Activity trackers & Logging Exercise

tisdalla
tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, I've noticed that there are some people who sync their activity trackers with MFP and still manually log their exercise. Are they double logging, therefore creating a larger deficit that they actually have? Wouldn't this sabotage weight loss efforts?

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    If you log the start and end time correctly it should adjust the calories given from the activity tracker at that time - therefore erasing the double dip. However in my experience I felt it was better to just let my activity tracker do its thing rather than adding in a bunch of extra calories from manually entered exercise - because eating so many extra calories just didn't work for me. It is personal choice though and it does work for some people to eat back all those calories.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Last night I went for a 26 mile bike ride. Didn't get any steps during that time. :smile:
  • tisdalla
    tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    edited May 2016
    tisdalla wrote: »
    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)

    Nope.

    Your adjustment is always going to be (unless there is a glitch) Activity Tracker burn - MFP estimated burn based on activity level selection = + / - / 0 adjustment

    Higher activity levels means that it takes longer to get calories added to your day.

    Examples:
    Sedentary means MFP estimates I burn 1600 calories approximately a day.
    Lightly Active means MFP estimates I burn 1800 calories approximately a day.
    Active means MFP estimates I burn 2000 calories approximately a day.
    Yesterdays Fitbit burn = 2155
    Sedentary 2155-1600 = 555 adjustment
    Lightly Active 2155 - 1800 = 355 adjustment
    Active 2155 - 2000 = 155 adjustment

    Though if you set your activity level higher then Sedentary, I recommend turning on Negative adjustments. This way if you have a day were you aren't as active as normal, MFP can adjust your calories down so that you maintain your deficit.
  • tiffanylacourse
    tiffanylacourse Posts: 2,986 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    tisdalla wrote: »
    Also curious, if you set you activity level to something above sedentary MFP adjusts your calorie target - are you doubling up then? I just want to make sure I'm not sabotaging myself by falsely inflating my caloric needs:)

    Nope.

    Your adjustment is always going to be (unless there is a glitch) Activity Tracker burn - MFP estimated burn based on activity level selection = + / - / 0 adjustment

    Higher activity levels means that it takes longer to get calories added to your day.

    Examples:
    Sedentary means MFP estimates I burn 1600 calories approximately a day.
    Lightly Active means MFP estimates I burn 1800 calories approximately a day.
    Active means MFP estimates I burn 2000 calories approximately a day.
    Yesterdays Fitbit burn = 2155
    Sedentary 2155-1600 = 555 adjustment
    Lightly Active 2155 - 1800 = 355 adjustment
    Active 2155 - 2000 = 155 adjustment

    Though if you set your activity level higher then Sedentary, I recommend turning on Negative adjustments. This way if you have a day were you aren't as active as normal, MFP can adjust your calories down so that you maintain your deficit.

    ^All of this! +1
  • tisdalla
    tisdalla Posts: 32 Member
    Thank you!!!

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