Exercise Log: Fitbit and Cardio

Krish1209

Hey - Noob question. I recently got myself a Fitbit. Does this mean I don't need to log any additional exercises and just have the Fitbit activity logged on MFP. Don't want to double count but also not sure of how accurate the adjustment from Fitbit will be.

jessiedawn8400

Either way you do it, the number comes out the same at the end. If you still want to log excerises, you put the start time and duration and that will replace the fitbit calories for that time, overall changing what the adjustment would be. If you don't do anything, you just get the adjustment. Keep in mind it may be a little off for the first couple weeks while the Fitbit is learning you.

Once you have about a months worth of data to look back on, you can see where you might need to make adjustments. Customizing your stride length may make a difference. Also, its not the best at calculating accurately for lifting. Usually those are better logged separately under the cardio section. Also, turn on negative adjustments so it works for you in both ways. If you aren't as active as you told MFP you were in your settings, it will take the calories away from you.

Krish1209

Thanks for the clarity ! Didn't know it adjusts for the timings that the exercise is logged. What do you mean by negative adjustments ?

jessiedawn8400

Krish1209 wrote: »

Thanks for the clarity ! Didn't know it adjusts for the timings that the exercise is logged. What do you mean by negative adjustments ?

It's a option in the diary settings you can turn on, that way if you aren't as active as MFP thinks you are, it will adjust your calories down to keep your deficit what you told it you wanted to be. You may start the day with less calories, but it will adjust up as you sync throughout the day. If you're pretty active and set yourself as sedentary, you may not ever see the negatives so you might not need to turn this on. For me personally, I don't like to have huge adjustments,so I have my activity level set closer to reality, and will end the day with small adjustments, sometimes in the negatives by a small amount. I'm OK with that because I know I'm still in a deficit, just not as large if one for that day. I usually start my day with close to -300,but end slightly in the positive by the end. I think having to work to see that adjustment helps me to be more active. But a lot of people just set to sedentary and take the big adjustments.

Take a look in the fitbit users group on here. There is a FAQ post that explains everything really well for people new to fitbit. It's very helpful.

Edited to add: I believe you have to be on the website, not the phone app, to be able to enable the negative adjustments