FitBit and TDEE

mommyweighless

After having my FitBit for 3 days...I realized how little I do move and how low my TDEE really is. All of the calculators online had my BMR at 1600 or so, and my TDEE at 2500 or so. My max burn, assuming I can compare this to TDEE since it tracks my calorie burn all day and night (with no exercise) has been 1975. I am a stay at home mom, and have a sedentary life, clearly lol. I haven't worked out this weekend because I was sick. Tomorrow is my HIIT and legs day so I am anxious to see what it looks like then. I realize on days I workout I really need to up my calories(have known that from the beginning..eat your exercise cals back). I was eating about 1700 a day, still losing but stalling, and have now lowered it to 1500. Hopefully this helps because I still have about 30-40 pounds to go. Would love any input just incase I have something wrong??

michellekicks

It just goes to show all the online calculators are estimates. In fact, that Fitbit is just an estimate too. The only true measure of one's TDEE is finding the amount of food you can eat every day and see your weight stay the same.

My Fitbit (when I used one) had my daily burns at 2100-2300 on days I don't exercise. I'm eating 2300/day right now and exercising 2 out of 3 days and am maintaining my weight while gaining strength and losing a little fat it seems. My weight has been the exact same now for almost 2 months doing this.

So it was pretty accurate for me... but then so were the online calculators, really... but I never landed squarely in one activity zone or the other. When I was actively training for a half marathon I was in the 6-7 hours intense activity/week zone and now I'm more in the 3-5 hours moderate area. I have been smack in the middle of those at times it would seem.

I think the most important thing is to eat enough to support your goals. I had a mere 290 cal/day deficit when I was losing and out of 20 lbs lost I still managed to lose almost 5 lbs of lean body mass. Huge deficits aren't the way to go either... you've gotta find the sweet spot.

mommyweighless

That is wonderful advice! I don't think I am at too large of a deficit, but if I find I am hungry or notice any changes in my behavior I will up it. I was doing okay at 1700, but I still have a significant amount of fat to lose. I think once I get down 30 more, and I am within that 10-15 to maintanence, I will start to up more. I will go with this for a few weeks and see what kind of results I get and go from there.

Jennacita

My Fitbit puts me at lightly active. And my average weekly burn is between 1950-2100. My real only activity is my workouts and I aim for 3-6 per week. I walk around a little at work picking up packages but thats about it. I'm trying to use my Fitbit weekly average as my calorie goal. And not eat back exercise calories. Right now I'm maintaing and some weeks I lose .5. I to have about 50 pounds that would make me scale weight happy. But really I'm trying to focus on losing sizes. I'm currently a size 12 and my goal is to be 6/8 maybe a 4/6.

120weeks

BUMP because I am interested in hearing other's experiences as well.

With a sedentary lifestyle, weightlifting 3 hours a week and cardio 2-3 hours a week, I have my activity modifier set for "moderate" but lately, I am hesitant to believe that the TDEE holds true for me.

jae6704

Im am real interested in learning more on how to use my fit bit. I eat 1750 a day. looks like i burn around 1750 too with my Fit bit.

sarahrbraun

After having my FitBit for 3 days...I realized how little I do move and how low my TDEE really is. All of the calculators online had my BMR at 1600 or so, and my TDEE at 2500 or so. My max burn, assuming I can compare this to TDEE since it tracks my calorie burn all day and night (with no exercise) has been 1975. I am a stay at home mom, and have a sedentary life, clearly lol. I haven't worked out this weekend because I was sick. Tomorrow is my HIIT and legs day so I am anxious to see what it looks like then. I realize on days I workout I really need to up my calories(have known that from the beginning..eat your exercise cals back). I was eating about 1700 a day, still losing but stalling, and have now lowered it to 1500. Hopefully this helps because I still have about 30-40 pounds to go. Would love any input just incase I have something wrong??

I've had a fitbit since May, and I am actually having the opposite issue--my TDEE is higher than I thought, and I am having trouble eating enough! According to my fitbit, my TDEE so far today is 2180 and it is only 718pm. Online calculators have me around 2400-2600. I struggle to eat 1800-2000 per day.

mommyweighless

Bump for anyone else!

RetiredAndLovingIt

bump

120weeks

I sure hope my TDEE is high! That would be awesome :flowerforyou: I should be getting mine in the mail today. I can't wait to start using it!

shannonkk

I was eating 1600 with no luck, then got a Fit bit and on my lazy days I burn 2124, workdays at my desk job 2300 to 2400 and when I add 45 minutes on the elliptical it is 2700. I am losing again and I do my best to eat all my calories, but I usually don't have a problem, that is why I am here. I love food!!

120weeks

After day 1, my TDEE was 2633. I wanted to just see where I was on a normal workday with 30 minutes of cardio. I'm impressed with the tool and I see how I can improve my daily burn with just a few small changes to an otherwise normal day. Fitness Frog estimated my burn to be 2700 with a "moderate" modifier.

Just wanted to add my experience since the OP's burn was less than expected.