Variant activity level through the week, how to log?
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See, that is the aspect I thought i recalled - it assumes a daily burn base, higher than just BMR though.
If you don't mind sharing - age/weight/height - or do a lookup on MFP Tools - BMR calc for what it is. Or any Mifflin BMR calc.
It's obviously some very different way of doing it that makes it basically incompatible with the way MFP was designed to work with synced activity trackers.
MFP provides the API's to any outside vendors that want to use it - and confirm connectivity and proper usage (like don't send updated sync figures every 2 min and kill the sync server) prior to going live and linking to the external site - but they appear not to confirm so well the figures as to what is sent.
On the burn graph where it shows the small chunks of time - is that 15 min chunks?
If you hover over it or attempt to highlight just one of them - does it say what the calorie burn was for just that bit?
I guess with daily value you got - it doesn't matter.0 -
See, that is the aspect I thought i recalled - it assumes a daily burn base, higher than just BMR though.
If you don't mind sharing - age/weight/height - or do a lookup on MFP Tools - BMR calc for what it is. Or any Mifflin BMR calc.
It's obviously some very different way of doing it that makes it basically incompatible with the way MFP was designed to work with synced activity trackers.
MFP provides the API's to any outside vendors that want to use it - and confirm connectivity and proper usage (like don't send updated sync figures every 2 min and kill the sync server) prior to going live and linking to the external site - but they appear not to confirm so well the figures as to what is sent.
On the burn graph where it shows the small chunks of time - is that 15 min chunks?
If you hover over it or attempt to highlight just one of them - does it say what the calorie burn was for just that bit?
I guess with daily value you got - it doesn't matter.
Ahhh that makes sense. Are other trackers better at communicating? You mentioned Apple Watch was bad.
They both have the same data from me - I'm 5'2, currently hovering around 169lbs. I'm 24 F.
The graph isn't highlightable unfortunately. If you tap it it just goes back to the circle view. The data is really not manipulatable, and this is really all I get from it. Which is part of what makes me think something like a Fitbit might be better?
What I do get is a list of these little guys:
But only if my activity is above a certain, unspecified speed. For my slow walking at work it doesn’t record anything like this. I get the above for my walks to and from the subway sometimes. I will get one for a swim also.
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potatowhoruns wrote: »I would suggest adding exercise based on how many steps on recorded on your tracker (5 mins for every 1000 steps for example) whilst remaining on sedentary. Monitor for a few weeks and see whether your estimate is right for you. That will give you extra calories on the day you moved more, whilst allowing for days with minimal steps.
Thank you, that sounds like a good idea. I’ll try that. Because I am essentially walking, just really slowly lol.tinkerbellang83 wrote: »Steps are accounted for in your chosen activity level if you're doing 7500 steps at work, you're not sedentary, set it to at least Lightly Active, monitor weight loss over 4-6 weeks. If you're losing more than expected increase your activity level again.
You could also use a weight trend app that will tell you approximately how much of a deficit you're in (Happy Scale for iOS, Libra for Android, WeightGrapher for Web)
I do have happy scale. I’m only eating at a 1lb/week loss and I honestly wouldn’t mind losing a bit faster if it were just that. The issue is that I will feel hungry and go over my goal, and I’m fairly sure it’s because I’m not sedentary anymore.
I explained why I’m skeptical of putting myself as “lightly active” - because this is not every day or even 5 days a week. My shifts vary in length, and activity, and it’s typically only 2x a week unless I can catch some extra hours. I’m still sedentary + exercise on other days, so for those days I’d have to not count my exercise or something? I don’t really know.TavistockToad wrote: »link your tracker so you get more calories on days you work?
I also explained why I can’t link the tracker. It works on TDEE so it tells MFP I’ve earned “1900cals from exercise” 😒 which is unhelpful lol.
Maybe on work days just eat more without changing your settings. You could eat 200-500 calories more on just those work days.
The difference in calories for the activity level settings is about 200-300 calories I think.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »I'm confused... why can't you just log walking as exercise?
Because I’m not walking at a pace of 2.0mph for 4h. I’m standing, walking a few paces, picking something up, squatting down to get something, pushing some things, walking a few paces, etc. If I logged that, I’m sure it would massively overestimate what I’m burning.
