Fitbit overestimating daily calories?

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  • WaynesGurl
    WaynesGurl Posts: 44 Member
    32,000 steps would put me at about 18 miles.

    11000 steps gave me just over 5 miles...?
  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    I've seen this guideline tossed around (and, comparing my Fitbit TDEEs to the various charts, it seems dead on for me)

    Sedentary = <5000 step

    Low Active = 5000-7499 steps

    Somewhat Active = 7500-9999 step

    Active = 10000-12499 steps

    Highly Active = 12500+ steps

    And you think 32,000 steps is lightly active? :huh: Even if you back out 6 miles of running, that's maybe only 12,000 or so (give or take) of your steps, leaving you 20,000 of general activity....

    ^ Seriously this.

    I've been using fitbit since last year. It definitely underestimates calorie burns for me and as such I trust it 100%.
  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    Well I am glad I decided to read this thread as I have a fitbit flex as well and according to fitbit I have been under eating which I have been using calories based off of my TDEE - 20% and gave me 1650 and even when I got close to that at the end of the day it still had me at being under my calories. So I will try going by fitbit and see what happens.
  • DianeinCA
    DianeinCA Posts: 307 Member
    32,000 steps would put me at about 18 miles.

    11000 steps gave me just over 5 miles...?

    Yesterday I did 40k steps and Fitbit said that was about 18.41 miles.

    I find that walking a mile is about 2300 steps and running a mile is about 2100 steps. For me and my stride. Obviously, everyone differs!
  • ekat120
    ekat120 Posts: 407 Member
    40k! Super impressive!!!
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    The Fitbit is giving me closer to 2,500 for a "typical" day (2,200 without formal exercise). I think it's pretty accurate for BMR, but it's the NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) that seemed high.

    Did you mention? Is this the One or the Flex? And wear do you wear it? If it's kinda giving you too much burn during your non-structured exercise time, you could wear it in a different spot when you're not exercising. Like if it's the one, try moving it from your bra to your waist. Or if it's the Flex, switch to the other arm or change the setting where it says non-dominant to dominant. Just something to try.
  • willrun4bagels
    willrun4bagels Posts: 838 Member
    32,000 steps would put me at about 18 miles.

    11000 steps gave me just over 5 miles...?

    Yesterday I did 40k steps and Fitbit said that was about 18.41 miles.

    I find that walking a mile is about 2300 steps and running a mile is about 2100 steps. For me and my stride. Obviously, everyone differs!

    40k steps?!?! You need some sort of medal.
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    Also OP, just thought of this since you said you are pretty OCD when it comes to the numbers...

    Do you have negative adjustments enabled? I find that to be helpful also, for days I am less active, so if I really don't achieve the expected TDEE goal, MFP takes away some calories too. I think that helps ensure accuracy on more sedentary days.
  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    They are just estimations. There is so much a titbit doesn't know about what you are doing. That said So far mine doesn't seem too far off the mark. Though I have had it less than a week. I am recording my daily deficit according to it though and I am going to compare it to my weight loss over a period. That's definitely the best way to gauge how accurate it is for you.

    Honestly though it doesn't sound like you actually eat as much as you could or should for your level of activity. I am just getting into running myself and as someone who isn't used to it it's hard! It sounds like you are very used to it though so it may feel like you aren't really burning that much when really your body has been working hard.
  • ekat120
    ekat120 Posts: 407 Member
    Also OP, just thought of this since you said you are pretty OCD when it comes to the numbers...

    Do you have negative adjustments enabled? I find that to be helpful also, for days I am less active, so if I really don't achieve the expected TDEE goal, MFP takes away some calories too. I think that helps ensure accuracy on more sedentary days.

    I'm just tracking on their website (not really a fan of the MFP food diary). It's definitely motivating to see how much less it gives me when I'm less active!
    Honestly though it doesn't sound like you actually eat as much as you could or should for your level of activity. I am just getting into running myself and as someone who isn't used to it it's hard! It sounds like you are very used to it though so it may feel like you aren't really burning that much when really your body has been working hard.

    I feel like I eat a lot (been netting around 1,800, which I guess isn't *that* much), but I think you might be right. I never thought of myself as someone who wasn't eating enough! I will happily eat more and see what happens.
  • ekat120
    ekat120 Posts: 407 Member
    Also, thank you all for being super helpful! It's nice to have a sounding board.
  • rosnz
    rosnz Posts: 91 Member
    Have you actually calibrated your fitbit to the number of steps you take at your normal walking pace over a known distance? I'm a long legged tallish lady and I have a 86cm stride. Until I correctly entered my personal details Fitbit was saying I'd walked much further than I had - almost 1/3 out. It was easy to do although you feel a bit silly walking along 102, 103, 104 ...! Just note the distance on your fitbit and walk, counting steps for 0.2 kms (not too short distance as it needs to average) now I've done that mine is consistently accurate against my sons gps!
  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    Lol ok i just looked at my fitbit just before midnight and it has my TDEE as 4000 calories or so. That does seem kinda high. I mean if it's true ive a 2k deficit today. That's not good.
  • ekat120
    ekat120 Posts: 407 Member
    Have you actually calibrated your fitbit to the number of steps you take at your normal walking pace over a known distance? I'm a long legged tallish lady and I have a 86cm stride. Until I correctly entered my personal details Fitbit was saying I'd walked much further than I had - almost 1/3 out. It was easy to do although you feel a bit silly walking along 102, 103, 104 ...! Just note the distance on your fitbit and walk, counting steps for 0.2 kms (not too short distance as it needs to average) now I've done that mine is consistently accurate against my sons gps!

    Good point. I'm 5'6.5" with short legs, but I should probably calibrate it anyway.

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