MFP vs. fitbit calorie recommendations?

finchest

Hi! I just got a Fit Bit, and just like when I was new to MFP, had to enter in my current weight, goals and target weight loss. Using the same end result, the Fit Bit is telling me I have only 940 calories to eat a day, where MFP is never under 1200. What gives?

I know all about 1200 calories and starvation mode, so I'm curious as to why the fit bit is recommending less than that, and how Fit Bit users are working with the two different recommendations?
Do you ignore fit bit completely because 1200 is too low?
Do you ignore MFP because FitBit knows how active you're actually being in your day?

Would love some advice from seasoned MFP / FitBit users on how to work with the two programs together!

finchest

Before anyone asks, let me just get this out of the way. This is what a fitbit is: http://www.fitbit.com/product

cushygal

how much did you tell fitbit you wanted to lose each week.

What are your current stats?

I have the FitBIt and it has me eating 1400 calories a day where MFP has me at 1200 - I typically eat 1500-1800 a day depending on workouts.

finchest

i'm currently 158 lbs, 5'3" & pretty sedentary with the exception of a couple work outs a week. i have it set to the "hardest" setting, and my goal on both MFP and fitbit is to lose 2lbs a week (my result these past few months have been more like 1 lbs a week though eating 1200 + some exercise calories on MFP.)

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I am so interested in replies. Thank you so much for posting this topic!!!

finchest

hopefully a seasoned fit bit / MFP user can shed some light over here!

mrs_dwr

Bump

finchest

I also posted about this in the FitBit private group here on MFP, and Kimsied wrote this incredibly helpful reply:

My mfp and fitbit allowances end up around the same when the day is done. They are figured in different ways and are different programs, but both have the same goal. If your goal is to lose weight both want you to burn a certain amount less than your burn in the day. So in your case, both want you to eat 1000 calories a day less than you burn.

Here's the main difference:

On myp, it uses a formula to figure your bmr (calories someone your height, weight, age and gender might burn at rest) then it uses a multiplier to come up with your total burn based on your activity level. At sedentary that is around 1.2 (I think?) times your bmr. Then it subtracts your deficit from that number to create your net goal. Except if it is less than 1200, then it just gives you a smaller deficit so you wouldn't really be on track for a two pound a week loss if you are sedentary and your sedentary burn puts you too low. When you add exercise calories or fitbit allowance it adds that on top.

On fitbit, they take the deficit off the total including exercise and activity and don't have a minimum. It is up to you whether you choose to go below a certain number as some people are put on 1000 or 1100 calorie diets by doctors and dietitions. Your allowance will usually increase throughout the day as you burn more calories. Mine would start out too low if my goal was 2 pounds a week but if I am active and/or exercise it increases. Fitbit has two things going on, one in the calories in/out which is simply comparing your calorie burn to the food you logged and the other is the "food plan" based on your average activity level with your deficit subtracted. The food plan one would probably only be useful after you use the fitbit for several day or at least a week.

But since you have it set for two pounds a week, are seeing a one pound a week loss, and your fitbit range is 940... It doesn't sound like you have a 1000 calorie deficit following mfp, you can see by looking in your mfp goals page for "projected deficit". To be able to eat 1200 and have a 1000 calorie deficit you need to burn 2200 a day (1200 + 1000) (including what you burn existing and in normal activity, not just exercise). It sounds like you are actually burning more like 1940 (as fitbit's allowance would be your burn minus 1000). So for your fitbit goal to be 1200 with your goal deficit, you would need to burn 160 more calories a day on average (2100 - 1940 = 160). And in that case, you would also want to increase your mfp activity level to lightly active so it allows you more of your goal deficit (assuming you see a fitbit adjustment after you make that activity level increase). Or you could change your goal to 1.5 pound a week loss which might be more realistic if you want to eat 1200 calories and maintain your current activity level.

Since you are new to fitbit, it may be that you are burning enough. I guess I would give it a few days and see what your allowance ends up being. If you find you are consistently seeing high fitbit adjustments on mfp, you may want to look at increasing your activity level, it may not even change your allowance if you are at 1200 on mfp. It would just make your deficit more in line with your goal if you are burning the lightly active amount of calories.