I don't think it's telling MFP that you burned 1900 calories in exercise...it sounds like it's just adjusting your goal to 1900 calories because you are moving more than what you have your MFP activity level set to because you're not sedentary with a job that requires you to be on your feet. Activity trackers are taking everything into account, not just your exercise...
Sorry, when I had them synced that's what it seemed like it was doing. Giving me a 1900cal "from exercise" which I knew was wrong and weird. it was like [MFP daily cal goal] + [1900 from exercise] = [ridiculously large total cal goal]. But maybe I should sync them up again and see if that's what it's still doing?
I'm having the exact same problem with my fitbit. It logs a ridiculously high number of calories as exercise. I have no idea how to fix it though. I just use the TDEE method (track my TDEE using my fitbit, subtract my MFP-calculated intake and get my deficit), but it would be nice to be able to synk them properly to see more accurate numbers show in my diary.0 -
@heybales
So I’ve had the misfit connected today, for which I’ve been almost completely sedentary and:
I......don’t think that’s......correct......... 😐cwolfman13 wrote: »I'm confused... why can't you just log walking as exercise?
Because I’m not walking at a pace of 2.0mph for 4h. I’m standing, walking a few paces, picking something up, squatting down to get something, pushing some things, walking a few paces, etc. If I logged that, I’m sure it would massively overestimate what I’m burning.
I don't think it's telling MFP that you burned 1900 calories in exercise...it sounds like it's just adjusting your goal to 1900 calories because you are moving more than what you have your MFP activity level set to because you're not sedentary with a job that requires you to be on your feet. Activity trackers are taking everything into account, not just your exercise...
Sorry, when I had them synced that's what it seemed like it was doing. Giving me a 1900cal "from exercise" which I knew was wrong and weird. it was like [MFP daily cal goal] + [1900 from exercise] = [ridiculously large total cal goal]. But maybe I should sync them up again and see if that's what it's still doing?
I'm having the exact same problem with my fitbit. It logs a ridiculously high number of calories as exercise. I have no idea how to fix it though. I just use the TDEE method (track my TDEE using my fitbit, subtract my MFP-calculated intake and get my deficit), but it would be nice to be able to synk them properly to see more accurate numbers show in my diary.
Oh wow, that sucks. That’s really disheartening that it’s happening with Fitbit too 😐 so maybe that isn’t the answer. Let me know if you find out how to fix it?0 -
Fitbit seems to be having a bug with some users - by no means all - I'm trying to figure out which side waiting for someone to give me good solid info.
Fitbit, as well as others less frequently - will having issues with general syncing - server on MFP side gets overwhelmed, stat's get backed up, the huge quantity of users with many doing a process that makes it worse, all happen at once.
So that is interesting that you're given 326 exercise with so few steps. Doesn't seem correct since what should be a BMR level burn is 1925 by Misfit, and MFP Sedentary up around 2000 it seems.
But MFP is doing estimate to end of day - so could be correct for now and it'll keep shrinking.
What does your Exercise Diary say as far as workouts, adjustments, ect.
And tap & hold on any Adjustment line and get screen shot of the More Info details.2 -
Fitbit seems to be having a bug with some users - by no means all - I'm trying to figure out which side waiting for someone to give me good solid info.
Fitbit, as well as others less frequently - will having issues with general syncing - server on MFP side gets overwhelmed, stat's get backed up, the huge quantity of users with many doing a process that makes it worse, all happen at once.
So that is interesting that you're given 326 exercise with so few steps. Doesn't seem correct since what should be a BMR level burn is 1925 by Misfit, and MFP Sedentary up around 2000 it seems.
But MFP is doing estimate to end of day - so could be correct for now and it'll keep shrinking.
What does your Exercise Diary say as far as workouts, adjustments, ect.
And tap & hold on any Adjustment line and get screen shot of the More Info details.
These were the screenshots I got, I don’t see any more info and it doesn’t seem to be very explanatory: am I looking in the wrong spot? These are for today, which was less sedentary as I was running some errands.
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At about that time of last sync 4:28 pm - how many calories did Misfit show you as burning in total?
Do you think it was close to the 1847 MFP says it got?0 -
Well, your screen shots do help me to see why people get confused and think they are getting some sort of straight calories for steps - bad combo to put on a single screen, considering that adjustment could be based on a workout logged on Misfit.
Anyway....
That 56 cal difference for 42 min between 1847 @ 4:28 and 1903 @ 5:10 exactly matches the BMR Misfit is using 1925 you got on day of not wearing it. So that is correct, must have been sitting those 42 min since same step count.
