Confused about MyFitnessPal integration

[sql-lover]

Ok ... so ... after integrating FitBit into MyFitnessPal, do you guys stop making food entris on FitBid dashboard? I can't see my MyFitnessPal entries in FitBit. To me, it seems that FitBit data is replicated or copied to MyFitnessPal but not the opposite.

Am I missing something? Do I have to use MyFitnessPal for food entries now instead of FitBit's?

[PamelaHazelton]

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@sql-lover wrote:

Ok ... so ... after integrating FitBit into MyFitnessPal, do you guys stop making food entris on FitBid dashboard? I can't see my MyFitnessPal entries in FitBit. To me, it seems that FitBit data is replicated or copied to MyFitnessPal but not the opposite.

Am I missing something? Do I have to use MyFitnessPal for food entries now instead of FitBit's?

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Yes! Don't log your food intake in both places. Fitbit will sync with MyFitness Pal for the caloric intake. In the Fitbit app it will display simply as totals for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks. And it's the other way around, MFP syncs the data to the Fitbit app.

It will take some getting used to, but you'll find the database at MFP much more expansive, and you can store your own recipes as well. I also log my weight and exercise, but I log water in Fitbit. 

[HelenaFitbit · Accepted solution]

Welcome to the forums @sql-lover! I'm also a MyFitnessPal user and I'll be glad to explain some details on its use. 

If you use MyfitnessPal, you need to make all food and water intake entries through their platform; this way your caloric budget for the day won't be affected. Fitbit will receive the MFP data.

If you were to log in any activities, they must be done through Fitbit, since logging them through MFP doubles them on your account.

Let me know if you have any questions! 

[PamelaHazelton]

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@helenarriaza wrote:

If you were to log in any activities, they must be done through Fitbit, since logging them through MFP doubles them on your account.

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Actually, if you log exercise (cardio or strength) through MFP, it doesn't double it on Fitbit. It will act the same as if you logged it in the Fitbit app.

For example, if Fitbit logs you as "active" due to consistent steps, but you were actually dancing, logging "Dancing" via Fitbit adjusts the calories burned - this is why you log the time, because it will decrement the proper burn from the activity so it's not double counting your activity because you were stepping at the same time. The same goes if you log it in MFP. Just don't log it in both.

[HelenaFitbit]

My bad @PamelaHazelton! I was not clear enough 

If you were to do a non-step based activity or if you forget to wear your tracker, it is best to do any manual logs through Fitbit, not MFP since the activity log won't be transmitted back to your Fitbit account, but it will reflect on your MFP caloric budget. 

You can see the difference here from the calories through Fitbit only: 

Your manual logs and Fitbit calories will add up and adjust to your MFP budget, like on the above image. 

[sql-lover]

Thank you all.

Basically, just forget about Fitbit to do any entry, especially food ones, and use MyFitnessPal instead. 

I think that the confusion was because the aps were not fully in sync when I added FitBit to MFP. After lunch, I noticed that my MFP breakfast entry was added to FitBit, creating two brekfast entries for the same meal. So I deleted the FitBit breakfast entry in order to avoid duplicates. I can now see the steps and calorie adjustments from my FitBit band in MFP.

Reason I like MFP for food entries is that the food database is much more complete.

[dhwinner]

How do I connect MFP with Fitbit? I am using the windows phone app for both.

[HelenaFitbit · Accepted solution]

It's great to see you here @dhwinner! You can link your Fitbit and MFP accounts through this page. 

Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions

[dhwinner]

Thank you for that info. I got the apps synced. Wasnt very difficult, I was just looking in the wrong place. Story of my life. LOL

[dhwinner]

Post App sync question. I am pretty clear on the fact the you use FMP to log food entries. I am clear that you need to log exercises through fitbit, well at least the start and end times. 

After I synced I saw the caloric data in FMP, which is great. Now my question stems on this problem; Today I logged two different exercise sessions. One in the morning and one in the evening. Both had start and end times. Fitbit showed calories burned etc.  MFP was only reporting the calories burned from the evening log, not the entire day. Am I doing something wrong, how should this type of data be entered?

[GonnaBFit4Me]

I am grateful for this question! I was very confused on how to input and on which side. One thing I am still unsure of, though, is:  1) When starting a workout, do you always select "Track Exercise"? Is this how you get your times?  2)If I have already burned 450 calories prior to a workout, will I get the calories calculated specifically for the workout, or will I have to mentally remember where my "calories burned" amount is at before starting the workout?  3)I walk/jog/run on my treadmill a lot! The avg. pace is all weird and the map shows like I am running back and forth from my house to my mailbox to my next door neighbors to my house! I tried turning off the gps, but it won't let me track my workout that way. Any suggestions?  4)I wear my Charge HR everday/night (except when getting soaked)...I should record basically anything and everything strictly from the MFP side, correct? BUT, if I am "tracking exercises" I use the Fitbit? 5) Can I "track" strength training with the Fitbit? I guess I can see doing a start and stop "tracking", but as far as the details and intensity, I would have to do that MANUALLY in MFP - correct? Sorry for so many questions. I have had my Charge HR for a very short amount of time! Thank you to everyone who responds and helps clear my overwhelmed brain! I am very detail oriented and all this linking is confusing! 😛

Spoiler

[SumBuddy]

I am interested in the reports that are included in the premium service. I prefer logging my food with the My Fitness Pal app as they do have the largest database as well as the ability to save recipes and meals. I linked MyFitnessPal with the Fitbit app but it only carries over the calorie totals not the actual foods. Would I be able to get all of the reports complete or would some data be missing because of using the two programs?

[Mcore]

Hello @sql-lover, great to see you here in the Community! Just wanted you to know that I've gone ahead and moved your recent topic "Confused about MyFitnessPal integration" to the Third-Party Integrations board so other users find this thread helpful as well.

Any other questions or comments, feel free to post again.

[Scugnizzo]

  
Now i'm using only Fitbit app for count my calories, My question is: if i use myfitnespal app for write everythings i eat, this food list will be sync with Fitbit app? I'd like to have two lists, one in Fitbit app (like now in photo) and one in myfitnespal app...

[Suel64]

Hi- I'm new to this and have a Charge.  I use MFP, and was wondering if I do need to log all exercise on Fitbit app or website, and the type I did or just do it on MFP.  It seems to work on MFP, although I don't put in what type.  I don't know if that would throw off anything. Help please.