A few questions on using an Apple Watch with MyFitnessPal.

Winterwolf2010
Winterwolf2010 Posts: 1 Member
edited April 2017 in Getting Started
So currently I have the MyFitnessPal app using my Apple Watch to track my steps. One thing I noticed, is when this is selected in the steps menu, it also uses my iPhone to track steps as well. My first question is why does it track steps from "both" devices? I would "assume" it's either because it's just more accurate this way, or it's so it can still calculate steps if I don't have on my watch, but is this really recommended/necessary if I have both devices on me? Even if I wear my watch from the time I get up in the morning, to the time I go to bed? It just seems odd having two devices track your steps at the same time otherwise. More importantly though, how does it calculate the calories burned between the two devices? I'm not exactly sure if it works this way with other step tracking devices, such as a Fitbit, etc. The reason I ask is to basically make sure my Apple Watch setup is properly configured in the MyFitnessPal app, so everything is as accurate as it can be, and there isn't any other settings that needs to be adjusted. One other thing I wanted to ask that I'm a bit confused about, is does the MyFitnessPal app take into consideration what my move goal is on my Apple Watch through the health app, (I do have the health app set up to allow MyFitnessPal access to all data types) and adjust things accordingly, or does it just use the Apple Watch as a step counter only, and the move goal is completely an Apple Watch thing. I hope none of these questions sound too silly, I'm just trying to get an accurate picture of just how the MyFitnessPal app and the Apple Watch work together.

Replies

  • quackers82
    quackers82 Posts: 55 Member
    I personally don't use the Apple Watch step counter with MFP, i use workouts instead you get more calories as a reward and it more closely matches MFP's manual entry of exercise.

    For example when you get up with steps turned off, start an open goal walk as a workout for say 30 mins on the watch. This will write to MFP after and add the calories. Now compare that same work calories with a manual entry, say Walking 4.0MPH 30 mins in MFP. They will be fairly close.

    Now do the same the next day just off steps. You will get rewarded no where near as many calories.

    Also the Activity App and MFP calculate your calorie burn in different ways. The Apple Watch with the Activity App does it as the day goes on , so if you stayed in bed all day you would notice the total calories slowly go up throughout the day. Active calories get added to this, taking into account you would have burned calories just living anyway, so after a workout you will have Active Calories which is less than Total Calories.

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