So lets check if MFP math is correct. This is why the Calorie Adjustment screen is the main useful one.
Misfit did report 1847 calories burned for the day as of 4:28 pm - or 988 min into daily 1440 min, or 31.4% left of the day.
MFP expected you to burn 1836 for the day, so for 31.4% left = 577 left to the day.
Misfit burned so far 1847 + 577 MFP rest the day = 2424 projected total day.
Projected 2424 - 1836 MFP expected = 588 adjustment.
That should be added to base eating goal.
Their math is off at 2653 projected - don't know how they could have gotten that, 229 higher is bad.
This is not from Misfit issue (it could have it's own, and 1847 was elevated for some reason anyway), this is MFP.
(extra speaking out loud, but can be ignored:
If they did the math from when you looked at 4:44, it would actually be a lower adjustment since less time to day left. But that's not how it works.
If they were having the same bug with you I just confirmed with a Fitbit user, it would be be using a calorie burn from later sync but keeping time stamp from earlier so a much bigger adjustment.
But I know there is no 4:44 sync since the calories would have to go up by at least 100 over prior sync, and 16 min isn't enough time.
Let's see 4:44 pm = 1004 leaves 436 min in 1440 = 30.3%.
1836 x 30.3% = 556
1847 + 556 = 2403
2403 - 1836 = 567 adj
Yep lower - that's not the issue.)
So I do not know why their math is screwed up - it's not from Misfit though, it is all on MFP.
That screenshot of the Calorie adjustment along with confirmation that Misfit matched at that time is enough to prove to MFP troubleshooting it's not correct.
A prior day showing end of day sync time (11:59pm) along with Misfit total daily burn would be even better - leaves most the math above out of the way.7 -
Well, your screen shots do help me to see why people get confused and think they are getting some sort of straight calories for steps - bad combo to put on a single screen, considering that adjustment could be based on a workout logged on Misfit.
Anyway....
That 56 cal difference for 42 min between 1847 @ 4:28 and 1903 @ 5:10 exactly matches the BMR Misfit is using 1925 you got on day of not wearing it. So that is correct, must have been sitting those 42 min since same step count.
So lets check if MFP math is correct. This is why the Calorie Adjustment screen is the main useful one.
Misfit did report 1847 calories burned for the day as of 4:28 pm - or 988 min into daily 1440 min, or 31.4% left of the day.
MFP expected you to burn 1836 for the day, so for 31.4% left = 577 left to the day.
Misfit burned so far 1847 + 577 MFP rest the day = 2424 projected total day.
Projected 2424 - 1836 MFP expected = 588 adjustment.
That should be added to base eating goal.
Their math is off at 2653 projected - don't know how they could have gotten that, 229 higher is bad.
This is not from Misfit issue (it could have it's own, and 1847 was elevated for some reason anyway), this is MFP.
(extra speaking out loud, but can be ignored:
If they did the math from when you looked at 4:44, it would actually be a lower adjustment since less time to day left. But that's not how it works.
If they were having the same bug with you I just confirmed with a Fitbit user, it would be be using a calorie burn from later sync but keeping time stamp from earlier so a much bigger adjustment.
But I know there is no 4:44 sync since the calories would have to go up by at least 100 over prior sync, and 16 min isn't enough time.
Let's see 4:44 pm = 1004 leaves 436 min in 1440 = 30.3%.
1836 x 30.3% = 556
1847 + 556 = 2403
2403 - 1836 = 567 adj
Yep lower - that's not the issue.)
So I do not know why their math is screwed up - it's not from Misfit though, it is all on MFP.
That screenshot of the Calorie adjustment along with confirmation that Misfit matched at that time is enough to prove to MFP troubleshooting it's not correct.
A prior day showing end of day sync time (11:59pm) along with Misfit total daily burn would be even better - leaves most the math above out of the way.
Wow, thank you!!! It seems like unsynced is probably better, but I’d have to figure out how to calculate that adjustment myself. Thank you for showing your math!! I am definitely confused by what it’s giving me.
Here are the misfit & mfp screenshots for Monday.
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Misfit says burned 2208 for the day.
MFP received 2208 for the day. (not sure why the 2:59 am time stamp, must be what Misfit puts on there, most tracker accounts put 11:59pm for last sync of day, I actually thought it was MFP doing that)
MFP then projected 2208 for the day since it's over.
