Fitbit + work = confusion

corwinKB wrote: »

So I work at a state park where I walk a lot! The other day I was trimming a mountain bike trail and ended up walking something like 6 miles around the loop.

So the other day I saw my fitbit had me at 33,000+ steps and a deficit of 1700 calories.

Enable negative calorie adjustments in your diary settings, then increase your activity level. You'll start with more calories in the morning and get smaller adjustments.

You can learn more in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

I lost the weight & have maintained for a year by trusting my Fitbit. Food is fuel, and we should all be looking for the maximum number of calories at which we lose weight (or maintain)—never the minimum.

You have 68lbs to lose. I don't see the problem, frankly. You're not going to not lose weight because you burned too many calories.

You'll probably shed weight quite quickly at first, then as you get more endurance and aren't as tired and have a lower burn, you'll both have more energy to eat more and will be burning less, so you'll hit maintenance.

What are you worried about? More than a 1000-calorie deficit is perfectly fine for someone with that much weight to lose.

I don't see a lot of consistent logging actually...how do you know how much you are really eating.

And what I could see logged some was fine...some was eh...like 1/3 less fat cream cheese...try full fat if you need more calories.

And what I could see logged you are getting in lots of food...

The question is are you losing? Quick enough or too fast?

Fitbit is pretty spot on for TDEE burn. So sit down and be really really honest about what you're putting in your mouth. Warts and all honest. Do that and you've got this.

Seems plausible. A big guy working hard? I can see that you would have quite a large calorie allotment to work with.

Fitbits are pretty accurate for things like you are doing, however, something to think about is vibration. If you are using the wrist band and using a weedeater, you are likely getting some false readings there. You can always do a sanity check - next time you weedeat a trail, you know how long the trail is, so just start your activity timer, do the trail, then check the mileage at the end and see how much credit it gave you.

Anyhow, use this big deficit to your advantage. The undereating issues will likely not apply to you since 1) you have 68 lbs to lose and 2) you are probably eating quite a bit even though your net might be low (in other words, you are eating enough food to get your nutritional requirements and your body is just burning more fat to make up the energy).

Here's the big "but": You said your job wears you out to the point that you are sleeping in until 1-2pm... THis is an indication that 1) you really are working hard, but 2) you probably need to eat more carbs - yeah I said it! CARBS! As hard as you are working, you need to replenish glycogen in your muscles, so eat cereals, bagels, potatos, pasta, etc. Eat like an athlete. I big complex carby meal at the end of the day will do wonders for your recovery.

I typically miss breakfast every day and struggle with trying to get my calories in.

Pre-planning is key!

For breakfast, you could make a smoothie in about 5 minutes and drink it on your way to work. I like peanut butter, banana, protein powder, egg and for liquid, half weak coffee and half almond Teeccino, which is an herbal coffee substitute.

On days when I weed eat or am doing lots of sweeping/mopping/raking, I put my Fitbit in my pocket. It still counts most of my steps, but not the unnecessary movements.