MFP and fit bit question for a friend

sally884
sally884 Posts: 51
in Health and Weight Loss
So I've got a friend at work using MFP
She asked for help on it today and said she had her son set up the fit bit with her MFP. I don't know anything about fit bit and her calories were coming out to 1380 a day being active and wanting to lose 1 pound a week for 15 pounds. Now I have 1550 a day at lightly active so I am wondering why hers is low? Does it have to do with the fit bit?

Replies

  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    She was getting 1380 from MFP or Fitbit? More likely it has to do with her BMR estimate. Is she older or smaller than you? Are you also set up for 1lb/week loss?
  • sally884
    sally884 Posts: 51
    She is older than me by about 15 years and also smaller than
    My by about 15 pounds...the number came from
    MFP
    But she is alot more active than me due to the nature of her job.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1307-fitbit-users

    But your question has nothing to do with Fitbit. MFP uses your height, weight, age, sex, activity level & weight-loss goal to calculate your calorie goal.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    She is older than me by about 15 years and also smaller than
    My by about 15 pounds...the number came from
    MFP
    But she is alot more active than me due to the nature of her job.
    If you google "BMR calculator" and plug numbers in you'll see how things like being 15 years older and smaller change things. It can be significant. For 'active' vs. 'lightly active', I think MFP just uses a BMR multiplier on each. Something like sedentary = BMR * 1.20, lightly active = BMR *1.30, etc. So if her BMR is just smaller, she even is allocated less for activity than you are (at the same level of activity). Smaller people take less calories to move around.

    Or just change your settings to her stats and activity level and see if your calorie goal changes to hers. It should, if you're right about her settings. You can change it right back.

    If she has it set up to, her Fitbit can give her more or less calories on some days based on how much she moves about but it doesn't change her starting daily intake goal.
  • sally884
    sally884 Posts: 51
    Oh ok thanks everyone! Just wanted to make sure it wasn't a fit bit thing! Thanks for the help. She is well on her way to her new lifestyle! :)

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