That math for Monday is all correct.
Misfit 2208 - 1836 MFP estimated - 5 exercise = 367 adj
Eating base goal + 367 adj + 5 exercise = 372 (rounding difference) higher eating goal.
Now - I'm curious about that time stamp being 3 hrs off midnight.
You might check your time zone and/or time in all the following:
Misfit, Phone, Misfit app, Misfit web account, MFP web account, MFP app.
My math on mid-day example was based on MFP time stamp - if Misfit had that calorie burn at actually 3 hrs off, that would be a BMR rate of burn difference of 241 calories.
The difference in prior post example was 229 calories.
So a mismatched time zone could be the reason for the mid-day math being wrong, but end of day correct.
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Misfit says burned 2208 for the day.
MFP received 2208 for the day. (not sure why the 2:59 am time stamp, must be what Misfit puts on there, most tracker accounts put 11:59pm for last sync of day, I actually thought it was MFP doing that)
MFP then projected 2208 for the day since it's over.
That math for Monday is all correct.
Misfit 2208 - 1836 MFP estimated - 5 exercise = 367 adj
Eating base goal + 367 adj + 5 exercise = 372 (rounding difference) higher eating goal.
Now - I'm curious about that time stamp being 3 hrs off midnight.
You might check your time zone and/or time in all the following:
Misfit, Phone, Misfit app, Misfit web account, MFP web account, MFP app.
My math on mid-day example was based on MFP time stamp - if Misfit had that calorie burn at actually 3 hrs off, that would be a BMR rate of burn difference of 241 calories.
The difference in prior post example was 229 calories.
So a mismatched time zone could be the reason for the mid-day math being wrong, but end of day correct.
Thank you!
I didn’t see any time zone listed in MFP or Misfit, but the one on my phone is correct.
As of 4:45 yesterday the apps stopped communicating altogether. It says “sync completed successfully” but no steps or adjustment was collected past 6000 yesterday (even though my total Misfit steps were 13000) and nothing was collected for today at all. So I’m thinking this is part of a larger error 🤷🏻♀️
Maybe syncing them was a mistake.
If I was trying to do the math to manually put in the adjustment myself, what should I do?0 -
eewwwww - sure don't want to have to delve into that math for a quick idea.
Memorize 1800 for now - basically what MFP is expecting you to burn anyway set at whatever activity level you are at.
Eat the goal MFP gives you.
When you see the Misfit going above 1800, quick subtraction for the difference - you can eat that much over goal.
Misfit says you burned 2100 - got 300 adj.
You can create a workout on MFP called Missing adj, say 1 cal per min. Keep adjusting the time on it to match that difference as day progresses.
Your eating goal will go up by that much.
Or - if you'd rather not put bogus minutes into your Exercise Diary, even though the calories is true, there is another way.
Create a food item with bogus nutrition label called adjustment - 1 or 10 calories per serving. No macros.
Then create servings of negative number, you'll get negative calories, and your eating goal goes up.
Like with 300 adj seen in the evening - log neg 30 servings for a 10 cal food item called adjustment - you'll have 300 calories taken off your total - giving you 300 more to eat.3 -
eewwwww - sure don't want to have to delve into that math for a quick idea.
Memorize 1800 for now - basically what MFP is expecting you to burn anyway set at whatever activity level you are at.
Eat the goal MFP gives you.
When you see the Misfit going above 1800, quick subtraction for the difference - you can eat that much over goal.
Misfit says you burned 2100 - got 300 adj.
You can create a workout on MFP called Missing adj, say 1 cal per min. Keep adjusting the time on it to match that difference as day progresses.
Your eating goal will go up by that much.
Or - if you'd rather not put bogus minutes into your Exercise Diary, even though the calories is true, there is another way.
Create a food item with bogus nutrition label called adjustment - 1 or 10 calories per serving. No macros.
Then create servings of negative number, you'll get negative calories, and your eating goal goes up.
Like with 300 adj seen in the evening - log neg 30 servings for a 10 cal food item called adjustment - you'll have 300 calories taken off your total - giving you 300 more to eat.
Thank you 🙏❤️ I will do that. I don’t mind adding it to my exercise diary.
I’ll probably also try contacting MFP support because it’s clearly messed up. But now I at least know the basics of what it’s supposed to be and how to check if it’s going wildly awry. Thank you!!!!!!!0 -
Oh, the time zone settings are in MFP app and web account under settings.
