MFP and Fitbit

GeordieJohnB
GeordieJohnB Posts: 4 Member
edited November 19 in Getting Started
Hi All,

This is driving me around the twist: I cannot get MFP to sync my exercise from my Fitbit. It syncs my steps, but not exercise.

Any suggestions please?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    It won't sync your exercise. The sync is designed to give you adjustments when you move more than your activity level (on MFP) would estimate. That's why you only see steps. It isn't set up to import your exercise sessions.
  • GeordieJohnB
    GeordieJohnB Posts: 4 Member
    Thanks. When I manually enter my exercise, my calories burned from steps are deleted. Am I doing something wrong?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    GeordieJohnB wrote: »
    Thanks. When I manually enter my exercise, my calories burned from steps are deleted. Am I doing something wrong?

    If you manually enter your exercise on MFP, it will override the sync data for the same time period. This is to prevent you from "double dipping" into your calories and counting the same exercise twice.
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    Yeah, don't manually enter exercise in MFP if your Fitbit is synced. Use MFP for food and Fitbit to log exercise. MFP will give you calorie credits from your Fitbit, you just won't get a pretty automated "I worked out" post.
  • GeordieJohnB
    GeordieJohnB Posts: 4 Member
    Ok. So if it does not sync exercise, and overrides steps if I enter exercise manually, how do I get an accurate total for calories burned on MFP?
  • GeordieJohnB
    GeordieJohnB Posts: 4 Member
    MsHarryWinston wrote: »
    Yeah, don't manually enter exercise in MFP if your Fitbit is synced. Use MFP for food and Fitbit to log exercise. MFP will give you calorie credits from your Fitbit, you just won't get a pretty automated "I worked out" post.

    So I just need to compare total calories in on MFP with calories out on Fitbit? There is no way to sync the two?

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    GeordieJohnB wrote: »
    Ok. So if it does not sync exercise, and overrides steps if I enter exercise manually, how do I get an accurate total for calories burned on MFP?

    Your calorie adjustments -- MFP will take your data from Fitbit. It will create adjustments (add calories to your daily goal) when you have moved more than MFP would have estimated for your activity level.

    I'll use myself as an example.

    I set up my account on MFP with a "Sedentary" activity level. MFP estimates that I need 1,460 calories a day to maintain my weight. As soon as I have burned more than 1,460 -- whether it is from intentional exercise sessions or just walking my dogs and living my life, it will begin to add calories to my goal. If I go for a run and burn 250 calories and spend the rest of the day sitting on the couch, my adjustment may wind up being smaller than 250 calories (because I sat around for the rest of the day). If I don't do any intentional exercise at all but spend the day walking around a theme park, my adjustment may be larger because I've still moved around more.

    The Fitbit will track an estimate for your total calories burned for the day and MFP will filter out what it thinks you would have burned anyway and add the ones that are truly "extra." If you have your account set up to lose weight, it will also factor in a deficit based on your goals.
  • tamisteffens
    tamisteffens Posts: 29 Member


    So I just need to compare total calories in on MFP with calories out on Fitbit? There is no way to sync the two?

    [/quote]

    You can log exercise in the Fitbit app, and it will give you "credit" for those calories burned in MFP. It won't show the actual exercise, per se, though. Does that help at all?
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    MFP receives info from Fitbit on calorie burn and step #. Fitbit receives calories consumed from MFP.
  • ritzvin
    ritzvin Posts: 2,860 Member
    MFP compares the Fitbit TDEE estimate to the MFP estimate and applies a correction. (It assumes the Fitbit number already includes all your activity).
  • MsHarryWinston
    MsHarryWinston Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited June 2017
    GeordieJohnB wrote: »
    MsHarryWinston wrote: »
    Yeah, don't manually enter exercise in MFP if your Fitbit is synced. Use MFP for food and Fitbit to log exercise. MFP will give you calorie credits from your Fitbit, you just won't get a pretty automated "I worked out" post.

    So I just need to compare total calories in on MFP with calories out on Fitbit? There is no way to sync the two?

    Lol you're over complicating it. Don't worry, MFP and Fitbit sync it for you.
    Keep looking at MFP for how many calories to eat, the way you have been already.
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