MFP calories vs Fitbit calories. Am I eating too much?

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Polo265
Polo265 Posts: 287 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
My Fitbit is synced to MFP. Both are set to sedentary. I log my food into MFP and eat back many of my exercise calories, which have been transferred from Fitbit. However, at the END of the day, MFP shows me that I met or am slightly under my goal, while Fitbit tells me I am over. Why would this be happening? Am I eating too much?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Mine never match exactly, probably due to different calculations between the two sites. Since I am logging my food on MFP, that's the calorie goal that I pay attention to.
  • MegaMooseEsq
    MegaMooseEsq Posts: 3,118 Member
    I don't find that the two systems always play well together. You are only eating too much food if you are gaining weight, or not losing at the rate you'd planned. These tools are all estimates. Pick a system, stick to it, and adjust based on the scale, not on the calorie numbers your devices are giving you. Even if your numbers are totally off, if they're consistent and guiding you to lose weight, that's what matters.
  • CyberTone
    CyberTone Posts: 7,337 Member
    I just ignore the Fitbit "Today I can eat" numbers and monitor my MFP Net Calories.

    My maintenance net Calories are about 1820 at MFP Sedentary. I normally gross 2300 Calories logged for food and earn on average about a 500 Fitbit Calorie adjustment above MFP Sedentary activity level setting with mostly step-based activity.

    I use a food scale to weigh all solids, measuring cups and spoons to measure liquids, and verify all food items I log through outside web sources and Nutrition Facts labels. I trust that my Calorie Intake is pretty accurate using MFP, and I trust my Calorie Output is pretty accurate using the Fitbit Charge 2.

    I would recommend reading through the first three posts in this thread on the MFP Fitbit Users group...

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10098937/faq-syncing-logging-food-exercise-calorie-adjustments-activity-levels-accuracy

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users​
  • fitmom4lifemfp
    fitmom4lifemfp Posts: 1,573 Member
    Polo265 wrote: »
    My Fitbit is synced to MFP. Both are set to sedentary. I log my food into MFP and eat back many of my exercise calories, which have been transferred from Fitbit. However, at the END of the day, MFP shows me that I met or am slightly under my goal, while Fitbit tells me I am over. Why would this be happening? Am I eating too much?

    Are you losing weight? That is where your answer lies.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    fitbit gives me a set amount each day (for me 2200) - I ignore it because it doesn't take into account workouts etc
  • Polo265
    Polo265 Posts: 287 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    fitbit gives me a set amount each day (for me 2200) - I ignore it because it doesn't take into account workouts etc

    My Fitbit starts out low and my 'left to eat' progresses as I get more steps and the day moves. I believe the Fitbit does take into account your step based workouts. That's why I'm questioning the difference.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    Polo265 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    fitbit gives me a set amount each day (for me 2200) - I ignore it because it doesn't take into account workouts etc

    My Fitbit starts out low and my 'left to eat' progresses as I get more steps and the day moves. I believe the Fitbit does take into account your step based workouts. That's why I'm questioning the difference.

    on my fitbit actual it gives me daily running calories; however if I go to the app - my daily goal is 2200, no matter how much I walk during the day
  • Polo265
    Polo265 Posts: 287 Member
    edited August 2017
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    Polo265 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    fitbit gives me a set amount each day (for me 2200) - I ignore it because it doesn't take into account workouts etc

    My Fitbit starts out low and my 'left to eat' progresses as I get more steps and the day moves. I believe the Fitbit does take into account your step based workouts. That's why I'm questioning the difference.

    on my fitbit actual it gives me daily running calories; however if I go to the app - my daily goal is 2200, no matter how much I walk during the day

    I'll have to look at mine. Hmmmmmm. Okay - My Fitbit goal is 1200, as is my MFP. I think it is similar to MFP in that it won't allow me to go any lower. However, as the day progresses, both my Fitbit goal and MFP goal increase according to exercise (steps)
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 15,400 Member
    Polo265 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    Polo265 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    fitbit gives me a set amount each day (for me 2200) - I ignore it because it doesn't take into account workouts etc

    My Fitbit starts out low and my 'left to eat' progresses as I get more steps and the day moves. I believe the Fitbit does take into account your step based workouts. That's why I'm questioning the difference.

    on my fitbit actual it gives me daily running calories; however if I go to the app - my daily goal is 2200, no matter how much I walk during the day

    I'll have to look at mine. Hmmmmmm. Okay - My Fitbit goal is 1200, as is my MFP. I think it is similar to MFP in that it won't allow me to go any lower. However, as the day progresses, both my Fitbit goal and MFP goal increase according to exercise (steps)

    Fitbit does not have a minimum. It will give you an eating goal below 1200. MFP won't. even with negative calories enabled.
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