FitBit Accuracy

krystenmlee34
krystenmlee34 Posts: 24 Member
edited 4:17AM in Fitness and Exercise
I noticed I get fitbit calories added back for barely any movement. How accurate are these? I have not been eating back the calories burned.

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    If your activity level is set lower (like "sedentary"), it's possible that you will begin seeing adjustments at a relatively low level of activity. I have found them to be very accurate, others not so much. The best way to tell whether yours is accurate is to track your individual results.
  • krystenmlee34
    krystenmlee34 Posts: 24 Member
    I have mine set as sedentary as I work a desk job. I just can't believe how I earn over 300 extra.... Do you eat your calories burned back?
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Aim to eat ~50% of your calories burned back.

    I've had to disconnect my FitBit as it wasn't being accurate enough for my liking.
  • Grammytryingtogetfit
    Grammytryingtogetfit Posts: 672 Member
    I know my Garmin does this too, wish there was a way not to see those calories added............
  • Marilyn0924
    Marilyn0924 Posts: 797 Member
    NicholeAckerman wrote: »
    I know my Garmin does this too, wish there was a way not to see those calories added............

    Unsync your device from MFP, and you will no longer see the added calories.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I find my FitBit to be pretty accurate and my total daily energy expenditures are in line for the most part with my own data.

    Maybe you move more than you think. I'm of the mind that most people just default to sedentary when in fact, they really aren't sedentary even if they have a desk job.
  • Grammytryingtogetfit
    Grammytryingtogetfit Posts: 672 Member
    Marilyn0924 wrote: »
    NicholeAckerman wrote: »
    I know my Garmin does this too, wish there was a way not to see those calories added............

    Unsync your device from MFP, and you will no longer see the added calories.
    I would but I also track my exercises through it as well. I like the fact that it syncs my activities, just not the misc bs other....

  • krystenmlee34
    krystenmlee34 Posts: 24 Member
    aeloine wrote: »
    Aim to eat ~50% of your calories burned back.

    I've had to disconnect my FitBit as it wasn't being accurate enough for my liking.

    How was it not to your liking?
  • krystenmlee34
    krystenmlee34 Posts: 24 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I find my FitBit to be pretty accurate and my total daily energy expenditures are in line for the most part with my own data.

    Maybe you move more than you think. I'm of the mind that most people just default to sedentary when in fact, they really aren't sedentary even if they have a desk job.

    Oh believe me my day is sedentary at work as I have to work online and on the phone.. Sucks lol. I was just wondering if I needed to eat those back or let them go.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Even with your desk job, it's possible you aren't sedentary. I have a desk job but I average 12-15K steps/day. That's not sedentary. I've always trusted FitBit (once I understood how it actually worked with MFP) and ate back the exercise adjustments while losing (and lost weight at my desired rate of loss) and am currently maintaining eating back those calories.

    Some additional info will help determine if there is an issue with your device, with the sync, or with your expectations.

    How many steps do you average?
    How many total calories does FitBit say you burn?
    What Calorie target is MFP set at? For what rate of loss?
    How long have you had the two systems synced?
  • Ebony_Kitty
    Ebony_Kitty Posts: 41 Member
    I have mine set to very active lifestyle and still see added adjustments of 100-500 some days. But I am a very active person- earning about 20K steps per day. I eat within 250 of what it tells me to eat and I have no issues. I have had a Fitbit for over 3 years now- this specific device for 11 months so it seems to have "learned" me well.
  • Ebony_Kitty
    Ebony_Kitty Posts: 41 Member
    To add, when I have had it set to sedentary, I can see adjustments of 600-1400, most days are in the 800-1000 range though. Which for my weight, age, sex, height tells me I burn about 2600/day to maintain. If I had to guess without the gadgets, I'd say that's about right for what I eat and maintain on. Even small amounts of steps will give you calories. Example, when I sleep, I burn about 14 calories every 15 minutes. When I get up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, my walk around the bed and across the bathroom always adds 3 calories as that 15 minute block is usually 17 (easy to spot- it's pink on the sleep portion). So those 50 steps, 30 seconds of hand washing, and brain function burns 3 calories. I've consistently monitored this phenomenon over months.
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