Activity trackers & Logging Exercise

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tisdalla
tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
Ok, I've noticed that there are some people who sync their activity trackers with MFP and still manually log their exercise. Are they double logging, therefore creating a larger deficit that they actually have? Wouldn't this sabotage weight loss efforts?

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  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,488 Member
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    If you log the start and end time correctly it should adjust the calories given from the activity tracker at that time - therefore erasing the double dip. However in my experience I felt it was better to just let my activity tracker do its thing rather than adding in a bunch of extra calories from manually entered exercise - because eating so many extra calories just didn't work for me. It is personal choice though and it does work for some people to eat back all those calories.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
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    Last night I went for a 26 mile bike ride. Didn't get any steps during that time. :smile:
  • tisdalla
    tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
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    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited May 2016
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    tisdalla wrote: »
    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)

    Nope.

    Your adjustment is always going to be (unless there is a glitch) Activity Tracker burn - MFP estimated burn based on activity level selection = + / - / 0 adjustment

    Higher activity levels means that it takes longer to get calories added to your day.

    Examples:
    Sedentary means MFP estimates I burn 1600 calories approximately a day.
    Lightly Active means MFP estimates I burn 1800 calories approximately a day.
    Active means MFP estimates I burn 2000 calories approximately a day.
    Yesterdays Fitbit burn = 2155
    Sedentary 2155-1600 = 555 adjustment
    Lightly Active 2155 - 1800 = 355 adjustment
    Active 2155 - 2000 = 155 adjustment

    Though if you set your activity level higher then Sedentary, I recommend turning on Negative adjustments. This way if you have a day were you aren't as active as normal, MFP can adjust your calories down so that you maintain your deficit.
  • tiffanylacourse
    tiffanylacourse Posts: 2,985 Member
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    tisdalla wrote: »
    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)

    Nope.

    Your adjustment is always going to be (unless there is a glitch) Activity Tracker burn - MFP estimated burn based on activity level selection = + / - / 0 adjustment

    Higher activity levels means that it takes longer to get calories added to your day.

    Examples:
    Sedentary means MFP estimates I burn 1600 calories approximately a day.
    Lightly Active means MFP estimates I burn 1800 calories approximately a day.
    Active means MFP estimates I burn 2000 calories approximately a day.
    Yesterdays Fitbit burn = 2155
    Sedentary 2155-1600 = 555 adjustment
    Lightly Active 2155 - 1800 = 355 adjustment
    Active 2155 - 2000 = 155 adjustment

    Though if you set your activity level higher then Sedentary, I recommend turning on Negative adjustments. This way if you have a day were you aren't as active as normal, MFP can adjust your calories down so that you maintain your deficit.

    ^All of this! +1
  • tisdalla
    tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
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    Thank you!!!