How to not double post steps and circuit training with Fitbit flex.

FitKat123

I was wearing my fitbit during circuit training. I'm linked to myfitnesspal. Currently I'm getting extra calories for both the steps taken and the logged activity of circuit training. I want to only get it for the circuit training, not the steps. Thanks.

NancyN795

It doesn't work that way. MFP displays your Fitbit step count but that doesn't affect your calories at all. What does affect your calories is, well, the calories you burn. All of them. The ones burned when doing circuit training and the ones burned when doing the shopping, chasing the kids, making food, working on the computer, etc. - whatever your normal daily activity is. MFP receives a calories burned figure from Fitbit, does a calculation and comes up with a difference between what Fitbit says you have burned and what MFP expects you to have burned. That's your adjustment.

I'd recommend you read the FAQ, which explains this in detail. Here's a handy link: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10098937/faq-syncing-logging-food-exercise-calorie-adjustments-activity-levels-accuracy/p1

FitKat123

I'm still a little bit confused. I logged the exercise on MFP. So is this saying that since I put in the start time and duration of the activity, that it erases the calories burned from the perceived steps during that time and replaces them with the calories burned from the logged activity? Will I still show steps earned during the circuit training activities?

NancyN795

Yes, logging the exercise in MFP wipes out what Fitbit estimated as your calories burned from the exercise. That's why it is generally recommended that you NOT log exercise in MFP (despite what MFP says). If your Fitbit can't track it accurately (biking, swimming, etc.) then log it in Fitbit (although in that case, either site will do because it still overwrites Fitbit's estimated calories). I think it still counts your steps correctly, but I'm not sure.

heybales

Any manually entered workout on Fitbit (except walking/running) and any synced in workout only replaces the calories - steps and distance is left untouched.

Some 3rd party apps sync steps with Fitbit and workout types - so when they sync in a workout tagged as walking/running, either their steps replace what Fitbit saw, or the included distance is used by Fitbit to calculate new step count based on stride length stat.

Using Fitbit app with GPS actually does the latter.
A workout tagged as walking/running is synced in as if from an external source, with distance declared, and steps is calculated on that distance, real steps seen is wiped out.

That has actually caused aggravation with many having their step counts lowered - until they realize that means their stride length is way off.