BMR/TDEE/MFP and FITBIT
WarmDontBurn
Posts: 1,253 Member
TOO many numbers ....lol.
When I first joined MFP I didn't see much mention of TDEE -- the odd BMR but for the most part I logged in calculated according to MFP and logged my exercise using my HRM readings. I ate back my burned calories and all was well. No fitbit either.
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info
I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.
Thanks for the help!
When I first joined MFP I didn't see much mention of TDEE -- the odd BMR but for the most part I logged in calculated according to MFP and logged my exercise using my HRM readings. I ate back my burned calories and all was well. No fitbit either.
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info
I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.Thanks for the help!
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Replies
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In for answers, I have been wondering the same thing. I also have mine synched and it usually gives me more calories for the day. Hope someone knows the answer to your question!0
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I do tend to believe the fitbit adjustment -- for example yesterday my fitbit says I burned 2013 and MFP has me burning 2020 daily and there was a -8 adjustment on MFP due to Fitbit. I just wonder if there is MORE to it. Those are base calories and don't target heart rate and all that so sure I could walk around all day and burn 2013 but if I am also doing upper body stuff that will increase my HR therefore allowing me to burn more calories -- right?! So MAYBE I am burning more then I think and not eating enough? MFP will always be 2020 (unless I reset) and the fitbit will adjust if I walk more but I am beginning to doubt if it is enough -- or too much.0
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Personally fitbit I hear is inaccurate. What do you log in to figure out how many calories you burn per day? Also you have to find a way to figure out your maintenance calories to maintain weight. What I did when I was busy and broke (desk job) I ate 1500 calories average for a week with no extra exercise. I lost 2 pounds almost exactly. So my maintenance calories is around 2500 calories. If you are really not seeing any results it would not be a bad idea to use yourself as a experiment.0
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I do tend to believe the fitbit adjustment -- for example yesterday my fitbit says I burned 2013 and MFP has me burning 2020 daily and there was a -8 adjustment on MFP due to Fitbit. I just wonder if there is MORE to it. Those are base calories and don't target heart rate and all that so sure I could walk around all day and burn 2013 but if I am also doing upper body stuff that will increase my HR therefore allowing me to burn more calories -- right?! So MAYBE I am burning more then I think and not eating enough? MFP will always be 2020 (unless I reset) and the fitbit will adjust if I walk more but I am beginning to doubt if it is enough -- or too much.
Also for the fitness side. If you are not changing your workouts your body will get used to it and you will not burn as many calories from the first day to like day 45. It just sounds like you hit a little plateau. The treatment for this I recommend is HIIT workouts.0 -
From of the good sources I've read, the advice is to make sure you always are eating at least above your BMR. So for you, that would be at LEAST 1630 TOTAL calories per day. Maybe keeping this in mind would be a help.0
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From of the good sources I've read, the advice is to make sure you always are eating at least above your BMR. So for you, that would be at LEAST 1630 TOTAL calories per day. Maybe keeping this in mind would be a help.
Can you post the article because I cannot find the reason why body need to eat up to BMR?0 -
BMR is what your body needs daily just to function - pump the heart, breathe etc.
TDEE is the total amount of calories you burn and includes all your activities etc.
You ideally want to eat more than your BMR so that your body has what it needs to be healthy - but less than your TDEE so that you are at a deficit. These numbers will also change over time with weight loss/gain etc.
I don't use a fitbit, I have a bodymedia armband that tells me what I burn and I find it to be pretty accurate, but I can't say with a fitbit. When I synced mine, I put my activity level on MFP to sedentary and then set it up to allow my band/MFP to sync together and for my armband to adjust my calories etc.
It appears to be working - I stay above my BMR and below my TDEE.0 -
Bump for later!0
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From of the good sources I've read, the advice is to make sure you always are eating at least above your BMR. So for you, that would be at LEAST 1630 TOTAL calories per day. Maybe keeping this in mind would be a help.
Can you post the article because I cannot find the reason why body need to eat up to BMR?
Do you know what BMR is? I suspect you'd want to eat up to that so your organs could function.0 -
Fittbit is inaccurate if worn on the wrist. If it's on your torso it works just fine.
