MFP and Fitbit syncing calories

cldb77
cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
Hello
I've started logging my calories with MFP again. I recently bought a Fitbit charge 2 and synced the accounts. I know about the calorie adjustments for exercise but for the last two days MFP has logged me under my allowance while Fitbit has logged me over my allowance by a couple of hundred calories. Can someone please tell what I'm doing wrong.

Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Make sure you're set for the same deficit on both apps.
    Pick an activity level on MFP that is close to what you usually do, so the adjustment is small.

    By the end of the night, I usually 'lose' 100-150 calories on MFP. The 'calories left' number on Fitbit is always accurate though (the 'under budget' or 'over budget' part is useless though, as it's not accounting for the calories you haven't burned yet from your BMR).
  • cldb77
    cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
    Thanks, I've definitely done something wrong somewhere. MFP logged me at 103 calories under yesterday while Fitbit logged me at 257 over
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Yeah it's never quite right. Yesterday I was 456 calories over on Fitbit, and 323 over on MFP... but when I do the math about what I burned and what my deficit is, I was actually 434 calories over.

    Go figure. Would be nice to have other people weigh in on that!
  • cldb77
    cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
    edited April 2017
    The thing that's confusing is that one is under and one is over. I would have thought they would have both been under or both over not the opposite. How bizzare, I'm such a techno and math phobe it's hurting my brain
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Double check that your goal is the same on both apps (lose 1 lb a week or whatever).
  • cldb77
    cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
    Ha thanks I think I set them wrong. I've changed them now and it's now says I'm in the zone for Fitbit for yesterday so must have synced them better, fingers crossed
  • cnave99
    cnave99 Posts: 63 Member
    My goals are different on mine. I have my MFP set to 1200 so I hit that minimum daily. Then I have my Fitbit set to 1750 which is the absolute maximum I can have and still lose weight at about 2lbs a month.

  • cldb77
    cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
    So I've now set MFP and Fitbit each to lose 1lb per week and also switched on negative calorie adjustments. My activity level in MFP is "not very active" (which I'm assuming means sedentary) and sedentary on Fitbit. Theoretically when I check both apps tomorrow I should have logged as being above my calories or below my calories on both for today rather than one saying I'm above and the other saying I'm below, right? I'm sure it's a lot easier than my brain thinks it is
  • MaybeLed
    MaybeLed Posts: 250 Member
    edited April 2017
    Hopefully checking they are set up the same has resolved your problems. Honestly I ignore the fitbit food prediction, just stick with MFP and use Fitbit to look at distance etc.

    It's worth being as accurate as possible with your activity level. Once your Fitbit has 'got to know you' and gives you consistent kcal burn it's easier to work out what your allotment should be.

    I’ve set myself as lightly active (regularly do between 8-12k steps 5-7 days a week) eat those calories including 100% of activity, I’ve enabled negative adjustments for the days I don’t get off the sofa and I’ve been regularly losing a bit more than anticipated, which is a reasonable error combining both human and technical.

    Also this group is useful http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • cldb77
    cldb77 Posts: 33 Member
    I've set it to not very active as I do a desk job and can't be sat for long periods and workout 3 x weekly. Hopefully it will adjust its self over the next few weeks. I'll check out the group thanks
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