Does Fitbit way overestimate calories burned?
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I didn't have negative calorie adjustments enabled. I've done that, but can someone explain what that is? It's probably really obvious but this is the first time I've done weight loss without someone just telling me how many "points" to eat, so all of this is new to me.!
It means that when you don't meet MFP's expected calorie burn (based on your stats and the activity level you picked), that you will lose calories.
So if MFP expects you to burn 2000 calories a day and Fitbit says your only going to burn 1800 for the day, MFP will take away 200 calories so that you maintain whatever deficit you selected (the exception being if it would drop you below 1200. MFP won't let your calorie goal go below 1200).0 -
My Zip overestimates my TDEE by 1000. I think my Zip is just wonky (it also eats batteries like candy), but not all of them are. I do know I won't buy a Zip again based on this one.0
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Ohhh, ok. I've learned a lot here. Thanks everyone so much!0
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My Zip overestimates my TDEE by 1000. I think my Zip is just wonky (it also eats batteries like candy), but not all of them are. I do know I won't buy a Zip again based on this one.
Are you logging everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly?
If so, contact Fitbit customer service. They'll replace your tracker if it's defective.0 -
I use a fitbit one and it's right on the nail for me.0
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Yep, a watch battery. But the one I had, I only replaced it once and used it every day from April to August.0 -
My Fitbit gives me a TDEE that is really close to the one I calculated from my actual numbers. It can be very accurate, but the more you wear it, the more accurate it will become because it will have much more data to work with.
When you first get it, it will calculate according to averages for your height, weight, and how fast you move. Over time it will also have actual calories eaten, weight lost, etc. to factor in, so it can more accurately figure the burn based on real life numbers. To start, maybe eat back about 50-75% of the calories it gives you and see how things work out. If you are losing faster than your plan, eat back more.
This, exactly. My Fitbit Charge HR is pretty accurate and I'm consistently losing weight.0 -
It absolutely makes sense to me if you have your MFP set up for sedentary that it pretty quickly gives you exercise calories. Sedentary is just barely above your BMR...which is the amount of calories you need just to be alive and breathing. It won't take much activity to bump you above that.
I have my MFP set up for moderately active. I have to get 5-6K steps in before my FitBit gives me an exercise allowance above that level of activity.
My natural inclination is to be sedentary. I have to consciously work at it to be active. For that reason alone, I think Sedentary is the right activity level for me. I also know myself well enough to know that if I were to have my activity level set too high, I would find the negative calorie adjustment extending late into the day to be very demotivating. I prefer to be rewarded for being active with extra calories, rather than be penalized for being lazy by having calories taken away. With my activity level set to Sedentary, I get out of negative territory fairly early in the morning. However, I also know that in order to be able to eat enough to not be hungry, I need at least a 500 calorie exercise adjustment.0 -
My FitBit says I've burned 1723 calories today. I've been up since midnight and have walked more than 20,000 steps. LOL. I WISH I were so active that I was questioning it!0
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Can anyone define sedentary vs lightly active, beyond the short description given on MFP?0
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Can anyone define sedentary vs lightly active, beyond the short description given on MFP?
Sedentary is basically a desk job and minimal physical activity. You drive everywhere and don't do regular yardwork, etc Fitbit figures it as approximately 3000 or fewer steps per day. Lightly active will include someone who walks around a bit more at their job or at home but is still not very active. Fitbit figures it as approximately 5000 steps per day.
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This is my experience too. I'd be lost without my Fitbit now.My Fitbit gives me a TDEE that is really close to the one I calculated from my actual numbers. It can be very accurate, but the more you wear it, the more accurate it will become because it will have much more data to work with.
When you first get it, it will calculate according to averages for your height, weight, and how fast you move. Over time it will also have actual calories eaten, weight lost, etc. to factor in, so it can more accurately figure the burn based on real life numbers. To start, maybe eat back about 50-75% of the calories it gives you and see how things work out. If you are losing faster than your plan, eat back more.
This, exactly. My Fitbit Charge HR is pretty accurate and I'm consistently losing weight.
(I have a One)0 -
I'm logging as accurately as I can. Fitbit CS just told me to play with a small piece of metal in the Zip to fix it. It still tells me I've got a 3000 TDEE, which would mean I'd be losing 1.5# a week and I'm not. I didn't bother asking about getting a replacement because I don't want a Zip after this experience. I'll be getting a One in October.editorgrrl wrote: »My Zip overestimates my TDEE by 1000. I think my Zip is just wonky (it also eats batteries like candy), but not all of them are. I do know I won't buy a Zip again based on this one.
Are you logging everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly?
If so, contact Fitbit customer service. They'll replace your tracker if it's defective.
There will always be a few defective ones in a product line. I would still recommend Fitbit over other activity trackers, though not the Zip.
ETA: Yes, I'm wearing my Zip in one of the approved areas (my waistband).0 -
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is check your setup data for typos. I was getting some really wierd suggestions and when I double checked I had entered a weight that was almost 300 pounds higher than my actual weight (something like 520 instead of 250).0
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Can anyone define sedentary vs lightly active, beyond the short description given on MFP?
If (and only if) you enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings, it's entirely a matter of personal preference which one you choose.
Either way, you're eating TDEE minus deficit. Sedentary just gives you fewer calories to start with, but larger adjustments.0 -
There is no such thing as starvation mode.
Burning 500 calories is light years away from a strenuous workout.
If a Zip is going through more than about 2 batteries a year, it is defective. This happened to me--I called FitBit and received a brand new Zip in less than a week.-1 -
It absolutely makes sense to me if you have your MFP set up for sedentary that it pretty quickly gives you exercise calories. Sedentary is just barely above your BMR...which is the amount of calories you need just to be alive and breathing. It won't take much activity to bump you above that.
I have my MFP set up for moderately active. I have to get 5-6K steps in before my FitBit gives me an exercise allowance above that level of activity.
My natural inclination is to be sedentary. I have to consciously work at it to be active. For that reason alone, I think Sedentary is the right activity level for me. I also know myself well enough to know that if I were to have my activity level set too high, I would find the negative calorie adjustment extending late into the day to be very demotivating. I prefer to be rewarded for being active with extra calories, rather than be penalized for being lazy by having calories taken away. With my activity level set to Sedentary, I get out of negative territory fairly early in the morning. However, I also know that in order to be able to eat enough to not be hungry, I need at least a 500 calorie exercise adjustment.
That's fine. Just explaining why you get an activity adjustment so quickly with the FitBit. It's because you selected sedentary. Just moving around like a normal person pulls you up from sedentary.
I'm well aware of that. My point was that setting your MFP activity level correctly is critical if you don't have an activity tracker, and purely a matter of preference with one.0 -
When I wear my Fitbit I find the days I work are very accurate. I work in retail & find I burn anywhere from 2100-2400 depending on how grueling my workday was & if I exercise too. On days I have off if I had negative calories enabled & I'm being lazy I get 1,200 (I usually eat more though cause I'd be pretty hangry).
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »
Burning 500 calories is light years away from a strenuous workout.
Ha, not in my world.
For me right now a workout that burns 450 calories is *very* intense.
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azulvioleta6 wrote: »
Burning 500 calories is light years away from a strenuous workout.
Ha, not in my world. For me right now a workout that burns 450 calories is *very* intense.
Keep adjusting your expectations upwards.
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