Fit Bit and Manual Cardio Entry

jadem5
jadem5 Posts: 3 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Has anyone else entered in your cardio workout manually into My Fitness Pal while wearing your fitbit? I haven't entered in any of my workouts since my fitbit is synced and counts my steps. Does it make a difference? Just looking for any advice. Trying to get back into the swing of things :)

Replies

  • atalanta7145
    atalanta7145 Posts: 196 Member
    I don't know how the FitBit works, but I have a Garmin Vivosmart -- what that does is adjusts total calorie burn with what has already been entered into MFP. So, I do enter my cardio manually and allow the Vivosmart to adjust for my steps and calorie burn that is more than the estimate I entered. I also allow for negative adjustments (meaning, if I say I worked out 1000 calories, but in reality it is 450, the Vivosmart will say -550 calorie adjustment). You may want to try to see if FitBit does the same. Just a suggestion.
  • jadem5
    jadem5 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks @barbarasuveg!!
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    jadem5 wrote: »
    Has anyone else entered in your cardio workout manually into My Fitness Pal while wearing your fitbit? I haven't entered in any of my workouts since my fitbit is synced and counts my steps. Does it make a difference?

    No need to log any step-based activity—your Fitbit is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn (which is TDEE) during that time.

    You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    If you're doing cardio, these aren't step based unless your fit bit has an active mode for the added steps per minute. you would be burning more calories during this time. So if you're doing any type of cardio you should log it.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »
    If you're doing cardio, these aren't step based unless your fit bit has an active mode for the added steps per minute. you would be burning more calories during this time. So if you're doing any type of cardio you should log it.

    but what if it's cardio that is step based, like running?
  • UltraRunnerGale
    UltraRunnerGale Posts: 346 Member
    I'm not sure about all of the syncing. I have my FitBit and my Garmin (for running), both synced. I sometimes wonder if it's logging double for the runs (steps and miles). Not really sure. B)
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    UltraRunnerGale wrote: »
    I have my FitBit and my Garmin (for running), both synced. I sometimes wonder if it's logging double for the runs (steps and miles).

    I would disconnect MFP + Garmin, and sync Fitbit + Garmin instead: https://www.fitbit.com/apps/fitdatasync

    That way, Garmin sends your info to Fitbit, Fitbit sends your TDEE to MFP, and MFP adjusts your calories accordingly.
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    moyer566 wrote: »
    ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »
    If you're doing cardio, these aren't step based unless your fit bit has an active mode for the added steps per minute. you would be burning more calories during this time. So if you're doing any type of cardio you should log it.

    but what if it's cardio that is step based, like running?

    Even if you're running, your heart rate would determine you calorie burn per hour.

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