Hey, how did that happen? I got the ChargeHR email too but the small was already sold out. I'm anxious to hear about the constant HR monitoring and how it relates to tracking calories. Seems iffy to me. Or, am I mistaken and the HR monitoring only happens when the elevated HR is constant? Can't wait to read reviews.

When did you get the email?

Got mine today!!! So amazing, but i will start testing it and upload a review in a week!

sodakat wrote: »

Hey, how did that happen? I got the ChargeHR email too but the small was already sold out. I'm anxious to hear about the constant HR monitoring and how it relates to tracking calories. Seems iffy to me. Or, am I mistaken and the HR monitoring only happens when the elevated HR is constant? Can't wait to read reviews.

It says it's constant all day - doesn't say it's accurate. As the method they use isn't, especially so as HR goes higher.

It'll probably be like the other trackers that use the HR just for signs of stress, elevated for long periods with no corresponding movement, ect. Get enough data, maybe something useful can be discerned from it.

Considering the speed/mass/time formula method of calorie burn is more accurate than HRM actually, and that is Polar with probably best in class calorie burn HR based calculations that I doubt greatly they are going to license to Fitbit, I really hope they don't attempt to.
I'm sure they aren't ready to pay for good studies for their own formula.

mmgavitt wrote: »

But it kind of sounds like you are a polar fan anyways which is no biggy, and I'm not so we will probably never agree on which is better. It really just depends on what you are using it for. I just don't find any of the polar devices to be great for all day and I personally just really hate chest straps. I'm also not a super fit athlete and don't need something that accurate. Just a nudge to make sure I don't tell myself I'm working harder than I am. And I like the integration with myfitnesspal.

Actually no, I think they are overpriced and stupid marketing to purposely block features in their firmware just to sell a HRM about $10-20 cheaper.

But I also recognize from researching studies that they have done a lot of their own which are proprietary, and they have funded a lot of others whose results several other companies can use.

But I also recognize how these things work from research and difference between marketing speak and actual science.

And your comment about all day use is exactly one of the points I already see people mis-understanding on the new Fitbits - "my calorie burn will be more accurate with all day HR readings".
Basic flaw that HR under the aerobic exercise zone has very little to do with the calorie burn being done, so wearing any HRM all day is misuse if hoping for better calorie burn estimate, and I know Fitbit won't do that either.

Now that is very interesting they have different activities planned in.
Because that has been the major goal of all the device types, study with BodyMedia device showed up how inaccurate it is outside walking and running slow. But when BM provided new firmware with different formula for biking and fast running, ect, those estimates were very close to measured calorie burn.

So it looks like Fitbit has improved that first, giving ability to select the activity, so the better formula can be applied during that time.
Now that is excellent.

And I think the purpose of the HRM during exercise will indeed be to help folks confirm they aren't doing it too easy. Though the VAM could have been used even better for that now that I think about it, if they'd done the math instantly and displayed it somehow. Hmmmm.....

VAM is that Very Active Minute designation, calorie burn of some activity 6 x your resting calorie burn. Shows up on FB Dashboard.

Some people do the elliptical very smooth and using all their leg muscles, much like spinning, but standing all the time. Hard for steps to register then.
Some do it like a stepping machine, so very definite impacts can be seen, sometimes both feet.
But even if both steps seen, formula is for walking, not elliptical.

And that is exactly the type of activity the HRM would be useful for, since there are so many variables available, and no studies giving a decent formula for calorie burn.

I knew you weren't talking about wearing a HRM all day, that's why I referenced what others are already saying, or what they attempted to do with HRM with chest strap.

There are 3 other activity trackers out (at least when I checked about 3-4 months ago) that track HR all day, and I got behind scenes on one of them, and they said the first few months was trying to find something to do with all the HR data from all day gathering, to get something useful out of it. I don't recall all the things they came up with, but sleep quality was one, other stress related HR increases, and after workout recovery time as to fitness level, resting HR in general, and of course as Fitbit will do with HR, guessing some HR zones to workout to.

I dropped BM too after it never showed increased effort in running, and my biggest calorie burn was easy session of chain-sawing a tree down and into logs. I'd already started leaving it off during workouts, since that was only way to allow manually logging a better calorie burn estimate. At least Fitbit makes it easy to replace.

