Couch to 5k

ljmus1

I just got a fitbit alta and want to know what's the best way to log it if I do a programme like couch to 5k. I know you can sync zen labs c25k app directly to MFP, but how would this work with the fitbit?

NancyN795

I don't know if there is a "best" way. I suspect the worst way would be to sync the zen labs app to MFP, though. The one time I tried that it gave me a miniscule number of calories for my run and it overwrote the better data that my Fitbit had collected. If your stride length is close to correct, your Fitbit should do a much better job of estimating the calorie burn than the zen labs app (which knows very little about you, doesn't know how fast you run, etc.).

I log all my exercise on Fitbit, not MFP. When doing C25k, I have been pushing the button on my Charge HR when I start the running portion of the workout and stopping it when I get to the cool down so I can check that my running stride length in Fitbit is correct. (I use rundouble because it can do C25k by distance, not just time.)

There are other ways to do it, though. You can let your Fitbit automatically detect the exercise (if the Alta has that feature), or you can take your phone along and use the tracking feature to map it. Or you can manually log it in Fitbit later (if the Alta doesn't auto-detect it). Even if you do nothing at all to log it, your Fitbit is going to do a fine job of estimating your calorie burn (as long as your stride length isn't way off). Logging it just gives you a snapshot of what you did.

If you want a post on MFP about your run, do it manually.

ljmus1

Thank you! I calculated my stride length by walking 10 steps and measuring it with a tape measure but not sure how accurate this is really. Running might be harder to get a stride length for using this method!

heybales

That's not accurate usually.

Find a known distance - track or such. Longer the better, or loops used. Running may not be as long.

Start Activity Record with button as you walk at average daily pace (not grocery store shuffle, not exercise level) for the known distance.
Then do that again with whatever your average jog speed is.

As you get better - will likely need to update both, walking probably not so much.

Then look at those records later as to distance Fitbit claims it saw, along with steps seen.
You have known distance you actually did.

distance in feet (or miles x 5280) / steps = decimal feet.inches (say 2.4) per stride.
Enter the feet (say 2) into that stat.
Take 0.inches (say 0.4) x 12 = decimal inches (4.8) and enter that into that stat.

Same routine with running.

NancyN795

I agree with heybales that 10 steps isn't going to be adequate to calibrate your stride. I used MapMyWalk to get distance and an activity record (as heybales described) to get number of steps to calibrate my stride lengths. You might be able to use Fitbit's tracking feature on the mobile app instead of a 3rd party app to do the same thing, but they didn't have that feature back when I first did it.