Fitbit problems?

PearlAng
PearlAng Posts: 681 Member
in Motivation and Support
I recently purchased the fitbit flex, and as soon as it was programmed and ready to go, it said I had burned 577 calories. Obviously inaccurate, I couldn't find a way to reset it. So I haven't been using it. Do I reset it on a daily basis? How would I go about doing that? I just want an accurate burn

Replies

  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    I recently purchased the fitbit flex, and as soon as it was programmed and ready to go, it said I had burned 577 calories. Obviously inaccurate, I couldn't find a way to reset it. So I haven't been using it. Do I reset it on a daily basis? How would I go about doing that? I just want an accurate burn

    The Fitbit calculates your calories burned for the entire day. When you set it up with your height/weight/activity level, it estimated the number of calories you had already burned for the day, since midnight. That's where the 577 came from. There's no need to reset it. It's functioning properly.

    To get the most accurate reading, put it on before bed and start using it the next morning. That way it will have a whole day, from midnight on, to work with.
  • PearlAng
    PearlAng Posts: 681 Member
    I recently purchased the fitbit flex, and as soon as it was programmed and ready to go, it said I had burned 577 calories. Obviously inaccurate, I couldn't find a way to reset it. So I haven't been using it. Do I reset it on a daily basis? How would I go about doing that? I just want an accurate burn

    The Fitbit calculates your calories burned for the entire day. When you set it up with your height/weight/activity level, it estimated the number of calories you had already burned for the day, since midnight. That's where the 577 came from. There's no need to reset it. It's functioning properly.

    To get the most accurate reading, put it on before bed and start using it the next morning. That way it will have a whole day, from midnight on, to work with.

    Ah, thank you. That's very helpful. Now when I go to log the calories into mfp, should I just subtract 557 from the total to get the amount of calories burned for the day through exercise?
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    If you have Fitbit and MFP linked, it will update automatically. So, for instances, if MFP expects you to burn 1900 calories per day, and you have a deficit of 500 calories, then it has a goal of 1400 calories to eat. So if Fitbit records you moving a lot and burning more than 1900 calories, it will add the extra calories to MFP. That way, if you move enough to burn 2100 calories, then Fitbit will tell MFP that you moved an extra 200 calories, and MFP will set a new goal for the day of 1600 calories to eat, and that way you keep a 500 calorie deficit.

    If you use a heart rate monitor, or do some non-step exercise, like lifting or elliptical, then you should record it in the Fitbit app, not MFP. You should note the exact time you start and stop the activity, and when you record it in Fitbit, it will replace what it recorded during that time with what you tell it. So, for example, if you burned 200 calories on the elliptical from 4:00-4:20 p.m., you would put that in the Fitbit app, and it will overwrite its own information for 4:00-4:20 p.m. and replace it with your 200 calories.

    If you record the info into MFP instead, Fitbit won't know it, and will still be adding in calories from that time period. Essentially, it will have you double dipping those calories, and screw up your deficit. As long as you enter activity into Fitbit instead, it will keep it all straight and tell MFP the correct adjustment.
  • PearlAng
    PearlAng Posts: 681 Member
    Thank you!
  • LeeannSammons
    LeeannSammons Posts: 1
    Snuggle Smacks,

    I do NOT use the Fitbit exerciseor nutrition tracking/logging.
    I log everything into MFP (food and exercise) and then sync with Fitbit.

    Is it "double dipping" when I do this?

    thanks!
    Leeann
  • bekahlou75
    bekahlou75 Posts: 304 Member
    Snuggle Smacks,

    I do NOT use the Fitbit exerciseor nutrition tracking/logging.
    I log everything into MFP (food and exercise) and then sync with Fitbit.

    Is it "double dipping" when I do this?

    thanks!
    Leeann

    If you sync your fitbit with MFP the when you log your other other exercises you enter the time you did it. Like if you lifted weights from 2:00 to 2:30 you would enter that time. Then you get that exercise for that time. You will have a seperate entrance from Fitbit with those calories burned.
    It's only double dipping if you enter calories in both places.

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