You say your avg burn with fitbit is 1980?
You need to set your MFP target cals to whatever your deficit is taken from this number.
For example, if you're using a 500 cal/per day deficit, set your MFP target cals to 1480. This is your NET figure. So when fit bit adjusts for movement, either positive or negatively, then eat/don't eat this.
This is how fitbit and MFP are SUPPOSED to work together.
If after deficit your net cals is BELOW bmr, then your deficit is too aggressive and you should either move more or reduce the deficit.
add me if you like. I've been using this a while, with success.0 -
From of the good sources I've read, the advice is to make sure you always are eating at least above your BMR. So for you, that would be at LEAST 1630 TOTAL calories per day. Maybe keeping this in mind would be a help.
Can you post the article because I cannot find the reason why body need to eat up to BMR?
Do you know what BMR is? I suspect you'd want to eat up to that so your organs could function.
I mean for everyday since I cycle my calories almost daily. On days I do not workout or workout light my net is lower than BMR and days I lifting heavy and HIIT till I can't. I might get net calories to BMR.0 -
Ok so just double checked my BMR and MFP says 1444 and other sites say 1514 so my GOAL according to MFP is correct at 1530.
and it is less then my TDEE so all should be good.
When looking at these numbers though is it based of NET according to MFP? Like I have 1530 GOAL for the day and once I add food and add exercise (fitbit reading or MFP inputted) that should net very close to the goal MFP has given me.0 -
Fittbit is inaccurate if worn on the wrist. If it's on your torso it works just fine.
You say your avg burn with fitbit is 1980?
You need to set your MFP target cals to whatever your deficit is taken from this number.
For example, if you're using a 500 cal/per day deficit, set your MFP target cals to 1480. This is your NET figure. So when fit bit adjusts for movement, either positive or negatively, then eat/don't eat this.
This is how fitbit and MFP are SUPPOSED to work together.
If after deficit your net cals is BELOW bmr, then your deficit is too aggressive and you should either move more or reduce the deficit.
add me if you like. I've been using this a while, with success.
I wear it on my shirt or in my bra. I have the Fitbit One. I also use it at night on my wrist to track sleep.
I am going to add you because I would LOVE your help to set this thing right for me -- something isn't working!!0 -
I've been using a fitbit for a little over 6 months.
It calculates calorie burn in 2 ways. It calculates a BMR by what you enter as your stats (height, weight, age, gender) and gives you a constant, background burn for that. It adds to that calories you get from exercise and regular movement.
It is good for tracking exercise that is step-based (walking/running) and less so for others (lifting, cycling, etc).
If you have it linked to your MFP, it will give you an "adjustment" based on your projected burns through that day. It takes into account what you have already burned, and what it anticipates you will burn through the remainder of the day. It gets more and more accurate as it "learns" your habits/trends.
I wear it on my non-dominant hand, and have found it to be quite accurate. When I go back through my weekly reports, I am consistently 3500 below my weekly burns (which is my goal for a pound a week), and my weight loss since I started using it has been 1.1lb/week. Some weeks are better, some weeks are worse, but for a 6 mos average, I think that is pretty stinking close.
If your MFP target is consistently higher than your Fitbit target, you may need to adjust your MFP goals. This is something you should do every 10lbs or so, because as you lose weight, your BMR decreases and your target calorie goal should decrease as well.
Hope that helps.0 -
Your MFP goal is an estimation of your TDEE, but your FITBIT should give you an accurate TDEE. I've found that my FITBIT is usually correct and sync it to MFP. Because I don't have much to lose (5-10 lb.), I use my BMR as a guideline not to eat under so I maintain optimal energy.0
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I've been using a fitbit for a little over 6 months.
It calculates calorie burn in 2 ways. It calculates a BMR by what you enter as your stats (height, weight, age, gender) and gives you a constant, background burn for that. It adds to that calories you get from exercise and regular movement.
It is good for tracking exercise that is step-based (walking/running) and less so for others (lifting, cycling, etc).
