Gifted a fitbit! Calorie question...

crayonbreakywillow
crayonbreakywillow Posts: 44 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
So, I just opened my brand new fitbit that was just unexpectedly given to me! Feeling so shocked and blessed! My question is, should I change my maintenance calories to account for my fitbit adjustment? I'm currently set to lightly active and I sync any formal exercise via Runkeeper. Should I reset myself to sedentary and allow fitbit to adjust for all my activity including formal exercise?

Thanks all!

Replies

  • 4ever420
    4ever420 Posts: 4,088 Member
    I just got mine last week so bumping to see answers. From my experience the last few days though, I've worn both my fitbit and my HRM during my formal workouts and they are very close. My HRM shows a slightly bigger burn but only by 15-20 calories for a 45 min workout. The fitbit counts a slightly lower burn especially for my circuit training but it's been so minimal that I think I'm going to go with my fitbit for all exercise and see what happens.
  • Mhgretsch
    Mhgretsch Posts: 259 Member
    I've been using my fitbit flex for about the last month and LOVE it. I have my MFP settings at sedentary, and allow fitbit to adjust my exercise. You still do need to manually enter your exercise and start time info to MFP, but the fitbit syncs from there and adds a fitbit adjustment line to your exercise page. That's at least my experience...I don't claim to be an expert:) Enjoy the new toy!
  • crayonbreakywillow
    crayonbreakywillow Posts: 44 Member
    Were you set to sedentary before getting your fitbit last month? Or did you change it to allow the fitbit to adjust? And, do I need to manually enter all exercise, including walking/running?

    Thanks!
  • redwoodkestrel
    redwoodkestrel Posts: 339 Member
    When you sync your Fitbit and MFP together, Fitbit will automatically add your step-based exercise/activities calories burned to MFP. You do not need to log those activities in MFP. However, if you do some other type of exercise that's not totally step-based (biking, aerobics, etc.), then you should log those in MFP with accurate start and stop times, which then takes those "active minutes" off of Fitbit... so you won't double-log exercise calories in MFP and Fitbit.

    I have my activity level set as sedentary in MFP, and Fitbit regularly adds 200-1000 burned calories to MFP for me, depending on how active I've been each day (I make sure I get some amount of activity in every day).
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Use it for a week, and see how big the Fitbit adjustments are for your non-exercise but normal activity days.

    If you get hardly any adjustment, you have MFP correct.

    That's the point of the Fitbit and MFP together, get best estimate of maintenance rather than best guess of 5 levels.
    But no need dealing with wildly varying figures through the day as to how much you have left.

    You may do well enough with that kind of spur the moment planning - most don't - hence the need to log foods.

    If you ended the day with needing 300 more calories - would you still hit your goal, or say forget it, too close to bed?
    Would you make it up next morning?
  • deviousangel07
    deviousangel07 Posts: 4 Member
    I just got my Fitbit, and while I want to sync it up, I want to wait because I wasn't sure on how it would be at calculating the calories while I'm at the gym (I didn't want it to be way over or under and then screw me over!). At the gym, I do treadmill, weight lifting on the pully machines, and then some more treadmill, and this is what I've been doing:

    - I take a screen capture of my fitbit progress on my phone when I step on the treadmill, before I start, and then attach it to my shoe to count the steps.
    - After i'm done on the treadmill, I take a photo of the summary it gives (time, cals, distance, etc), and then for the Fitbit if I am doing legs that day I put the Fitbbit back on my wrist, if I am doing arms, I leave it on my shoe (I don't want the extra movements to count towards my step total)
    - Before I start the weights, I start the timer on my phone to track how long i'm lifting for, and when I'm done lifting, I stop the timer, take a screen shot of it, and go back to the treadmill
    - After I finish the treadmill, I sync up my Fitbit to my phone, take another screenshot of the Fitbit progress thing.

    I then use the Calories added up on the treadmill, and then use the MFP Calorie calculating for the weights, but when I enter in the time, I deduct 5 minutes (time spent walking from each machine, wiping them down, etc). I get those two numbers and add them together for my Calories burned for that session.

    I then go to my Fitbit screenshots, and figure out the difference between start and finish and get the Calories burned according to Fitbit.

    Then see how different each total Calories burned is.

    For me, the totals have been pretty close. The Treadmill/MFP is a bigger number, but the difference between that and the Fitbit has been somewhat near the number of calories that MFP says i'm burning on the weights alone.

    SO - what I plan on doing when I let Fitbit and MFP sync up automatically is still doing the above process, and then just adding in the Calories burned that wasn't 'caught' by the Fitbit.

    Make sense to other people, or am I doing it wrong? lol :-)
  • aarondnguyen
    aarondnguyen Posts: 270 Member
    Activity levels on apps such as fitbit and MyFitnessPal are theoretically arbitrary. They are only guidelines.

