Do you add your steps to your exercise on mfp?

rikkejanell2014

So how does it work? Does mfp take in consideration just normal walking and lifting everyday or do you log it?

HRKinchen

I use a tracker (a Vivofit which syncs to Garmin Connect) and log all my exercise there, in addition to the steps it tracks automatically throughout the day. Then GC syncs with MFP. The only thing I log directly in MFP is my food.

TeaBea

Trackers that sync to your MFP account are ideal for adding activity. Check the APPS menu above. The syncing process can compare your stated activity level against your actual activity level.......giving you credit for the difference only. A neat feature; you can enable negative adjustments too (keep you honest).

Logging 100% of your steps will give you some double counting. You might increase your activity level on days with a lot of steps. See the link below.

http://www.fitnessforweightloss.com/rate-your-activity-level-based-on-steps-per-day/

Lifting and other deliberate exercise is not included in your numbers. Those can be logged separately under the cardiovascular section. These are estimates so many people eat back 50-75% of those calories.

rnelson88

Log your workouts. Don't adjust your calories for your steps unless you walk over 10 miles/day.

rikkejanell2014

rnelson88 wrote: »

Log your workouts. Don't adjust your calories for your steps unless you walk over 10 miles/day.

Why is that? If you have to log every bite you take no matter how small why not every step? You are still burning calories.

rikkejanell2014

TeaBea wrote: »

Trackers that sync to your MFP account are ideal for adding activity. Check the APPS menu above. The syncing process can compare your stated activity level against your actual activity level.......giving you credit for the difference only. A neat feature; you can enable negative adjustments too (keep you honest).

Logging 100% of your steps will give you some double counting. You might increase your activity level on days with a lot of steps. See the link below.

http://www.fitnessforweightloss.com/rate-your-activity-level-based-on-steps-per-day/

Lifting and other deliberate exercise is not included in your numbers. Those can be logged separately under the cardiovascular section. These are estimates so many people eat back 50-75% of those calories.

I dont have a fit bit. I usually log by the time when i walk.

rikkejanell2014

HRKinchen wrote: »

I use a tracker (a Vivofit which syncs to Garmin Connect) and log all my exercise there, in addition to the steps it tracks automatically throughout the day. Then GC syncs with MFP. The only thing I log directly in MFP is my food.

I dont have a fit bit. I usually log by the time when i walk.

steffers528

If you have a smartphone that you carry with you when you walk, it will track your steps.

wizzybeth

I only eat back exercise calories if I do a substantial workout and even then I only take a fraction back of what I supposedly "earned." If I do more than 10,000 steps in a day I *might* give myself an extra 100 calories. A huge workout - I may give myself 300 calories, depending on what it is..and depending on how famished I feel. I don't trust the estimated calorie burns and would rather just consider my typical everyday stuff as extra cushioning against my daily intake...if that makes sense.

AmberSpamber

What I burn in a normal day doing normal things, like house work and walking never go into my journal.

Tacklewasher

rikkejanell2014 wrote: »

So how does it work? Does mfp take in consideration just normal walking and lifting everyday or do you log it?

It sounds to me like you might want to adjust your activity level in MFP to account for regular activity. So if you normally walk 2 hours a day, set you activity to lightly active or active to account for it. Then if you do another exercise, add some calories for that.

If your walks are not that regular, then leave the activity as sedentary and add some calories for the walks. Just don't trust the MFP walk numbers and put in half.

I use a tracker and do prefer using one.

BeeerRunner

No, if I ate back those calories, I'd gain weight so what's the point of entering them in my diary? I only log intentional exercise: walking, running, cycling, elliptical, weight lifting, etc...

TeaBea

rikkejanell2014 wrote: »

TeaBea wrote: »

Trackers that sync to your MFP account are ideal for adding activity. Check the APPS menu above. The syncing process can compare your stated activity level against your actual activity level.......giving you credit for the difference only. A neat feature; you can enable negative adjustments too (keep you honest).

Logging 100% of your steps will give you some double counting. You might increase your activity level on days with a lot of steps. See the link below.

http://www.fitnessforweightloss.com/rate-your-activity-level-based-on-steps-per-day/

Lifting and other deliberate exercise is not included in your numbers. Those can be logged separately under the cardiovascular section. These are estimates so many people eat back 50-75% of those calories.

I dont have a fit bit. I usually log by the time when i walk.

You are going for a deliberate walk? Then YES, log that as exercise. Put your activity level into MFP before considering any deliberate exercise.

I work in an office, so I set my activity level to sedentary. When logging walks MFP will ask for your pace. If you have a phone app you can figure out your distance (and walking speed).

spiriteagle99

I log intentional exercise (walks, runs, stationary bike, dvds) but not my steps walking around the house or shopping. I just look at that as bonus.

cerise_noir

Nope. I don't have my Fitbit synced. I only add purposeful cardio/walking.

NorthCascades

rikkejanell2014 wrote: »

rnelson88 wrote: »

Log your workouts. Don't adjust your calories for your steps unless you walk over 10 miles/day.

Why is that? If you have to log every bite you take no matter how small why not every step? You are still burning calories.

Dogma.

TeaBea

spiriteagle99 wrote: »

I log intentional exercise (walks, runs, stationary bike, dvds) but not my steps walking around the house or shopping. I just look at that as bonus.

Walking around the house and shopping aren't usually a bonus though, unless they are above and beyond your stated activity level. MFP did give us credit for some steps already.....every activity level includes at least some steps.

extra_medium

rikkejanell2014 wrote: »

HRKinchen wrote: »

I use a tracker (a Vivofit which syncs to Garmin Connect) and log all my exercise there, in addition to the steps it tracks automatically throughout the day. Then GC syncs with MFP. The only thing I log directly in MFP is my food.

I dont have a fit bit. I usually log by the time when i walk.

Since we're on the subject I highly recommend getting one, or something similar that will report your activity level to MFP. As others have stated, it automatically gives you credit for your activity level, or can subtract cals from your goal if you happen to just sit around one day.