FAQ - Syncing, logging food & exercise, calorie adjustments, activity levels, accuracy
Replies
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is anybody else getting an extremely high exercise number?
i noticed in the past i hit 10000 steps and it gave me exercise as about 1200 calories burned and now for the past week i been going between 10000-13000 and i am getting almost 2000 calories burned a day from steps. Thanks in adance0 -
Since there isn't an exact correlation between steps and calories - you'll need to see what the math is actually based on - to confirm that's correct.
That Fitbit cal adjustment has details you should compare, and confirm, that it's actually correct Fitbit sync data that MFP is doing math with.
You might find regular topic in group dealing with that or start your own topic so more actually see it.
Rarely do people read the stickies or FAQ for new posts - so limited eyes on your question for advice.0 -
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So I understand..
- I play in an ultimate frisbee recreation league twice/week. If I wear my fitbit flex during games, I don't need to log a workout afterwards because ultimate is a step-based activity and my fitbit just accounted for steps/distance/cals burned while I was wearing during the game.
- If I decide to go for a run or do a track workout while wearing my fitbit flex, I again don't have to log a workout afterward becuase these are also step-based activities.
- If I go to the gym and lift weights while wearing my fitbit flex then I should log the workout afterwards because that isn't considered a step-based activity.
When I do log workouts afterwards, it doesn't matter if I use the fitbit or MFP app? Either way it should do the same thing?
Thanks!0 -
robertsryan89 wrote: »So I understand..
- I play in an ultimate frisbee recreation league twice/week. If I wear my fitbit flex during games, I don't need to log a workout afterwards because ultimate is a step-based activity and my fitbit just accounted for steps/distance/cals burned while I was wearing during the game.
- If I decide to go for a run or do a track workout while wearing my fitbit flex, I again don't have to log a workout afterward becuase these are also step-based activities.
- If I go to the gym and lift weights while wearing my fitbit flex then I should log the workout afterwards because that isn't considered a step-based activity.
When I do log workouts afterwards, it doesn't matter if I use the fitbit or MFP app? Either way it should do the same thing?
Thanks!
Actually, the way I understand it, Fitbit and MFP use slightly different algorithms to compute your calorie burn from manually logged workouts. MFP is generally thought to overestimate calorie burn. So, while you can manually log in either one, it's probably better to use Fitbit. I log all exercise in Fitbit and all food in MFP.0 -
robertsryan89 wrote: »So I understand..
- I play in an ultimate frisbee recreation league twice/week. If I wear my fitbit flex during games, I don't need to log a workout afterwards because ultimate is a step-based activity and my fitbit just accounted for steps/distance/cals burned while I was wearing during the game.
- If I decide to go for a run or do a track workout while wearing my fitbit flex, I again don't have to log a workout afterward becuase these are also step-based activities.
- If I go to the gym and lift weights while wearing my fitbit flex then I should log the workout afterwards because that isn't considered a step-based activity.
When I do log workouts afterwards, it doesn't matter if I use the fitbit or MFP app? Either way it should do the same thing?
Thanks!
Correct on workouts needed to log.
But - Fitbit exercise database has better calculations for the calories, so better to log there.
Just make a wall post of MFP about the workout to inform friend's list. Do NOT log as 1 calorie as you see some do - that will replace that whole amount of time on Fitbit with a 1 calorie burn - talk about inaccuracy.
MFP and Fitbit both start with the same database - but Fitbit leaves in original state (METS) and uses your BMR which they have for the calculations.
MFP converted the database to work with weight using an assumed burn rate (though they have BMR also) so it looses some accuracy depending on where you are in range.
200 lb 20 yr male and 200 lb 60 yr old female don't have the same base metabolism though MFP method would use that.
Now, if only a 15 min workout weekly and middle of range - the amount MFP would be off is probably minor to Fitbit, and more inaccuracy in food labels.
But - if it adds up through the week, it could be bad.
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this question may be asked and answered, if so, i apologize.
I tend to pre-log my meals in mfp a lot so that i can plan the day, then i adjust any changes as i go. Each time i change a meal though, my fitbit charge hr logs it again. so it's counting breakfast 3 times. This doesn't matter so much because i use mfp for all my food logging, but i don't like having skewed data anywhere, it throws me off.
any ideas how to fix this? THANKS!!
