Fitbit re: sedentary

choconuts
choconuts Posts: 208 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I've seen a few posters mention that they need to hit X number of steps on Fitbit to reach 'Sedentary'. I'm sure this is a pretty easy answer...but how would I find my own sedentary threshold?

Replies

  • Abby2205
    Abby2205 Posts: 253 Member
    Set your activity to sedentary in MFP. Link FitbIt. Walk. If your Fitbit Calorie Adjustment is near zero at the end of the day, then your number of steps equals sedentary. This varies somewhat day to day because the Fitbit calories burned calculator is more complicated than just "x steps = y calories", but you will soon figure out your own range.
  • choconuts
    choconuts Posts: 208 Member
    I definitely have it linked, and I'm set to sedentary, I have been for years! I guess my question is...is 'reaching sedentary' the point where my Fitbit starts giving me extra calories on MFP? I'm having a hard time explaining my question...
  • choconuts
    choconuts Posts: 208 Member

    "I generally hit sedentary level at around 2500-4000 steps."

    The above is a copy and paste of an example, what exactly does this mean?
  • higgins8283801
    higgins8283801 Posts: 844 Member
    I found mine by looking at what happens on non exercise days.

    If it adds calories to mfp, then I'm not sedentary. I found that I'm not even lightly active. I keep myself at sedentary but I always get 400-600 calories added to it..exercise days or not.
  • choconuts
    choconuts Posts: 208 Member
    I think I've got it now! Today is essentially a non exercise day, and fitbit hasn't added any calories. On exercise days, it can add up to 600. Thank you!
  • healthybodyhealthylife
    healthybodyhealthylife Posts: 189 Member
    I've put myself down as sedentary and MFP starts adding calories when I hit 4,000. Im doing a research study on physical activity and I've come across a number of science article saying 2000-4000 steps/day is classed as sedentary :) so it makes sense that mfp starts adding calories when I hit 4000
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2015
    choconuts wrote: »
    "I generally hit sedentary level at around 2500-4000 steps."

    The above is a copy and paste of an example, what exactly does this mean?

    That was me I think - I keep an eye on it over the day to be honest and watch for when it goes from negative to positive

    Also if I scroll back through previous days exercise logs I can judge how many steps have given me how many calories (providing I don't look at days with workouts logged because they screw around with the fitbit adjustments too)

    eg Right now, my fitbit says I've taken 963 steps (I've been at my desk at work for the last 5.5 hours and haven't moved much) and my MFP exercise diary is showing a -88 calories .. which means I haven't hit sedentary levels yet


  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    This is what makes them great, as mine makes me want to move my butt more!
  • jenlo1971
    jenlo1971 Posts: 49 Member
    Mine does not show negative calories. It says it is disabled but can be changed on website. I can't find where to change it. Can anybody tell me?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited February 2015
    jenlo1971 wrote: »
    Mine does not show negative calories. It says it is disabled but can be changed on website. I can't find where to change it. Can anybody tell me?

    On MFP website it's settings / diary settings
  • jenlo1971
    jenlo1971 Posts: 49 Member
    Thank you so much!
  • higgins8283801
    higgins8283801 Posts: 844 Member
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    This is what makes them great, as mine makes me want to move my butt more!


    Yep. I even walk around the living room when watching tv.
  • Tubbs216
    Tubbs216 Posts: 6,597 Member
    higgins8283801 wrote: »
    Liftng4Lis wrote: »
    This is what makes them great, as mine makes me want to move my butt more!


    Yep. I even walk around the living room when watching tv.
    Treadmill + Netflix = steps GOLD!
  • Angierae75
    Angierae75 Posts: 417 Member
    I am one of the people who have mine set to sedentary even though I very rarely am actually sedentary. (Occasionally there's a Saturday where I've been catching up on TV or doing homework all day where I actually have to make an effort to not get negative calories) but most days I have between 200-600 added. I like it that way, because I know that if I DO have a lazy day, I still get the calories I start with (1400) but if I get up and move, I'll get a bit more.

    (Yesterday I had 337 added, Tuesday I had 262 added, Monday it was 211. Basically, if I get calories added it means I get a little extra with dinner, or a snack before bed. :smile: )
  • CM9178
    CM9178 Posts: 1,251 Member
    choconuts wrote: »
    I think I've got it now! Today is essentially a non exercise day, and fitbit hasn't added any calories. On exercise days, it can add up to 600. Thank you!

    it sounds like you also probably don't have negative calorie adjustments enabled. In my opinion, you should turn that on. Otherwise, you could be eating more calories than you should.
    In my case, I'm usually below sedentary - and fitbit subtracts somewhere between 100 and 120 calories per day from what MFP gives me. I usually reach right around 2000 steps per day. If I didn't have negative turned on, I'd be eating those extra 120 calories per day because I wouldn't know better, and that adds up.
  • choconuts
    choconuts Posts: 208 Member
    This has been a huge help, thank you all! I'm heading to my settings now to enable negative adjustments.
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