    There is no way an app can account for individual differences--such as hormonal (im)balance or metabolic adaptation (rare) among other things.

    The best thing you can do is use the provided guidelines to gauge a daily caloric target. Be as consistent as you can with your food intake: measure meats before cooking, weigh yourself weekly (best times are in the morning post pee & post poop), etc.

    Track everything (if you're up for it; if you're just beginning, you can opt to take it slowly... there's no need to jump head first into this and turn it into OCD). Monitor your weight progress and adjust calories accordingly. Allow yourself a grace period of 2-3 weeks before changing your calories. It takes time for noticeable changes to occur, whether it's the number on the scale or simply how you look in the mirror.

    Also keep in mind that things like "calorie free" condiments or diet soda don't actually have absolute-zero calories. Companies are allowed to put zero on their labels if each serving amounts to < 5 calories.

    Good luck!
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1307-fitbit-users

    It's going to take some trial & error to find which settings work best for you.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    When I synced mine, I changed my MFP settings to sedentary because I liked seeing the adjustment :) I have negative adjustments disabled because I don't care if I'm going "over" on a lazy, rest day. I still log my exercise using MFP (time/cals burned from HRM) which syncs with Fitbit. I do not log things like walking; I just use the Fitbit steps for that.
  • juicymisslucy
    juicymisslucy Posts: 72 Member
    You are going to love your fitbit! :) The only thing I log on mfp is the start time and finish time of any circuit training dvds I do. I let fitbit calculate the rest through my everyday activity. (ex walking, etc.) I believe my settings are at lightly active.
  • crayonbreakywillow
    crayonbreakywillow Posts: 44 Member
    Thanks all! I think I'm starting to get how it works! I've been maintaining on lightly active pretty well since last summer, but I've always wondered if I could/should be eating more/less some days, so it'll be interesting to see what Fitbit tells me. Am I right that it doesn't matter which activity level I leave mfp set at, Fitbit does their own adjustment and mfp adds/subtracts it based on the difference of whatever activity level I'm set at? So, if I'm set at sedentary, I'd likely see a bigger calorie adjustment than set at lightly active, but it would work out to the same amount of calories either way, correct?
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    Am I right that it doesn't matter which activity level I leave mfp set at, Fitbit does their own adjustment and mfp adds/subtracts it based on the difference of whatever activity level I'm set at? So, if I'm set at sedentary, I'd likely see a bigger calorie adjustment than set at lightly active, but it would work out to the same amount of calories either way, correct?

    Yes - as long as you have negative adjustments enabled (so that MFP will subtract for your lazy days). It doesn't really matter. I just like seeing bigger adjustments!
  • scubasuenc
    scubasuenc Posts: 626 Member
    My MFP setting is sedentary which fits because I sit at a desk for 8 hours per day. I enabled positive adjustments only from FitBit, so that FitBit cannot lower my calorie allowance. I log all of my 'real' exercise in MFP such as stationary bike, swimming, etc. I also log my exercise walks in MFP, those times I put on my exercise clothes and intentionally set out to get sweaty and burn some calories. I let the FitBit make any adjustments for any other walking around I do, things like walking around at an airport or while shopping.

    I love my FitBit because I find myself planning ways to move more - parking further away, using the stairs, etc. I feel like I have achieved something when my FitBit gives a positive calorie adjustment.
  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    I have the flex and have never synced it to MFP.
  • stuffinmuffin
    stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
    Yes I do! I set my MFP maintenance to sedentary and let Fitbit add up the rest. MFP gives me 1460 for daily maintenance and Fitbit gives me another 500 to eat! Have done this for nearly a year now and it's been really accurate!
  • lesteidel
    lesteidel Posts: 229 Member
    As long as you have negative calorie allowances allowed, it doesn't matter what your setting is sedentary, active, or lightly active. It will add when you need it to and subtract when it should. Also do not log step based activities. And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.

    I do the reverse. The data I input in MFP overwrites the Fitbit data for the same time period. Exercise won't be double-counted as long as the time started/total minutes is entered and the two sync.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
    Wrong. You can log non-step exercise either in MFP or in Fitbit. I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates, but it's up to you.

    If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times, and MFP overrides your step data during your workout.

    Edited to add that you're absolutely correct about not logging any step-based activity. And choosing an activity level is a matter of personal preference, as long as negative calorie adjustments are enabled: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
  • crayonbreakywillow
    crayonbreakywillow Posts: 44 Member
    Thanks all! That was my biggest confusion as to whether my activity level mattered. I have changed my setting to allow for negative calorie adjustments.

    So, if I log non-step exercise with mfp, I need to enter start/ stop times, but if I log with fitbit, I won't need to worry about timeframe? Is that correct?

    On a side note, I love the sleep monitoring and silent alarm! I slept 97% of last night. That seems good!
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    Set your activity to sedentary on MFP and sync the two accounts. Any exercise that doesn't register well in the fitbit (bicycling, etc.) log in MFP and fitbit will take it into account.

