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Log HRM burned calories?

Runnnergirl89
Runnnergirl89 Posts: 10 Member
in Social Groups
Hi everyone!! I am fairly new to fitbit & MFP.

I wear a HRM and my fitbit flex while running. Do I log the calories my HRM says I burned into fitbit or MFP? Which would be the most accurate?

Also, is there a way for fitbit to agree with the HRM calories (I don't want it to double the calories I burned)?

Thanks!

Replies

  • Kimsied
    Kimsied Posts: 223 Member
    How did they compare? For me they often agree for certain activities, but not for others. I think it is pretty typical for different sources to estimate different calorie burns though. They are all guesstimates and different devices and apps input different information. My Fitbit and HRM estimates started matching or became similar after I got my settings in both devices fine tuned and after I calibrated my fitbit walking and running stride settings.

    You don't need to worry about them doubling, if you log your heart rate monitor calorie burn it replaces fitbit's estimate. This is true whether you log it on MFP or on Fitbit. I personally have better success logging to fitbit, but I was already using fitbit before I joined MFP. Either way works, the main reason I prefer logging to fitbit is that I often check my fitbit stats to see if I need to log and I am not dependant on MFP and Fitbit syncing in a timely way. Usually they sync right away, but sometimes there are delays. I mainly log non-step and resistance activities though since the fitbit cannot track those types of activities well.
  • kevinsmithrn
    kevinsmithrn Posts: 70 Member
    My setup:
    Digifit runs my HRM. I connected Digifit to Fitbit then I connected fitbit to MFP - Digifit and MFP are not directly connected. When I sync my daily activity ends up on MFP as my fitbit adjustment ( of course ) however the calories earned while wearing my HRM ( while digifit was recording) trump the fitbit calories. I find it extremely accurate. Good luck!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    If you were going on flat ground, and Fitbit said the distance was indeed correct, it would be most accurate. Because it's using formula for walking and running that are very accurate, better than HRM.
    If flat ground.
    And the distance correct, which presumes the device is counting all steps, and stride length is correct.

    So treadmill use with a correct stride length, probably very correct.

    Outside, mine is always off, about 10-20% low for calories, because my stride changes, inclines, ect.
    When I log manually on Fitbit, I actually usually lose steps and miles, and calories goes up. If I cared about step count, I'd try to get my stride length nailed better since it's changed since I first did it.

    Also, if you log your corrected workouts straight to Fitbit, but still want your friends list to see you did your workout, just post a comment on what you did for how long and calorie burn, then you can include some inspiring, or perspiring, words.

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