If you have it linked to your MFP, it will give you an "adjustment" based on your projected burns through that day. It takes into account what you have already burned, and what it anticipates you will burn through the remainder of the day. It gets more and more accurate as it "learns" your habits/trends.
I wear it on my non-dominant hand, and have found it to be quite accurate. When I go back through my weekly reports, I am consistently 3500 below my weekly burns (which is my goal for a pound a week), and my weight loss since I started using it has been 1.1lb/week. Some weeks are better, some weeks are worse, but for a 6 mos average, I think that is pretty stinking close.
If your MFP target is consistently higher than your Fitbit target, you may need to adjust your MFP goals. This is something you should do every 10lbs or so, because as you lose weight, your BMR decreases and your target calorie goal should decrease as well.
Hope that helps.
I do have it linked and if I do more then walking will wear my HRM and log it on MFP only then allow fitbit and MFP to sync accordingly.
When you say my MFP targetand my Fitbit target what exactly do you mean? The GOAL on MFP? Which right now for me is 1530? On fitbit I am not sure what the starting number is as it changes based on mfp ( I think ).
At this very moment -- MFP says I have 1112 calories left for the day and fitbit says 1092.0 -
Does fitbit let you somehow input anything about lean msucle mass? As you can see, I don't see it, people tell me I am a muscular guy. So let have some one my same weight at 227 same height. My exact twin. This person has no muscles mass. I will burn my calories at rest by a lot more than the more body fat % twin me.0
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Does fitbit let you somehow input anything about lean msucle mass? As you can see, I don't see it, people tell me I am a muscular guy. So let have some one my same weight at 227 same height. My exact twin. This person has no muscles mass. I will burn my calories at rest by a lot more than the more body fat % twin me.
Yeah, so clearly fitbit isn't for you. Why are you in this thread again? :huh:0 -
I don't know my co workers have fitbit but are not really making any changes towards there goal. I was seeing how these tools try to help people with weight loss or gain.0
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Your MFP goal is an estimation of your TDEE, but your FITBIT should give you an accurate TDEE. I've found that my FITBIT is usually correct and sync it to MFP. Because I don't have much to lose (5-10 lb.), I use my BMR as a guideline not to eat under so I maintain optimal energy.
This is my experience. I have found Fitibt One to be very accurate. The online calculators for TDEE are online calculators -- I would trust Fitbit, which is basing its calculations on my actual movement - over an online calculator where I have to guesstimate how active I am. That said EVERYTHING is an estimate.0 -
"At this very moment -- MFP says I have 1112 calories left for the day and fitbit says 1092."
In the greater scheme of things, this is not that big of a difference -- as the day goes on, I find the two align.0 -
I don't know my co workers have fitbit but are not really making any changes towards there goal. I was seeing how these tools try to help people with weight loss or gain.
Perhaps they're still over eating?
It isn't a magical pill. You still have to work hard and be honest with yourself about what you're putting in your mouth. But they can be extremely helpful when used correctly.
As for your muscle mass. If fitbit is not the tool for you, then don't use one, but most people are distinctly average. They should work for the majority.0 -
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.
Thanks for the help!
If your Fitbit is saying that you're burning 1980 calories a day, what makes you say that your TDEE is 1814?0 -
Your MFP goal is an estimation of your TDEE, but your FITBIT should give you an accurate TDEE. I've found that my FITBIT is usually correct and sync it to MFP. Because I don't have much to lose (5-10 lb.), I use my BMR as a guideline not to eat under so I maintain optimal energy.
This is my experience. I have found Fitibt One to be very accurate. The online calculators for TDEE are online calculators -- I would trust Fitbit, which is basing its calculations on my actual movement - over an online calculator where I have to guesstimate how active I am. That said EVERYTHING is an estimate.
Thanks! So I should be good then -- I mean as long as I plug in the same on both sites they should work together to get me the best basic guesstimate possible!0 -
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.
Thanks for the help!
If your Fitbit is saying that you're burning 1980 calories a day, what makes you say that your TDEE is 1814?
Some site online0 -
Also. If you're going to enter ex from a HRM, ddo so in the fitbit app.
Think of it this way. ALL movement goes in fitbit, ALL food goes in MFP.0 -
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.
