time.

ChibiNat

Ok, did all that. Don't have any green tab showing jawbone up. I can see steps taken in my home page though. I understand that I haven't reached my step goal for the day and that jawbone is tracking my steps, but even with enabled negativity adjustment, my exercise appears as zero.

I wish we were allowed to share photos, it would make this easier.

editorgrrl

ChibiNat wrote: »

Ok, did all that. Don't have any green tab showing jawbone up. I can see steps taken in my home page though. I understand that I haven't reached my step goal for the day and that jawbone is tracking my steps, but even with enabled negativity adjustment, my exercise appears as zero.

If your accounts are connected at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/apps/show/97 then MFP will send aggregate meal data to UP. But only going forward—not the food you've already logged.

And MFP will recalculate your adjustment every time you sync your tracker with the UP app.

Neither happens instantaneously, though. Depending on how busy the MFP servers are, it can take up to 20 minutes.

ChibiNat

Thanks editorgrrl, you're awesome!

I'll wait and see what happens in a couple of days. I'll let you know what happens