Fitbit or MyFitnessPal questions

[Tomo 1,135]

I am using both for maintenance calories. As everyone knows, these tend to be a little off but I still love using them since it gives me some kind of guideline, and I find tracking fun and enlightening.

My questions are: When I input my weight when I lose or gain, does the calories adjust to the new weight I input or does it always go by goal weight and Fitbit activity alone?

Also, those of you that use either, do you find the calories (or carbs if you are on low carb) requirement to lose or maintain, too high, too low or just right?

Thanks in advance.

[Hop_Scotch 1,625]

53 minutes ago, Tomo said:

My questions are: When I input my weight when I lose or gain, does the calories adjust to the new weight I input or does it always go by goal weight and Fitbit activity alone?

From memory (and happy to be corrected if my memory is faulty), daily calorie allowance is based on weight (entered in your profile settings) and adjusted up if exercise is added. Calorie allowance is not adjusted via check in weight entered.

See 'Update diet/fitness profile' in the following link to enter current wegiht so as daily calorie is adjusted. https://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/settings

Not sure how many lbs/kilos up or down are needed to see an adjustment in the set daily allowance though.

Edit add: Just played around with my settings and calorie allowance changed when I updated current weight in the account settings. I use the website not the app so don't know if the settings are the same in the app.

[kcuster83 1,502]

My fitness pal adjusts automatically but I don't know about fitbit.

[SpartanMaker 676]

So I think the answer is... It depends.

• If you take the MFP recommended calorie counts, it should ask you if you wish to adjust your calories down for every 10 pounds you lose.
• If you miss changing it when it asks, you can always change it later yourself. (Though see below, as you may now be in "manual mode".)
• If you don't take the recommended calorie numbers and use your own numbers, then this "manual mode" won't ever ask if you you wish to change it. It says the same until you change it yourself.
• As far as Fitbit, if you have MFP and Fitbit linked, calories burned should be adjusted down as you lose weight. When they're linked, Fitbit should pick up your weight from MFP and will use that as part of their calculations. FYI, it bases the calories burned on heart rate, as well as height, weight, sex, and age.
• It might be a good idea to double check your fitbit app to make sure it's showing your latest weight. I have seen them get out of sync for some reason?
• Keep in mind that it's up to you if you want to add in those exercise adjustments from Fitbit to your MPF calories or not. You can change a setting to add them, or ignore them. I normally don't add them in since I think it overestimates calories burned, but the counter argument is that by adding them in, you give yourself permission to eat more on days when you really need to. For example, if you had a hard workout, or really active day.

[Tomo 1,135]

Thank you thank you all. Helpful information!

[MyDogsLoveMe 27]

MFP: you can change the information. You can put in as much carbs or whatever. I have a max sodium and carbs. Just know that your macros (carbs, Protein and fat) are at a percentage.



Scared but excited.

[MyDogsLoveMe 27]

You can change the max calories too.

Scared but excited.