Question on how to track my exercise

78zmedina

I wear my fitbit to Zumba. My fitbit is smart enough to know I'm doing some aerobic exercise so it tracks that and I edit it to say I did Zumba so I get credit in MFP for the steps but I don't add in the Zumba as exercise as I feel that I'm double counting since I get credit for my steps. Should I continue to do this or do I add in Zumba to MFP so I get additional credit? I do use the extra calories from working out so don't want to be too ambitious with the caloric intake. Thoughts?

TeaBea

Your FitBit captures quite a bit. I would allow your FitBit to do it's thing for a time. Then after several weeks you might need to tweak the numbers up or down based on actual results.

Here's a link to the FitBit group....more info
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

pmyn29

This doesn't directly answer your question but this is why I personally don't track exercise calories on here. There's just too many variables and it's rarely accurate how much you actually burned. So I just give myself a little leeway on exercise days. In any case for you I would just count one, better to underestimate the burned calories if you're looking to lose than overestimate.

TeaBea

pmyn29 wrote: »

This doesn't directly answer your question but this is why I personally don't track exercise calories on here. There's just too many variables and it's rarely accurate how much you actually burned. So I just give myself a little leeway on exercise days. In any case for you I would just count one, better to underestimate the burned calories if you're looking to lose than overestimate.

Yes - but an activity tracker is a tool that captures exercise AND all her other daily activity. It's a tool (when used over time) that will give users some really good information.

Will a FitBit be exact for every type of activity? No, of course not. But when used consistently users can figure out...."oh, my FitBit is about 10% off for me"

When we signed up for MFP would took a guess at what our activity level was. When you sync a FitBit it will "compare notes" with that MFP setting. You get "credit" for extra activity, and there is an optional negative adjustment setting (in MFP) for days when you are under active.

Adding exercise calories as "1" is a cop-out. If your exercise is minimal, if your calorie deficit is moderate.....then it's okay. We got a calorie deficit before exercise. Yes, you will lose faster when you jack up the calorie deficit. Larger deficits make it hard for your body to support existing lean muscle mass. I strength train to keep lean muscle....not to help lose it. Fueling my workouts helps me accomplish that.

malibu927

pmyn29 wrote: »

This doesn't directly answer your question but this is why I personally don't track exercise calories on here. There's just too many variables and it's rarely accurate how much you actually burned. So I just give myself a little leeway on exercise days. In any case for you I would just count one, better to underestimate the burned calories if you're looking to lose than overestimate.

This would be the wrong approach. Since she has her Fitbit linked (and no, OP, it will not double count your calories if you log on MFP for the same time frame), MFP will override whatever Fitbit says she burned over that time frame and claim she only burned one calorie instead of what she actually did burn.

Joanna2012B

I don't know if this will help. I don't have a fitbit but track my steps with my iPhone. It appears that once I log my exercise the adjustment from my iPhone goes to zero. I believe that MFP exaggerates calories burned, therefore, I will sometimes eat back some of my exercise calories if A ) I KNOW that I had a big calorie burn (long run) or B ) I am not satisfied on the food that I have eaten for that day...usually the day after a big calorie burn.

Have you tried adding your Zumba to see how it affects your Fitbit adjustment?

Jabbarwocky

What I've been doing with the info from my Fitbit is allowing myself to eat back about half of the calories from exercise. I had been eating back three quarters of them but found that my weight stayed about the same. Different people will give different numbers. You need to experiment and figure out what works best for you. @Malibu927 is correct, your Fitbit and MFP coordinate so you don't double dip if you log it on MFP. I just quit logging exercise here because its so much easier to just let both programs do their thing.

CassondraKennedy

Hi OP, the only real reason to track exercise in MFP when you have a Fitbit is to create a post on your wall that you did exercise. Doing this will not double count your calories burned, as @malibu927 mentioned. If you like seeing the wall posts for exercise, then go ahead and log in MFP. I find it easier to just let my Fitbit do all the work, though! Let me know if that explains it.