What's the best way to use MFP & Apple Watch?

nateileen
nateileen Posts: 2 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Morning everyone!

I've decided to use MFP once again. Last time I was on here I had a Fitbit and found the integration with MFP easy. Not quite the case with the Apple Watch.

Apple Watch users: what has been your go-to method? I did try the Pacer trick that I kept reading on here in the message boards, but I found it added WAY too many calories to my allowance.

And if I just synch the Health app with MFP, on the days that my step count is higher, MFP removes more of my caloric allowance than if I basically sat on a couch all day.

Share your secrets! :)

Replies

  • LuckysGurl
    LuckysGurl Posts: 8 Member
    I'm personally not the most disciplined food tracker (i.e. I tend to estimate or loosely measure), so I don't sync my activity between my AW and MFP. I sort look at it as a buffer. I have my settings here on sedentary and manually enter my activity if it's enough to justify it. This is just what works for me, though, there are lots of folks on here that have great success meticulously tracking each component, and your mileage may certainly vary :-)
  • springlering62
    springlering62 Posts: 8,731 Member
    I'm all for “KISS”.

    I simply synced my watch with MFP, and set my activity level as “active”. I don’t let my watch add any calories for steps, unless they are part of an exercise that I initiate by starting the exercise timer.

    I start my timer for any scheduled class, walk specifically done for exercise or runs. Those calories burned transfer over to MFP and go against that day’s calorie savings account.

    (BTW it helps me to think of calories as money. I always try to find a better deal, be it money or something I’m considering eating. )

    I don’t (but this is just me, YMMV) set my exercise timer for the mile I walk to yoga, or the half mile walk to the gym, nor do I set it during training sessions or general gym sessions.

    It’s been pretty spot on with the step count and the calorie log, so I’m happy.

    I don’t eat back my exercise calories. I try to stay under 2300 per day, or average no more than 2500 per day/per week.

    I enter my diary items via my phone. There’s no search function to do it on the watch, and there’s no way to know exactly what food you logged via the watch either. I don’t want to get in the habit of logging educated guesses. We know where that gets us, right?!
  • briscogun
    briscogun Posts: 1,138 Member
    I synced my watch with the health app and it tracks my workouts ONLY. I do NOT have it track my steps and give my any calorie credit for taking steps, ONLY INTENTIONAL WORKOUTS that I track on my watch. So if I run, I use the watch to track it/log it and I get a calorie "burn" that transfers into MFP. My random daily steps do NOT. Now, if I go for a walk that is intentional, I will track it through the watch and it gives my a credit.

    Not sure if any of that helps you, but for me it works perfectly. I have zero issues, zero hiccups, zero challenges.

    I do use it to try and close all three of my rings, but it does not transfer any of that data to MFP. That's just for me and my health and trying to move a bit.
  • nateileen
    nateileen Posts: 2 Member
    Thanks everyone! Great suggestions!
  • ALZ14
    ALZ14 Posts: 202 Member
    I use the pacer app to properly count my steps. Outside of my intentional walks I am sedentary so I want “credit” for all of my steps.

    I install the app on my phone and then set it up. Then I come to MFP and have the Pacer App be the source for steps.
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