Question for FitBit users...

dmb0114
dmb0114 Posts: 49
in Health and Weight Loss
I know (well, personally believe) that FitBit definitely tends to be on the high end estimate of calories burned... so, what do you set your calories at on MFP? I was thinking if you set it at 1200 and then use FItBit to create extra calories to eat it would be somewhat more accurate than setting MFP at any other number?

All of this is sooooo confusing to me. Every time I think I get somewhat of a handle on where my calories should be I read something else that throws me all off. I know it is a matter of finding what works for each individual but I don't feel like I have done that yet.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice!! :flowerforyou:

Replies

  • Cinflo58
    Cinflo58 Posts: 326 Member
    Hi,
    I use 1200 calories and add the fitbit calories. This works for me.

    Cindy
  • dmb0114
    dmb0114 Posts: 49
    Hi,
    I use 1200 calories and add the fitbit calories. This works for me.

    Cindy

    Thanks for responding Cindy!
  • rekite2000
    rekite2000 Posts: 218 Member
    I calculated my TDEE 15% and try to eat that every day regardless what fitbit says. The numbers are almost always the same so it works out.
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    bump. curious of responses.
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
    I've started wearing a HRM when I'm exercising and the calories on it and on FitBit are almost identical or they would be if I remembered to press the FitBit activity record button stop button when I stopped! MFP's calories are definitely way too high but I've never thought FitBit were. I eat a lot more than 1200 calories per day. I don't think I could survive on that!
  • goldfinger88
    goldfinger88 Posts: 686 Member
    Fitbit calories are BMR and not calories burned in activity. So, it's pretty useless in that area. But when you integrate it to MFP, it does make an effort to give you activity calories. As to what to set your calories to, 1200 is way too low. That's just enough to keep a person alive whose in a coma.

    Go to fat2fitradio.com and use their calculator to see how many calories you really need. Otherwise, you'll lose weight but it will be water and muscle, not fat.

    This site pretty much gives everyone 1200 calories because they know you'll lose weight. But losing scale weight is not the same as being fit and healthy.
  • jlbeals
    jlbeals Posts: 65 Member
    I use an HRM to determine my exercise calories and let the fitbit make sure I'm active enough during the rest of the day. The negative adjustments work pretty well if you properly log the time and duration of your workouts. Just let MFP figure out your calories and accurately tell it if you're sedentary or lightly active, or whatever - fitbit will make adjustments for you to that activity level's calorie estimations.
  • IbiH
    IbiH Posts: 250 Member
    I calculate my BMR & TDEE then go for the figure in the middle. It's working for me at the moment. I go over some days especially if I've had a very active day but again it depends if I feel that I need to eat more.
  • Heaven71
    Heaven71 Posts: 706 Member
    I do 1410 and let fitbit do it's thing; really I find fitbit to be on the low side but I do a lot of running.
  • dmb0114
    dmb0114 Posts: 49
    Fitbit calories are BMR and not calories burned in activity. So, it's pretty useless in that area. But when you integrate it to MFP, it does make an effort to give you activity calories. As to what to set your calories to, 1200 is way too low. That's just enough to keep a person alive whose in a coma.

    Oh I completely agree! I don't at all subscribe to the 1200 day thinking... I just wasn't sure if I allow MFP to figure my calories per day (at anything above 1200) and then allow my FitBit to make adjustments if that would just make my daily allowance way to high. Sorry... I don't think I am explaining my question very well. Thank you for your response and I am going to check out the website you mentioned!
  • triskaidekaphile13
    triskaidekaphile13 Posts: 92 Member
    If you set your activity level the same on both sites, FitBit seems to correctly add (and deduct) calories. I have mine both set to sedentary and then eat back my exercise calories.
  • Flab2fitfi
    Flab2fitfi Posts: 1,349 Member
    Mines set for moderate activity and then fit bit will add/ take off calories - normally get about 1800 a day to play with. Mine is not as accurate as HRM but I count the extra as a bonus.
  • nolanerinbryon
    nolanerinbryon Posts: 80 Member
    I don't have a FitBit and have a lot of the same questions you do! I found this post when I was googling TDEE and thought you'd find it helpful.
    "Here is a link to a site that you plug in your information and it will provide your BMR and TDEE along with your Cut value (again, if you workout 3-5 times a week select "Moderate" and the "Select Your Goal" option you will select is "Lose Fat - 15% caloric reduction") http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ "

    There is a TON of helpful info in this post I found, so I'll just include the link here too if you want to read in further detail: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/512956-tdee-what-is-it-and-why-you-should-not-eat-below-your-bmr
  • dmb0114
    dmb0114 Posts: 49
    If you set your activity level the same on both sites, FitBit seems to correctly add (and deduct) calories. I have mine both set to sedentary and then eat back my exercise calories.

    This is kind of what I was thinking.... Thanks!
  • dmb0114
    dmb0114 Posts: 49
    I don't have a FitBit and have a lot of the same questions you do! I found this post when I was googling TDEE and thought you'd find it helpful.
    "Here is a link to a site that you plug in your information and it will provide your BMR and TDEE along with your Cut value (again, if you workout 3-5 times a week select "Moderate" and the "Select Your Goal" option you will select is "Lose Fat - 15% caloric reduction") http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/ "

    There is a TON of helpful info in this post I found, so I'll just include the link here too if you want to read in further detail: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/512956-tdee-what-is-it-and-why-you-should-not-eat-below-your-bmr

    It is just all clear as mud to me! LoL!!! Thanks, I will definitely check out the links!
  • beattie1
    beattie1 Posts: 1,012 Member
    If you set your activity level the same on both sites, FitBit seems to correctly add (and deduct) calories. I have mine both set to sedentary and then eat back my exercise calories.

    This is what I do, but I'm not sure how accurate the Fitbit is. The other day I had an hour's walk and it kindly added on 47 extra calories - and I live in a hilly area, so I reckon I was due at least 150 extra, maybe more. I do like that it USUALLY knows about the hills and it counts them as flights of stairs.

    The other thing that annoys me about it is that it takes calories away in the evening. So I press the "Complete entries" button on MFP after dinner in the evening and have, say 40 calories left, so I'm "in the green". If I check later, I find those calories have been taken away and I'm now "in the red" - by about 20-30 calories. It just ANNOYS me! I want to get as close as possible to the target without going over and it wrong-foots me almost every day. GRRR
  • wareagle8706
    wareagle8706 Posts: 1,090 Member
    Fitbit calories are BMR and not calories burned in activity. So, it's pretty useless in that area. But when you integrate it to MFP, it does make an effort to give you activity calories. As to what to set your calories to, 1200 is way too low. That's just enough to keep a person alive whose in a coma.

    Go to fat2fitradio.com and use their calculator to see how many calories you really need. Otherwise, you'll lose weight but it will be water and muscle, not fat.

    This site pretty much gives everyone 1200 calories because they know you'll lose weight. But losing scale weight is not the same as being fit and healthy.

    FITBIT CALORIES ARE TDEE, NOT BMR.
  • Pinkylee77
    Pinkylee77 Posts: 432 Member
    The site does not give everyone 1200 my daughter, husband and myself are all on MFP we each have a different calorie amt. I use Fitbit and I do not feel that it over estimates the amount of exercise calories. I don't worry too much about if it adds more calories to my diet. I only eat some of them back if I am hungry. I do find the Fitbit does encourage me to take the steps more and try to get more steps in.

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