Confused about workout calories and fitbit and MFP

algrif37
algrif37 Posts: 107 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, I'll try to make this not confusing but it is!! MFP gives me 1200 calories per day. When I work out, I wear a heart rate monitor then log in the calories it says I burned during my daily workout. Now I just bought a fitbit and synced it to MFP and the steps and supposed calories burn from them goes on MFP and counts as exercise calories. I think I burn more calories during my workout (usually walk for an hour) than the fitbit steps give me. Do I then manually add in my HRM calories to my exercise on MFP? Or just go with what the fitbit tells me I burned with the steps I took? I worry if I put in both I will end up with too high of an exercise burn!

Does this make any sense? My goal is 10, 000 - 12, 000 steps per day so I don't really want to take my fitbit off while I walk. It would defeat the purpose.

What does everyone else do?
And do I eat back those calories? 1200 seems awfully low most days!

Thanks!

Replies

  • Lelah77
    Lelah77 Posts: 177 Member
    A FitBit is a glorified pedometer (I wear one, too, so I can say this in good confidence.)
    A HRM is a MUCH more accurate track of your exertion and burn.

    I only use my FitBit readings for my daily movement - work, walks with the kids, housework, etc.
    The HRM is for the gym and the FitBit stays in the gym bag. The HRM reading gets added into MFP and if you use correct times it should be accurate combined with the FitBit reading for the rest of the day.

    I take my FitBit "calories earned" with a grain of salt, btw. I have worn it in low-impact, high-intensity workouts and it barely registered a minute of "very active" time. I also know it isn't necessarily always being 'bounced' the way it needs to be to be accurate (for instance: when I am pushing the stroller, or carrying a child). It is just a baseline, but a consistent one at that.

    Hope this helps!
  • algrif37
    algrif37 Posts: 107 Member
    By entering times, do you mean just the actual length of my workout?

    And thank you!!
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    If you manually log the workout from your HRM data it will override what the Fitbit recorded from that time.

    But I wouldn't. A HRM isn't made for working with walking or anything that your heart rate isn't pretty elevated during.

    I've had Fitbits for 5 years and I think if anything they overestimate walking calories. Mine gives me like 100 calories per mile. Runners World said a good estimate of 'net calorie burn' from walking is more like .3 times body weight in lbs. times miles. So for me, that'd be like 45 calories a mile. I'm sure the truth is in the middle of that somewhere-- maybe 70 or 80.
  • terbusha
    terbusha Posts: 1,483 Member
    What I do and what I recommend to people is to eat at a calorie level that allows you to drop 1-2 lbs/week. This assumes an average calorie burn from you getting in all of your workouts. This will be different for everyone, so you'll have to do some trial and error to figure it out. I'd start ~1600 cal/day. Hit this goal, along with your macros and getting in your workouts, for a week. If you lose 1-2 lbs, you're good to go. If you lose too much, increase your intake and repeat. If you don't lose enough, reduce your intake a bit and repeat. After a few weeks, you'll figure out what works for you in your situation.

    Allan

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