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It's a bug. You have to delete the wrong item in Fitbit. Eventually they may fix it. But it's been awhile too, so perhaps not.
But pre-logging is certainly valid method for planning. You'll eventually get to the point where you'll know roughly what a meal is for calories, and could skip the pre-logging to avoid the bug.0 -
thank you!0
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My fitbit seems to think I've eaten over 5000 calories today! I've logged everything the same as normal to mfp. I don't pay too much attention to the fitbit but for how many alleged ca loris I'd eaten but it did give me a shock!0
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My fitbit seems to think I've eaten over 5000 calories today! I've logged everything the same as normal to mfp. I don't pay too much attention to the fitbit but for how many alleged ca loris I'd eaten but it did give me a shock!
Go into the Food log on Fitbit. You'll likely see multiple meal entries for one or more meals. Compare the meals to MFP's meals and delete the ones that don't match until you only have one summary for each meal.1 -
Hi heybales, I've been using MFP for 3 years and just bought a Fitbit Alta. My fitness data isn't syncing with MFP. I tried to reconnect using the website on my laptop as you mentioned at the very top of this post and it's still not working. In my Fitbit settings I can't find where I can "Revoke Access". I don't have an "applications" section in my settings. Am I missing something?0
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Hi heybales, I've been using MFP for 3 years and just bought a Fitbit Alta. My fitness data isn't syncing with MFP. I tried to reconnect using the website on my laptop as you mentioned at the very top of this post and it's still not working. In my Fitbit settings I can't find where I can "Revoke Access". I don't have an "applications" section in my settings. Am I missing something?
Fitbit web account - Settings - Applications - MFP - Revoke Access.
Just to be clear though - your overall fitness data does NOT sync with MFP - only your daily total calorie burn and the steps.0 -
I've tried revoking access and reconnecting and everything else I can think of - my fitbit still won't sync!!!
Any advice? 0 -
I'm having the same problem and just posted on it in a separate thread. I haven't been able to sync with MFP for about 3 days. I've seen a couple of other users having the same problem. I think there's some technical problem going on either with fitbit.com or MFP.0
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I haven't been having any problems with syncing until today. My calorie adjustment from Fitbit to mfp was right yesterday when I went to bed, and has been syncing and working just fine today. However I just went back in my mfp diary to yesterday and now the Fitbit adjustment isn't on there, so it says I went way over yesterday.0
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my calorie burn hasn't been coming up for the past 2 weeks, it's really getting on my nerves. especially since i walked 5 miles yesterday and felt super good about it.0
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For those commenting on missing Fitbit stats in MFP, you might read through several topics in main area instead of the FAQ which is rather limited in scope for topic, and rather unread by vast majority since it's only about the FAQ (usually).
There are 2 big solutions many are finding success with.0 -
I have just synced my fitbit to my mfp profile a few days ago. The info seems to go from mfp to fitbit just fine but the fitbit info (calories burned or steps) doesn't translate over to MFP. I just have a basic MFP account - is it that you need the premium account to do this?
Thanks so much for any help....0 -
No - read my response right above yours.0
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I just synced MFP with Fitbit today after having Fitbit for 6 months. Is there a way to import past data??0
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iamcourtneyscat wrote: »I just synced MFP with Fitbit today after having Fitbit for 6 months. Is there a way to import past data??
Nope. Time starts on first setup.
Even if accounts had been set to sync and issues were stopping it, or no device sync in many days to Fitbit account - it'll only correct so many days in the past.0 -
FitBit finally synced with MFP! Eureka!0
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Should the Fitbit Zip sync every night to 11:59p? I always thought it did. For some reason recently (i.e in the past two weeks,) I have had some days where it doesn't sync the full day's worth of data. For example, last night it stopped at 9:50p. It is syncing fine so far today...0
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So, I think I'm clear that food should be logged only in MFP, but what about water? Does it matter where you enter that? I much prefer the way Fitbit tracks water to what MFP does.0
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Should the Fitbit Zip sync every night to 11:59p? I always thought it did. For some reason recently (i.e in the past two weeks,) I have had some days where it doesn't sync the full day's worth of data. For example, last night it stopped at 9:50p. It is syncing fine so far today...
