Anyone with a Fitbit!

crfeen
crfeen Posts: 85 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone!!

I just recently bought a fit bit, and I was wondering if anyone had any preferences as to whether I should connect it to MFP or not. I find that MFP has much more accurate food logging, but I prefer to log my exercise on fitbit, as it seems more accurate to me that MFP in that regard. Anyone have any experience with this? I know when you connect the fitbit, it says to make sure you’re using MFP to log food and exercise but I’m not sure what’s better.

Thanks!

Replies

  • illtemperedcherry
    illtemperedcherry Posts: 6 Member
    I have mine synced so my fitbit corrects mfp calories burned.
  • JamesMauldin
    JamesMauldin Posts: 14 Member
    I have my Fitbit Flex synched to MFP. MFP adjusts my available calories based on my activity. I usually try to ignore "extra" earned calorie points because I am not sure I trust the math used to come up with them. I am happy with the setup, though.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    It'll take trial & error to find what works for you. Here's what worked for me:

    Connect your accounts: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/apps/show/30

    Do not log any step-based activity. Your Fitbit is already tracking that for you.

    Log non-step exercise (like biking or swimming) in Fitbit—never MFP.

    Log food & drink (including water) in MFP.

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    Set your activity level to sedentary: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided & set your goal to .5 lb. per week for each 25 lbs. you need to lose.

    Follow your MFP goal, eating back your Fitbit adjustments. Your Fitbit burn is your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). If you eat less than your Fitbit burn, you will lose weight.
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    I log food on MFP and activities on fitbit, including sports. Works for me.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    edited December 2014
    I do not link my MFP and my fitbit. The fitbit was altering my calories and logging my steps as calories. Since I follow the TDEE -20% method that already has my exercise calories included it didn't work well for me.

    Also- lots of good info in the group :)http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Troutsy wrote: »
    I do not link my MFP and my fitbit. The fitbit was altering my calories and logging my steps as calories. Since I follow the TDEE -20% method that already has my exercise calories included it didn't work well for me.

    Your Fitbit burn is your TDEE—way more accurate than whatever online calculator you used. When you connect your accounts, MFP compares your activity level to your Fitbit burn and adjusts your calories accordingly.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    editorgrrl wrote: »
    Troutsy wrote: »
    I do not link my MFP and my fitbit. The fitbit was altering my calories and logging my steps as calories. Since I follow the TDEE -20% method that already has my exercise calories included it didn't work well for me.

    Your Fitbit burn is your TDEE—way more accurate than whatever online calculator you used. When you connect your accounts, MFP compares your activity level to your Fitbit burn and adjusts your calories accordingly.

    It may be the TDEE but using the -20% gives me a set amount of cals to eat every day regardless if I exercise that day or not. It's been working for me for the past year and the way Fitbit alters the calories it screws me up. So Personally I do not link it for this reason.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    I understand what you mean. I ignore MFP's whole "red day" & "green day" thing and follow my 7-day nutrition. (It's easier to see in the app.) That way I can see my calories in vs. calories out in both Fitbit & MFP. I love data & graphs.

    I'm glad you found what works for you. I recommend averaging your last 10 days' or so of Fitbit burns to get an accurate TDEE for your calculations.
  • Goin4goal
    Goin4goal Posts: 129 Member
    I personally prefer to not sync my Fitbit with MFP. I use a small calendar and every night for the past 2 years, I write down my daily steps. I can also log into the Fitbit site if I want to for reference. I use MFP to log my exercise because if I lift weights, or do some other form of exercise that doesn't involve taking a step, Fitbit doesn't count it and I feel you are still expending effort doing these types of exercise. Just my personal preference.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Non-step exercise has to be logged in the Fitbit app. (If you connect your accounts you can log it either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both.)
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