Not all steps are created equal?

yskaldir

I'm still confused how MFP calculate steps calories. Eg. I do about 7000 steps for my commute, MFP gave me 101 exercise calories; another day I stayed home and did 3000 steps, MFP gave me 18 calories.

Can someone explain the inconsistency? Do steps that accumulate in small increments count less?

TheArchyBunker

Use a Fitbit or something like that. It'll be more accurate. I never could figure out the MFP calculations but with my smart watch it seems to be right on when I do the math on it myself and use it against several other calculators.

LivingtheLeanDream

What activity level are you set to on MFP?

yskaldir

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

What activity level are you set to on MFP?

I set it to sedentary.

lynn_glenmont

The first X steps in a day (where X = the steps assumed for your activity level) don't earn you any extra calories, because they're built into your base calories. You only get extra calories for steps above X.

In your case, a little math tells us that MFP awards you .02075 calories for each step you take per day beyond 2,133.


Edited to fix typo.

LivingtheLeanDream

Well put @lynn_glenmont

robs_ready

cheldadex wrote: »

I'm still confused how MFP calculate steps calories. Eg. I do about 7000 steps for my commute, MFP gave me 101 exercise calories; another day I stayed home and did 3000 steps, MFP gave me 18 calories.

Can someone explain the inconsistency? Do steps that accumulate in small increments count less?

MfP calculates it based on a simple model which doesn't account for weight and other factors. Use a third party gadget like fit bit.

yskaldir

lynn_glenmont wrote: »

The first X steps in a day (where X = the steps assumed for your activity level) don't earn you any extra calories, because they're built into your base calories. You only get extra calories for steps above X.

In your case, a little math tells us that MFP awards you .02075 calories for each step you take per day beyond 2,133.


Edited to fix typo.

Does MFP publish info like this anywhere? Or did you reverse engineer the formula?