Thanks for the help!
If your Fitbit is saying that you're burning 1980 calories a day, what makes you say that your TDEE is 1814?
Some site online
There's the source of your confusion, then. What you see with online calculators is an estimated TDEE. What the Fitbit is giving you is your actual TDEE based on how much you, personally, move.0 -
I have been using a fitbit flex for the last 7 weeks & I find it to be very accurate. My BMR is about 1650, so I eat at this level each day. I then try to ensure I burn enough cals on my fitbit to ensure a 3500 cal deficit for the week. This allows me to loose at a rate of 1lb per week. Based on my stats since wearing it I have lost at a rate of 1lb per week as planned. Most of my exercise is walking/hiking and I don't eat back additional calories unless I have had quite a high additional burn - If I did a long hike on a weekend & burned an additional 600 calories to my usual day, then I might eat back half.
Sometimes I do circuit training, but I log these separately & don't tend to eat back the cals. I don't like eating back cals from exercise which I am effectively having to guesstimate the calories burned. If I do this I run the risk of over estimating calories burned & then pver eating when I eat them back.
I try not to get too bogged down with the figures in terms of TDEE etc. I would suggest you eat at BMR. After that it is a simple equation of cals in V cals out. You need to burn 3500 cals more than you consume each week to loose 1lb. So, as long as you weight & track your food accurately and watch how many cals you burn with the fit bit, the scales should start moving.
I really struggled before I go my fitbit. Finally I feel I have a little more control.0 -
I have been at it almost 60 days and just not seeing the results I had in the past. So I got to looking at the rest of the numbers.
My net calories according to MFP is 1530
My fitbit says I average about 1980 burned calories per day in the last month
My TDEE is 1814
and my BMR is 1630
So with all of that hoping a numbers person can come in and tell me if I am where I should be or should I be eating more or less.
I have been reading and will continue to read how TDEE and BMR fit into the equation but in the meantime figured I would ask.
I often wonder if my fitbit is messing with things as well -- I LOVE the step counter but perhaps it is tweaking MFP incorrectly and I should not sync it and go back to letting MFP decide daily -- Although you would think the fitbit is a better gauge since it is on me and not just guesstimating. I think I have too many numbers and too much info I just need to know what numbers to believe so that I can be successful once again.
Thanks for the help!
If your Fitbit is saying that you're burning 1980 calories a day, what makes you say that your TDEE is 1814?
Some site online
There's the source of your confusion, then. What you see with online calculators is an estimated TDEE. What the Fitbit is giving you is your actual TDEE based on how much you, personally, move.
Thanks -- I wasn't really confused about that particular number just wondering if I needed to use it or where it fit in. If it doesn't perfect!! One less number to worry about
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I have been using a fitbit flex for the last 7 weeks & I find it to be very accurate. My BMR is about 1650, so I eat at this level each day. I then try to ensure I burn enough cals on my fitbit to ensure a 3500 cal deficit for the week. This allows me to loose at a rate of 1lb per week. Based on my stats since wearing it I have lost at a rate of 1lb per week as planned. Most of my exercise is walking/hiking and I don't eat back additional calories unless I have had quite a high additional burn - If I did a long hike on a weekend & burned an additional 600 calories to my usual day, then I might eat back half.
Sometimes I do circuit training, but I log these separately & don't tend to eat back the cals. I don't like eating back cals from exercise which I am effectively having to guesstimate the calories burned. If I do this I run the risk of over estimating calories burned & then pver eating when I eat them back.
I try not to get too bogged down with the figures in terms of TDEE etc. I would suggest you eat at BMR. After that it is a simple equation of cals in V cals out. You need to burn 3500 cals more than you consume each week to loose 1lb. So, as long as you weight & track your food accurately and watch how many cals you burn with the fit bit, the scales should start moving.
I really struggled before I go my fitbit. Finally I feel I have a little more control.
Ok so I changed MFP to my BMR and left everything else alone -- Now I will let the fitbit do it's thing while I do mine and see if that helps.
Looks like because I have the fitbit I don't need to worry much about anything else and just keep moving!
Thanks all
Love this site so much!! 0
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