heybales wrote: »

gibbsedward wrote: »

I've stopped using MFP to analyze calories in and out - I just use the Fitbit app. MFP never syncs correctly anymore, prolly 'cause UA has their own tracker now (I'm just saying...). But I do track food with MFP, because their databse is better than Fitbit's. Calories consumed seem to sync FROM MFP to Fitbit OK, it's just the exercise calories that don't transfer from Fitbit to to MFP right.

OTOH if you believe the recent study any burn over 200 calories or so is not real because your body adjusts. So maybe it's better not to sync those 800 calories from walking the mall all day...

Curious what study that is?

Because while it's true your body can become more fit for the activity that it does and therefore isn't as much of a workout (meaning your breathing and heart rate aren't as high as they once were) - if you are moving the same mass around at the same pace - you are burning the same calories.

You just have more mitochondria and blood supply and fat release at higher levels of intensity to support higher fat burning rather than carb burning ratio.
Therefore you get the same required oxygen with less breaths and heart rate to burn the same amount of fuel.

There is a link to the actual study in this article - http://www.digitaljournal.com/life/health/exercise-alone-doesn-t-lead-to-weight-loss-study/article/457078. It was all over the news a couple days ago.

NancyN795 wrote: »

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To check your step source on the website, go to the Apps page, then select Steps (found at the top of the page). That should show that your Fitbit Tracker is the source. If it doesn't, then select it.

The issue is that the webpage says I have fitbit app as step tracker and as activity tracker. Turns out that is not true (even if I disconnect and reconnect) .. the (android) MFP app tells me (truly) that steps is set to 'do not track', which probably explains why NO Fbit corrections are being picked up by MFP.

Whether this also relates to last week's 'MFP calorie burn numbers changing every few minutes', I don't know. People were saying that checking 'steps' tracker on the app might fix that, but I suspect there was some more basic MFP calculation screw up.

Tomk652015 wrote: »

Just curious how long you have been using Fitbit as your calorie in/out analyzer? have you lost that way? it would seem its really the same theoretically and frankly, i kind of like the fact that you set your goal and it just very clearly states how many calories you have to go for the day.

Well, remember that they are estimating the total daily burn too, and the time from last device sync to end of day they are projecting just like MFP.

But Fitbit has 2 methods of doing that compared to MFP's activity level method - Sedentary and Personal (or historical).

Sedentary is barely above BMR - and is correct while sleeping and sitting, so it would be best estimate when it's time to plop on couch at end of day until sleep and midnight.

Personal is historic averages (weekday and weekend different) - and is a decent chance of correct during the day, but obviously you don't maintain that per minute calorie burn all time of the day - so it would be off even more than MFP would assuming Sedentary until midnight.

So with Sedentary you'll keep having your eating goal adjusted up (just like Fitbit adjustments, just not shown) as the day progresses, and if you eat about the same amount at meals until dinner and final snack - probably no issue planning well and eating more if needed.
That final sync for last snack will be more accurate as to what you could have.

Personal would allow better planning if you like variety through the day with perhaps worse planning ability.
But then you have to get used to what the difference will be at night that is corrected the next morning.

More people also like the MFP database, even with all its quirks.

NancyN795 wrote: »

GSV3MiaC wrote: »

I'm not sure we're looking at the same web page. The one I was talking about says "Choose a Step Tracking Device" at the top and has three options: "Fitbit Tracker", "Add a device" and "Don't track steps". Anyway, fixing the setting in the app should have the same effect.

And yes, for some bizarre reason, having that set wrong seems to be connected to the "MFP calorie burn numbers changing every few minutes". It makes no sense, but it happened to me, several days after others were reporting it. As soon as I fixed that setting, everything went back to normal.

However, that setting doesn't have anything to do with syncing problems between MFP and Fitbit.

Ah, now I found the page you mean go to apps, and then it is a sub-menu item. .. how dumb is it that adding fbit as a steps tracker app doesn't seem to set 'steps' to 'track with fitbit', but leaves it as 'don't track' (which is what mine still shows on the web page, even though the app says different, and step tracking is working right).

MFP really really need to get their software act together (and Fbit, it must be said, are not a lot better)

Tomk652015 wrote: »

heybales wrote: »

Well, remember that they are estimating the total daily burn too, and the time from last device sync to end of day they are projecting just like MFP.

But Fitbit has 2 methods of doing that compared to MFP's activity level method - Sedentary and Personal (or historical).

Sedentary is barely above BMR - and is correct while sleeping and sitting, so it would be best estimate when it's time to plop on couch at end of day until sleep and midnight.

Personal is historic averages (weekday and weekend different) - and is a decent chance of correct during the day, but obviously you don't maintain that per minute calorie burn all time of the day - so it would be off even more than MFP would assuming Sedentary until midnight.

So with Sedentary you'll keep having your eating goal adjusted up (just like Fitbit adjustments, just not shown) as the day progresses, and if you eat about the same amount at meals until dinner and final snack - probably no issue planning well and eating more if needed.
That final sync for last snack will be more accurate as to what you could have.

Personal would allow better planning if you like variety through the day with perhaps worse planning ability.
But then you have to get used to what the difference will be at night that is corrected the next morning.

More people also like the MFP database, even with all its quirks.

But i'm tracking activity via Fitbit syncing to MFP, what would be the difference between using Fitbit App vs MFP App? sorry if i've not gleaned that out of your post above.

The way they both project calories burned for rest of the day. I was assuming that both were synced and working correctly for the above description.

Fitbit according to the 2 options I gave above.
MFP according to the activity level you selected.

2nd half of the FAQ in the stickies shows the math for how it's done on MFP, Fitbit similar expect you could never do the math yourself on Personal option.

WinoGelato wrote: »

Are people still having an issue with this? The last sync for me with FitBit was at 11:20 this morning. I got a new phone today, so I was wondering if that might be the issue, but everything looks to be set up properly, including the "Track Steps" fix that I put in place last week to get over the issues with the MFP Calories Burned target.

Mine seems to be ok now

Mine has been fine for several days.