Misfit has to have them too.
That will be the first thing MFP asks you to check, and where I think the error is.3 -
Oh, the time zone settings are in MFP app and web account under settings.
Misfit has to have them too.
That will be the first thing MFP asks you to check, and where I think the error is.
Thank you. I did not yet get a response from them. I did find MFP’s - it had me as Pacific. I’m in Ontario- I googled and I think that’s eastern? I changed it. Could not find one for Misfit. Nothing in settings.
It synced the backlog of days, and now it’s stuck at a similar space for today (6000 of my 10000+ steps). But MFP is writing on Misfit; Misfit is not writing on MFP. So I’m thinking you’re right, the error is MFP. 🤷🏻♀️ guess there’s no solve for this huh?
Thank you though ❤️ I really feel like I understand more of how this works & what’s happening with the numbers.0 -
The 3 hours time difference is more than enough to make the calculations go crazy.0
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Your thinking about it to much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Problem here is that there is so much information that your not sure what to do. Trust in the process, what is it your trying to do? Lose weight have a deficient in calories, are you a female, male? depending on height and weight keep your maintenance calorie intake and drop it 500cal if your trying to gain add 500
keep trac of the progress if you notice a difference good. if your not seeing results adjust.
But please don't think about it to much and your making it difficult when adding step calories2 -
Valentinogomez wrote: »Your thinking about it to much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Problem here is that there is so much information that your not sure what to do. Trust in the process, what is it your trying to do? Lose weight have a deficient in calories, are you a female, male? depending on height and weight keep your maintenance calorie intake and drop it 500cal if your trying to gain add 500
keep trac of the progress if you notice a difference good. if your not seeing results adjust.
But please don't think about it to much and your making it difficult when adding step calories
Keep reading the posts in this topic - you missed a lot regarding why you can't always just trust the figures.
But to realize that increased steps (aka daily activity) needs to be accounted for when it goes up, or changes any direction, is a good thing actually - failure to recognize that is why most slowly gain weight over the years - but it's decreased steps and eating the same.4 -
Valentinogomez wrote: »Your thinking about it to much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Problem here is that there is so much information that your not sure what to do. Trust in the process, what is it your trying to do? Lose weight have a deficient in calories, are you a female, male? depending on height and weight keep your maintenance calorie intake and drop it 500cal if your trying to gain add 500
keep trac of the progress if you notice a difference good. if your not seeing results adjust.
But please don't think about it to much and your making it difficult when adding step caloriesValentinogomez wrote: »Your thinking about it to much!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Problem here is that there is so much information that your not sure what to do. Trust in the process, what is it your trying to do? Lose weight have a deficient in calories, are you a female, male? depending on height and weight keep your maintenance calorie intake and drop it 500cal if your trying to gain add 500
keep trac of the progress if you notice a difference good. if your not seeing results adjust.
But please don't think about it to much and your making it difficult when adding step calories
Keep reading the posts in this topic - you missed a lot regarding why you can't always just trust the figures.
But to realize that increased steps (aka daily activity) needs to be accounted for when it goes up, or changes any direction, is a good thing actually - failure to recognize that is why most slowly gain weight over the years - but it's decreased steps and eating the same.
^ this. ❤️
And for me specifically, I tried the “don’t overthink it” initially (which you can see in this thread) by adding 5min of walking at 2.0mph for every 1000 steps at work to try to meet it. It helped my hunger, but I was still losing too fast at nearly 2lb/week when I was aiming for 1lb/week.
Which wouldn’t be a big deal except I started losing hair & ive been trying to troubleshoot this by increasing calories, getting some blood tests, & taking a multivitamin.
Part of trying to understand what’s happening is watching my steps. Especially because yes it varies massively throughout the week. Yesterday I got like 3000 steps total. Saturday I had nearly 12000. That’s a pretty wide swing. (And yes I do really need that downtime to take care of my knees). It’s hard to account for that variance with a stationary calorie goal without overshooting (and gaining) or undereating.1 -
And it seemed like I’d just figured this out- except it often still doesn’t sync until the next day. But it appears I’ve just lost my tracker. Fell out of my pocket after that not happening at all for a long long time. They don’t make this one anymore- are there any trackers that you know of @heybales that don’t do this sync issue?0
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