It indeed used to end up that way - but a while back I noticed that final sync will happen the next day.
It used to be after Fitbit calorie burn was 100 higher than the prior sync that it would sync new data - which meant there was always possibility for it to be more than 1 hr from midnight.
Then the day starts out at 0 again at midnight, now you have to wait another over 1 hr for first sync to occur, and for prior day correction to occur.0 -
theplumbob78 wrote: »So, I think I'm clear that food should be logged only in MFP, but what about water? Does it matter where you enter that? I much prefer the way Fitbit tracks water to what MFP does.
Wherever you are going to look at it easiest.
Has no bearing on food on either site, nor calc's for anything - purely how you want to view, and perhaps, review, the stats from prior days.1 -
Should the Fitbit Zip sync every night to 11:59p? I always thought it did. For some reason recently (i.e in the past two weeks,) I have had some days where it doesn't sync the full day's worth of data. For example, last night it stopped at 9:50p. It is syncing fine so far today...
It indeed used to end up that way - but a while back I noticed that final sync will happen the next day.
It used to be after Fitbit calorie burn was 100 higher than the prior sync that it would sync new data - which meant there was always possibility for it to be more than 1 hr from midnight.
Then the day starts out at 0 again at midnight, now you have to wait another over 1 hr for first sync to occur, and for prior day correction to occur.
Thanks so much for your reply. The full sync for Sunday still hasn't occurred:(. And there are a couple of days further back where it didn't as well. For example, Tuesday (8/16), it only did through 11:13p.0 -
Should the Fitbit Zip sync every night to 11:59p? I always thought it did. For some reason recently (i.e in the past two weeks,) I have had some days where it doesn't sync the full day's worth of data. For example, last night it stopped at 9:50p. It is syncing fine so far today...
It indeed used to end up that way - but a while back I noticed that final sync will happen the next day.
It used to be after Fitbit calorie burn was 100 higher than the prior sync that it would sync new data - which meant there was always possibility for it to be more than 1 hr from midnight.
Then the day starts out at 0 again at midnight, now you have to wait another over 1 hr for first sync to occur, and for prior day correction to occur.
Thanks so much for your reply. The full sync for Sunday still hasn't occurred:(. And there are a couple of days further back where it didn't as well. For example, Tuesday (8/16), it only did through 11:13p.
Mine picked up that nifty habit earlier this year. It never closes the day out anymore like it used to, and the best it ever does is a final sync at 11:59 pm but often the last sync is earlier than that and when I compare the estimated cal burn to what FitBit actually says they can be off by 20-50 cals. Frustrating!0 -
WinoGelato wrote: »Should the Fitbit Zip sync every night to 11:59p? I always thought it did. For some reason recently (i.e in the past two weeks,) I have had some days where it doesn't sync the full day's worth of data. For example, last night it stopped at 9:50p. It is syncing fine so far today...
It indeed used to end up that way - but a while back I noticed that final sync will happen the next day.
It used to be after Fitbit calorie burn was 100 higher than the prior sync that it would sync new data - which meant there was always possibility for it to be more than 1 hr from midnight.
Then the day starts out at 0 again at midnight, now you have to wait another over 1 hr for first sync to occur, and for prior day correction to occur.
Thanks so much for your reply. The full sync for Sunday still hasn't occurred:(. And there are a couple of days further back where it didn't as well. For example, Tuesday (8/16), it only did through 11:13p.
Mine picked up that nifty habit earlier this year. It never closes the day out anymore like it used to, and the best it ever does is a final sync at 11:59 pm but often the last sync is earlier than that and when I compare the estimated cal burn to what FitBit actually says they can be off by 20-50 cals. Frustrating!
Thanks for your reply. I was trying to figure it out with tech support but was not getting very far. If I figure something out, I will try to post back. I did notice that Fitbit and MFP calories were different.
I do think it is somehow related to when I take my Zip off of my waste band for the night. Seems to stop syncing about the same time.
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