I am hanging on for the Surge, they didn't do do a prerelease in the UK sadly, I'm hoping the early 2015 replies I've seen mean it's coming out for the new year revolutions people make.

tatowndoc wrote: »

I want to hear how fitbit and myfitnesspal sync with each other and what it does to adjust the calorie target I've set and how easy it is to add exercise (such as an elliptical or weight training) so it is added to MFP automatically. Let me know!

Fitbit after a device sync or on regular basis (30 min?, don't recall) syncs over your daily burn up to that point (or estimated if you have Calorie Estimation enabled and haven't synced lately) and your steps.

MFP takes that daily burn to that point, does some math to estimate what the whole day's burn would be, and subtracts it from it's own estimate of daily burn based on BMR, and non-exercise activity level you selected.

The difference is added (or subtracted) from your eating goal. Which was of course based on that non-exercise daily maintenance estimate minus a deficit.

If you manually log a non-step based workout on MFP, that syncs over and replaces whatever calorie burn Fitbit estimated for that time, and then the above takes place.
Except MFP takes the Fitbit burn minus the non-exercise daily maintenance and the exercise it now knows about.

Example.
Your BMR 1600, sedentary selected on MFP, so non-exercise daily burn 2000. 1 lb weekly loss for 500 cal deficit.
2000 - 500 = 1500 eating goal on non-exercise days.

Fitbit is synced at noon, and reports to MFP 1100 calories burned.
MFP sees 12 hrs at 1100, so 24 hrs is 2200 calories for the day.

Fitbit based daily estimate 2200 - 2000 MFP estimate = 200 positive calorie adjustment.
Eating goal 1500 + 200 adj = 1700 eating goal to a 2200 daily burn, so 500 cal deficit still.

That 200 cal increase could have been exercise, or just increased daily activity, or combo.

Now after work you log a 1 hr swimming workout on MFP of 300 cal at 5 pm. That syncs over to Fitbit, and replaces the estimated calorie burn it had, which was nothing but sleeping burn.

Fitbit now reports to MFP at 6pm 1883 calorie burn.
MFP sees 18 hrs at 1883, so 24 looks to be 2511.

Fitbit daily estimate 2511 - 2000 MFP estimate - 300 exercise = 211 positive calorie adjustment.
Eating goal 1500 + 300 + 211 = 2011 eating goal to 2511 daily burn, 500 cal deficit.

As you keep syncing the accuracy keeps getting better too. Obviously the worst case would be syncing right before bed, when you can't do anything about the calorie adjustments and your eating level to keep it reasonable.

How easy to add exercise - either site go in to the exercise database and add an activity. Always note your start and duration time, which is required.

But there is no adding to MFP automatically - especially for non-step based workouts, like lifting where the HR during the workout is useless indicator of calorie burn. Elliptical may be better if you set the activity for that.
But that appears on Fitbit's site, not MFP.
MFP, as shown above, will merely show a calorie adjustment.

If you want your friends to know you worked out - just make a post about it. Check out my profile for example.

I saw the Surge online at Target this morning and ordered it. I'll get it on Wed. ...

So I have my surge and have been playing. I used the exercise feature on the surge and it went to the fit bit app without a problem, I was trying to get it to sync with MFP. I can get the steps to sync but not the exercise. Is the exercise be including in the steps sync?

editorgrrl wrote: »

mazzucam wrote: »

So I have my surge and have been playing. I used the exercise feature on the surge and it went to the fit bit app without a problem, I was trying to get it to sync with MFP. I can get the steps to sync but not the exercise. Is the exercise be including in the steps sync?

Your Fitbit burn is your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure). Do not log step-based activity—your Fitbit is tracking that for you. Log non-step exercise (like biking or swimming) in Fitbit—never MFP. You won't see the exercise in MFP, but you'll get Fitbit calorie adjustments.

MFP compares your Fitbit burn to the activity level you've chosen, then adjusts your calories accordingly. Be sure to enable negative calorie adjustments under "diary settings." If you don't, you might not eat at a true deficit on less active days.

Thank you that makes sense

Hi! I had the Bodymedia arm band too! I have the surge and Loooove it so far! (Bought it in Target )

I got mine last week. I am enjoying it however it is not transferring the steps to MFP. I see that others are experiencing this. I have contacted MFP about the issue to see if it is on their end.