    I love my zip.

    Don't forget to adjust your step length in Fitbit so you get your calories right.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
    Wrong. You can log non-step exercise either in MFP or in Fitbit. I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates, but it's up to you.

    If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times, and MFP overrides your step data during your workout.

    Edited to add that you're absolutely correct about not logging any step-based activity. And choosing an activity level is a matter of personal preference, as long as negative calorie adjustments are enabled: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    I do like the Fitbit exercise estimates better BUT the instructions say to log in MFP. You can always take the numbers from Fitbit and log them on MFP. I do that often.

    I, personally, turned off negative logging because if you don't wear your fitbit all day (I forget every once in a while) it messes up MFP. That's just me.
  • breeshabebe
    breeshabebe Posts: 580
    Once you wear your fitbit for a week or two, set your myfitness pal calories to create however big of a deficit you want based on the average.

    For example, I burn about 2300 on a slow day. If I'm wanting to lose 2lbs a week, I make my deficit 1000 calories a day. So I'll set my calories to 1300 and fitbit to -1000 calorie plan and it will automatically add whatever extra I burn.

    For maintence, I would start with a minimum average of what you burn everyday and then eat more if you burn more than that.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
    Wrong. You can log non-step exercise either in MFP or in Fitbit. I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates, but it's up to you.

    If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times, and MFP overrides your step data during your workout.

    Edited to add that you're absolutely correct about not logging any step-based activity. And choosing an activity level is a matter of personal preference, as long as negative calorie adjustments are enabled: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    I do like the Fitbit exercise estimates better BUT the instructions say to log in MFP. You can always take the numbers from Fitbit and log them on MFP. I do that often.
    While MFP recommends logging everything in MFP, exercise is entirely a matter of personal preference. Food & water only sync from MFP to Fitbit, but exercise syncs both ways.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
    Wrong. You can log non-step exercise either in MFP or in Fitbit. I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates, but it's up to you.

    If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times, and MFP overrides your step data during your workout.

    Edited to add that you're absolutely correct about not logging any step-based activity. And choosing an activity level is a matter of personal preference, as long as negative calorie adjustments are enabled: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    I do like the Fitbit exercise estimates better BUT the instructions say to log in MFP. You can always take the numbers from Fitbit and log them on MFP. I do that often.
    While MFP recommends logging everything in MFP, exercise is entirely a matter of personal preference. Food & water only sync from MFP to Fitbit, but exercise syncs both ways.

    When I started last June, it did used to double your exercise if you logged in fitbit, just like an earlier poster said. Have they changed that? That's why I went to the instructions on BOTH fitbit and MFP and they recommended logging exercise here. I haven't looked at it since.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    And if you log an exercise, log it on fitbit, not MFP so you aren't getting double calories for it.
    Wrong. You can log non-step exercise either in MFP or in Fitbit. I find Fitbit's burns to be way more accurate than MFP's one-size-fits-all guesstimates, but it's up to you.

    If you log in MFP you're asked for start & end times, and MFP overrides your step data during your workout.

    Edited to add that you're absolutely correct about not logging any step-based activity. And choosing an activity level is a matter of personal preference, as long as negative calorie adjustments are enabled: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
    I do like the Fitbit exercise estimates better BUT the instructions say to log in MFP. You can always take the numbers from Fitbit and log them on MFP. I do that often.
    While MFP recommends logging everything in MFP, exercise is entirely a matter of personal preference. Food & water only sync from MFP to Fitbit, but exercise syncs both ways.

    When I started last June, it did used to double your exercise if you logged in fitbit, just like an earlier poster said. Have they changed that? That's why I went to the instructions on BOTH fitbit and MFP and they recommended logging exercise here. I haven't looked at it since.

    Yes, changed.
    If you log it in to Fitbit, it comes across as an unnamed adjustment with no wall posting.
    So if you desire to inform friends of workouts, you could log as 1 calorie.

    I do find the exercise database interesting though, as they both seem to be using the same one.
    The only difference is any descriptions of pace that don't exactly match, they do the math for the in-between numbers.

    I just tested several walking and running speeds, because the 2-4 mph walking flat and 5-6.3 mph running flat are more accurate than HRM's, and those match with the weight the same between sites.

    Now swimming, I like that on MFP I can select was this vigorous or not, but on Fitbit it's assuming my slower speed was not vigorous. How do they know I kick so poorly that it was very vigorous for my upper body?
    And why did I get a pop-up that said I need to learn to swim? ;-)
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    You and I must swim the same. Personally, I like jogging in the pool. Less likely to drown.

    I rarely log exercise - I just take the fitbit adjustment. I only log if I'm doing something like mucking out the chickens - lots of arm exercise but very little walking.

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