Fit bit calories Do I trust it????

Its like I wrote this post myself. Same height, weight and concerned about the calories my fitbit allows. So BUMP

Personally, I wouldn't trust a damn thing that uses formulas and algorithms to calculate your calorie burn.

Instead, I would use something that requires no tools but a way to log your caloric intake. Pic a number of calories to eat that should create a deficit, and eat that amount for a month.

After a month, see how much you've lost compared to how much you've wanted to eat. Lost too much? Eat more. Lost too little? Eat less.

Trial and error.

Over a period of time, you should have it all figured out. No need for all these little things that just make you spend more and more of your hard-earned money. On top of that: What do you do if you lose it or break it? You've grown a dependency on this silly little gadget, so you're going to have to go spend more money on it.

Stop using materialistic gadgets and start using your brain.

I used to have a Fitbit Charge HR that I used daily.

Comparing heartrate and calorie burn, the Charge HR, in my experience,
seems to slightly overestimate low-intensity exercise calorie burn (such as walking), altho I feel it's pretty close.
Athough, one important thing I'm quite certain of; it UNDERESTIMATES high-intensity exercise calorie burn.

The high-intensity calorie burn is underestimated due to the heartrate tracking.
It seems to have problems tracking heartrate when high, despite following all cues (putting it higher up your arm etc).
Comparing to a heartrate meter with chest strap, the heartrates more than often were off by 20-50 bpm.
In a high-intensity workout that's 30 mins or longer, that can quickly be a 100-200 kcal burn difference.

Also, FitBit's 'active minutes' are counted towards periods of time in which your heartrate goes above a certain level.. So that would explain why it didn't count just the 40 mins of exercise you did, but also other periods of time in which your heartrate went up.

I´ve had a fitbit Charge HR for about 11 weeks now. I trust the calorieburn, and aim to eat at atleast 1000 cal. deficit. Somedays I´ve eaten less, sometimes more, but it usually evens out to a 7000 deficit a week according to the fitbit. In those 11 weeks, I´ve lost about 20 lbs. I trust it.

I have the fitbit flex (steps and activity minutes). I lose weight if I eat back only half the calorie burns. If I eat back all the exercise calories I will gain. Mostly use it as a motivator. Love it

gotolam wrote: »

chivalryder wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't trust a damn thing that uses formulas and algorithms to calculate your calorie burn.

Instead, I would use something that requires no tools but a way to log your caloric intake. Pic a number of calories to eat that should create a deficit, and eat that amount for a month.

After a month, see how much you've lost compared to how much you've wanted to eat. Lost too much? Eat more. Lost too little? Eat less.

Trial and error.

Over a period of time, you should have it all figured out. No need for all these little things that just make you spend more and more of your hard-earned money. On top of that: What do you do if you lose it or break it? You've grown a dependency on this silly little gadget, so you're going to have to go spend more money on it.

Stop using materialistic gadgets and start using your brain.

I suppose you take the exact same steps, move the exact same way, and do the exact same things month after month. Awesome.

Now get off that materialistic computer and start using your brain.

Someone clearly didn't do their research.

Ever heard of TDEE? You might want to look it up.

rabbitjb wrote: »

loridebacker wrote: »

How do I use pedometer mode only?

Sorry I meant I have a fitbit flex / zip and not the new HRM wearable

because the bit I simply don't believe is 'this is your HR hence this is a somewhat accurate estimate of your calorie burn this day' .. because it simply doesn't work like that .. and I've yet to be convinced it can

HRMs convert to calories relatively accurately (still an estimate) for steady state cardio only

I would like to add not just steady state, because a stroll in the park is steady state. Steady state, aerobic cardio activity. In other words, you're working hard enough to sweat, but you're not killing yourself.

Monkey_Business wrote: »

Well this went south rather quickly. (sits back and gets out the unsalted, unbuttered popcorn).

You should add some 'No Salt Added' seasoning and maybe some chili powder. Oh boy, is that yummy!

gotolam wrote: »

chivalryder wrote: »

gotolam wrote: »

chivalryder wrote: »

Personally, I wouldn't trust a damn thing that uses formulas and algorithms to calculate your calorie burn.

Instead, I would use something that requires no tools but a way to log your caloric intake. Pic a number of calories to eat that should create a deficit, and eat that amount for a month.

After a month, see how much you've lost compared to how much you've wanted to eat. Lost too much? Eat more. Lost too little? Eat less.

Trial and error.

Over a period of time, you should have it all figured out. No need for all these little things that just make you spend more and more of your hard-earned money. On top of that: What do you do if you lose it or break it? You've grown a dependency on this silly little gadget, so you're going to have to go spend more money on it.

Stop using materialistic gadgets and start using your brain.

I suppose you take the exact same steps, move the exact same way, and do the exact same things month after month. Awesome.

Now get off that materialistic computer and start using your brain.

Someone clearly didn't do their research.

Ever heard of TDEE? You might want to look it up.

Wait, I thought you didn't trust anything that used formulas and algorithms to calculate your calorie burn?

I'll take two approaches to this:

a) As I said, you need to start somewhere. Pulling a number out of the air won't do you any good. Using TDEE is a good place to start, but it is just an estimate. You shouldn't use the number as if it were God. Start with it, eat that amount, see if you've achieved your goals for the month, adjust and keep going. Lather, rinse, repeat.

ETA: TDEE is not *actually* a formula, but a theory. People have created a formula so you can calculate an estimate for the theory. TDEE is simply what you burn in a day. What I mentioned in the above paragraph is you can use the formula to calculate an estimate on what your TDEE might be. The trial-and-error system I spoke of earlier is the only way to truly find what your real TDEE is, though is is subject to change as you increase/decrease your weight and your level of activity throughout the seasons.

But then, that's the magic of it all. You're constantly changing yourself, but you're also monitoring how your diet affects your weight. Therefore, you're constantly making adjustments to everything.

After a while, you'll have a solid idea of how much you need to eat based on how active you are. You wouldn't need a gadget to do it for you, you don't even need to think much about it. You'll slowly get a better understanding until it becomes second nature.

That being said, it would still be a good idea to log, because guessing calorie intake never works.

/ETA

See, if you thought about it, you could have figured that out for yourself.

b) Stop fracking trolling.

I have the One - so not sure how it compares in terms of accuracy to the model you have. But now that I'm in maintenance I've learned that if I eat less than what Fitbit says I've burned, I lose weight. So its accurate or it lowballs me. You won't know your results/accuracy until you accumulate some data. So for now assume a 10% error rate if that gives you peace of mind. So 3100 * .9 (10% error rate) = 2800 roughly. Just plan on leaving some Fitbit calories 'on the table' and see how your rate of weight loss proceeds over the next few months. Then adjust accordingly.

Ps-I'm smaller, 125-128ish and for a moderately active day on Monday (8 hours of desk time) and 118 active minutes, 17k steps, total daily burn was 2076. So since you were more active in terms of # of steps & on your feet rather than sitting at a desk, and 40 pounds heavier, I don't find your calorie burned # to be odd.