Fitbit Calories too high?

murphey21
murphey21 Posts: 126 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So yesterday, I walked close to 8900 steps and that was it and the fitbit and MFP gave me an extra 592 calories which I didn't use, but does that seem right or too high? My fitness level I have set on lighlty active because I work in a lab, so I am on my feet all day walking around the lab. I did no other exercise except the steps. To me, it seems too high, but maybe I am just overthinking it. Any suggestions or ideas for me. I really just started keeping track of my steps and haven't exercised like normal because of my foot. Hopefully I go to the doctor tomorrow and get the green light to start exercising full speed again. Thanks for all the help in advance.

Replies

  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    What was your total burn for the day (via the Fitbit site)?

    That does seem a little high for that many steps, especially if you are set at lightly active already. I did look back at some of my records,and on a couple Sundays, my stats were 647 calorie credit for 12000 steps, and 575 for 13500 steps ... you can see that step=calorie isn't a direct correlation. Fitbit does take into consideration speed (how many steps per minute, to tell the difference between a run/walk) and I THINK even impact. Each individual's weight/height/sex/age also comes into play.

    I am not sedentary, but I set MFP to that just to see the base calories I WOULD be if I didn't exercise and be active. I generally get 1000 extra calories, but I really do work to earn them (getting in over 20K a day average).

    I do think my Fitbit estimates a bit high for many of my workouts (elliptical, Zumba ... I'll wear a HRM too and compare the estimates) so I do try not to eat back all my extra exercise calories, just about half.
  • murphey21
    murphey21 Posts: 126 Member
    Fitbit site said my calorie burn was 3511 calories for the day. Do I need to change the setting on the fitbit site somewhere to even things out?
  • jsmommy1999
    jsmommy1999 Posts: 35 Member
    I just got a fitbit and am having the same issue. On days that I walk it will say my calories should be at 2400 (I maintain at around 1600 on those days). On days I take high power lifting or aerobic classes it will only say like 1200. I think it must just be best at tracking movement - I do swing my arms a lot when I walk!
  • ColorfulWeirdo
    ColorfulWeirdo Posts: 113 Member
    I have the same problem as JSMOMMY. I swing my arms a lot and my calorie trackers always give me huge burns. I've had days where just walking I burn 4000 calories.
  • mayfrayy
    mayfrayy Posts: 198 Member
    More likely to do with your active settings. The calories for steps seems right, but if you put lightly active on MFP, then use a fitbit and calculate steps on what you are calling lightly active, you are essentially doubling those steps for your tdee. Thats why its best to put mfp at sedentary and log everything.
  • fushigi1988
    fushigi1988 Posts: 519 Member
    If you use Fitbit, you need to set activity level on MFP as sedentary, and manually add activities like cycling on MFP.
  • stephyy4632
    stephyy4632 Posts: 947 Member
    More likely to do with your active settings. The calories for steps seems right, but if you put lightly active on MFP, then use a fitbit and calculate steps on what you are calling lightly active, you are essentially doubling those steps for your tdee. Thats why its best to put mfp at sedentary and log everything.

    ^^^^^^This

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