Should I eat back these Fitbit/MFP calories?

nat8199
nat8199 Posts: 39 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am 5'3'' and 125.6 pounds. I am 2 pounds away from my goal weight and slowly switching to maintenance. My TDEE is anywhere from 1840 to 2004 depending on which calculator I use. My goal for 1lb a week is 1400 according to MFP and I have is adjusted to 1550.

I did NOT work out today, though I have been doing a lot of errands and chores. My fitbit has me at 11803 steps today. MFP is telling me to eat an extra 431 calories above the 1550. It told me to eat a lot yesterday, too, but I had done 30+ minutes of pretty intense cardio plus some light weight training.

With so little intentional exercise today, doesn't that seem like a lot to eat back? Since I knew I wouldn't go to the gym today, I really hadn't fit those into my meal plan at all.

WWYD?

Replies

  • debtay123
    debtay123 Posts: 1,327 Member
    I only eat back a portion of the calories that my fitbit says or even MFP syas- most time- no more than 50% of the calories.
  • nat8199
    nat8199 Posts: 39 Member
    shadow2soul wrote: »
    Okay. Easy way to solve this delimma (although it does involve a little math).

    I’m going to start by saying ignore the TDEE calculations you have from online calculators.

    First step is to look at how much you have been eating on average for the past month. An easy way to see this is to go to reports on MFP, add the last 30 days together and divide by 30. **Make sure you are looking at Total calories and not NET**

    Now take the weight you lost over the past 30 days and multiply that by 3500. That will be how many calories you were under maintenance for the month. Divide that by 30 and you will have your average daily deficit.

    Add your average intake to your average deficit and you will have your average TDEE based on actual results.

    You can the go to Fitbits website and navigate to your profile. You should see a 30 Day average burn. Does it match the average you calculated?

    Holy Cow! This is some very, very advanced use of MFP and fitbit data! I am going to work through this as soon as my kids stop literally running in circles.
  • madwells1
    madwells1 Posts: 510 Member
    This is really great. Thanks! I am 112 calories off between my Fitbit and average, and 118 off a TDEE calculator. Not bad considering ~100 calories could be due to inaccurate logging or fluctuations in my scale!!
  • New_Heavens_Earth
    New_Heavens_Earth Posts: 610 Member
    Great info! Encourages me to stick to much more accurate logging too.

    Thanks!
  • Lillymoo01
    Lillymoo01 Posts: 2,865 Member
    I am a firm believer in keeping it simple. As this is not a regular occurrence then ask yourself if you are hungry? If you are then eat at least some of them back. If not then don't bother. If more regular you would need a more accurate idea of how much to eat back though.
  • New_Heavens_Earth
    New_Heavens_Earth Posts: 610 Member
    Not to derail this thread, but I've done the math. I average 1665 rounded intake, but Fitbit says I burn 2400 per day. Libra says my trend is .25 lb loss per week. So obviously things aren't adding up. How do I fix this?
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    New_Heavens_Earth wrote: »
    Not to derail this thread, but I've done the math. I average 1665 rounded intake, but Fitbit says I burn 2400 per day. Libra says my trend is .25 lb loss per week. So obviously things aren't adding up. How do I fix this?

    MFP uses the NEAT method (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis), and as such this system is designed for exercise calories to be eaten back. However, many consider the burns given by MFP to be inflated and only eat a percentage, such as 50%, back. Others, however, are able to lose weight while eating 100% of their exercise calories.

    My FitBit One is less generous with calories than the MFP database and I comfortably eat 100% of the calories I earn from it back.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    New_Heavens_Earth wrote: »
    Not to derail this thread, but I've done the math. I average 1665 rounded intake, but Fitbit says I burn 2400 per day. Libra says my trend is .25 lb loss per week. So obviously things aren't adding up. How do I fix this?

    Make sure with the intake # you are averaging total calories and not NET calories. Using the NET calories will throw off the calculation and make your TDEE seem lower than it actually is.

    Definitely double check entries you are using to log food. Not all entries are correct (even verified can be off). I’ve seen chicken entries with only 1/3 the calories.

    Also consider how you are determining portion sizes. Eyeballing portions is the least accurate method and can leave hundreds of calories uncounted. Measuring cups are better than eyeballing and a food scale is the most accurate option.

    If you have any medical concerns that lower metabolism, than Fitbit’s burn will be over inflated.

    You could also just have a lower than average metabolism. Again making Fitbit reading over inflated.

    If your Fitbit has the HRM, maybe turn it off unless you are exercising. See if that helps lower Fitbits estimate.
  • Talan79
    Talan79 Posts: 782 Member
    Do you plan on going straight into maintenance calories or doing a reverse diet? I’m asking bc I started a reverse diet this past week. I’m also 5”2 and a chronic dieter....I’ve been in a deficit for a long time & need to get my calories back up.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Worth the couple minutes it takes to watch: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10503681/exercise-calories-do-i-eat-these-a-video-explanation/p1

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