I use fitbit and myfitnesspal. Do you manually enter exercise into MFP?

[steph1968]

I have been using MFP for a year but just started using fitbit. In the past I used UP and synced them.

The last two days when I logged my exercise by putting in start time, and type of exercise it left my net cals around 500 which seemed low. I ate approx 1500 cals. I listed myself as sedentary since most of my day is at a desk. However, I do have 4 kids and steps over 8,000 most days. I worked out for 30 minutes on elliptical. This showed I had burned around 950 cals. Does this seem correct?

Thanks!

[rosalee444]

How do you sync the two?

[Anwylyd_un]

MFP works on a formula of TDEE based upon the activity level you select minus a deficit required for weight loss ie -500 for 1lb a week loss etc. Fitbit works purely on TDEE based on BMR and additional movement it detects, so it is not calculating a deficit for you.

It is entirely possible that eating 1500 cals, in addition to running around after kids (8000 steps over the day) and a 30 minute session on the elliptical has generated a 950 calorie burn. This will generate the message that you have earned a lot more calories through exercise than you have in reality.

It takes a bit of getting used to, but so long as you only eat back the calories through planned exercise (the ones through the elliptical) and not all the fitbit ones too you will stay at deficit and continue to lose weight.

Hope this helps.

[Anwylyd_un]

@Rosalee - on MFP go to the APPS tab at the top bar of the page, on there is the option to link fitbit to MFP.

Hope this helps.