MFP vs FitBit exercise
lorrpb
Posts: 11,463 Member
I use a Fitbit that reports all steps to MFP and MFP makes minor calorie adjustments it deems necessary. MFP is set to sedentary. I know I shouldn't log my walks additionally in MFP because FB accounts for those steps, but what about step-based activities that require more than basic energy expenditure-such as running intervals or moderately strenuous elliptical? I don't want to double count the steps but it would be "nice" to see some additional "credit" for all the extra effort. (I don't eat back very many exercise calories.) Thx.
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I use a Fitbit that reports all steps to MFP and MFP makes minor calorie adjustments it deems necessary. MFP is set to sedentary. I know I shouldn't log my walks additionally in MFP because FB accounts for those steps, but what about step-based activities that require more than basic energy expenditure-such as running intervals or moderately strenuous elliptical? I don't want to double count the steps but it would be "nice" to see some additional "credit" for all the extra effort. (I don't eat back very many exercise calories.) Thx.
I'm not fully understanding.... I would think the more calories burned in your day would be considered additional "credit" for the extra effort.
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I wouldn't recommend changing the fitbit adjustment unless it's for non-impact things like biking (or swimming). The fitbit is fairly smart and can tell you're not "walking" during those periods. For instance, if you go to the fitbit website, what kind of activity level does it give you for those periods? It might not have logged tons of steps but it might have logged them as burning more calories than walking would. And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.0
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Fitbit should be reasonably accurate at that, as it should recognize that you're logging more steps per minute when running than walking.
Perhaps instead of making sure to log additional calorie adjustments, feel free to eat back more of your exercise calories?I use a Fitbit that reports all steps to MFP and MFP makes minor calorie adjustments it deems necessary. MFP is set to sedentary. I know I shouldn't log my walks additionally in MFP because FB accounts for those steps, but what about step-based activities that require more than basic energy expenditure-such as running intervals or moderately strenuous elliptical? I don't want to double count the steps but it would be "nice" to see some additional "credit" for all the extra effort. (I don't eat back very many exercise calories.) Thx.
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This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
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StaciMarie1974 is correct.
I do not get credit for floors on an elliptical. My rate of steps is actually lower than walking, but the effort feels much more, especially on incline, and FB has no way to account for that.
Thanks for the clarification of FB calories. I thought the adjustment was based only on regular steps not activity level.0 -
StaciMarie1974 wrote: »This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
I get floors. Maybe different FitBits do it differently.
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Unless your elliptical changes the atmospheric pressure around itself, it sounds like you have a one-off.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
I get floors. Maybe different FitBits do it differently.
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I also get floors roller skating and sitting in a car. Sorry my experience is just n=1 then. Everyone carry on.DeguelloTex wrote: »
Unless your elliptical changes the atmospheric pressure around itself, it sounds like you have a one-off.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
I get floors. Maybe different FitBits do it differently.
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I'm not saying the altitude sensing can't be fooled, but it isn't fooled specifically by using an elliptical... as evidenced by the lack of stairs in (most) cars.
I also get floors roller skating and sitting in a car. Sorry my experience is just n=1 then. Everyone carry on.DeguelloTex wrote: »
Unless your elliptical changes the atmospheric pressure around itself, it sounds like you have a one-off.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
I get floors. Maybe different FitBits do it differently.
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Ok thanks!DeguelloTex wrote: »
I'm not saying the altitude sensing can't be fooled, but it isn't fooled specifically by using an elliptical... as evidenced by the lack of stairs in (most) cars.
I also get floors roller skating and sitting in a car. Sorry my experience is just n=1 then. Everyone carry on.DeguelloTex wrote: »
Unless your elliptical changes the atmospheric pressure around itself, it sounds like you have a one-off.StaciMarie1974 wrote: »This isn't how it works. The Fitbits that do record 'floors' base it on change in altitude while you're taking steps. So walking up a hill would get you credit for floors, using an elliptical will not.And I'd think it should log "floors" when you use the eliptical. At least it does for me. It'll give you calorie burns for 500 steps that'd be WAY higher than 500 "walking" steps.
I get floors. Maybe different FitBits do it differently.
I'm not saying it's accurate, I was just sharing what mine did
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I have compared my Fitbit results w/ a heart rate monitor. It confirmed little things I suspected. Fitbit is not perfect because it has limited information. But using logic, I can adjust accordingly. Example: if I run in place Fitbit doesn't know that I'm running in place, and thinks the high step # per minute means I'm really running. But running in place does not use as much effort. On the opposite side of the spectrum, when I'm walking at an incline on the treadmill, I'm working harder than Fitbit recognizes.
My point: if you have reason to believe that your Fitbit is lowballing you, then eat more of your exercise calories back. Having a higher or lower # displayed on an app has limited value. How you adapt is what matters.0 -
I know I shouldn't log my walks additionally in MFP because FB accounts for those steps, but what about step-based activities that require more than basic energy expenditure—such as running intervals or moderately strenuous elliptical?
Your Fitbit burn is TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), the calories necessary to maintain your current weight. If (and only if) you enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings, eating back your adjustments means you're eating TDEE minus deficit: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
No need to log any step-based activity (including intervals)—your Fitbit is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn during that time.
You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users0 -
I don't even get credit for stairs on a stairmaster machine from my fitbit, much less an elliptical. Fitbits are nothing more then an expensive pedometer, I use mine for keeping track of my daily activity, and like all the machines and even MFP app the "exercise" calories are usually way over stated.
I have my fitness pal set-up at sedentary and I want to loose 2lbs a week. So I get only 1500 calories a day to eat. When I got my fitbit for fathers day I started getting a lot more exercise calories so I started eating about half of them back. My weight loss hit a standstill and I went from loosing 2-4lbs a week to 1lb. So now I don't eat more then a hundred or two of them back, I try not to eat any of them honestly.
I'd recommend eating no calories back, or at the most 25%, IME the calories predictions are way over the actual burn.0 -
jeepinshawn wrote: »I don't even get credit for stairs on a stairmaster machine from my fitbit, much less an elliptical.
I'd recommend eating no calories back, or at the most 25%, IME the calories predictions are way over the actual burn.
The stair count is based on changes in air pressure, so you'll never get flights for using gym equipment.
I eat back 100% of my Fitbit adjustments, lost the weight, and have maintained for a year. The only way to gauge the accuracy is to trust your Fitbit for several weeks, then reevaluate your progress.
And, of course, you need to log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Logging works.0 -
You can log interval training in the FitBit log area - it asks for the time of day and duration and makes an adjustment in the calorie burn. I log all my exercise in FitBit - steps are automatic of course - and let it port over to MFP.0
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StaciMarie1974 wrote: »My point: if you have reason to believe that your Fitbit is lowballing you, then eat more of your exercise calories back. Having a higher or lower # displayed on an app has limited value. How you adapt is what matters.
I've come to this same conclusion. I've also gotten better at listening to my body. A little hunger before bed = good. A ravenous appetite before bed = bad. And I eat back more or fewer calories accordingly. So far it's working.
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