Quick question..

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So I am little confused about things, I have myfitnesspal and Fitbit linked together. MyFitnessPal say I should eat 1,800 cals a day... but when I workout and everything the calories go up, I understand why, but do I eat these extra calories I burn or just the 1.800?
I'm a pretty active person and according to my Fitbit I burn between 2,600-3,100 depending on the day. I feel like I should maybe eat a little more, but I'm really trying to lose weight and feel like this isn't working... any help would be great! TIA

Also feel free to add me here or on Fitbit I'm always looking for people to challenge and encourage them! Sara05469

Replies

  • amyr271
    amyr271 Posts: 343 Member
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    You should eat what MFP tells you to, so if your calories go up you should eat that amount, or at least half of the added amount.
  • MikeLeTwigg
    MikeLeTwigg Posts: 162 Member
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    Hi,

    Really depends on how you feel. General rule is 50-75% of cals burned you can eat back.

  • brandi712
    brandi712 Posts: 407 Member
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    some people eat all their exercise calories back, some eat half and some eat none. I think it depends on the person and how their body feels. Since you are burn that many calories, it could be beneficial for you to eat back at least half.
  • Sara05469
    Sara05469 Posts: 3 Member
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    Thank guys, I didn't want to over eat and some I feel like if I eat more I might puke. but I'll start with eating maybe half of them back first. : )
  • dubird
    dubird Posts: 1,849 Member
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    If you're only logging exercise with your Fitbit, then yes, eat them back. Don't log on MFP as it will give you extra calories that you didn't exercise for.

    What I did was use my Fitbit to estimate my daily calories and went from there. Basically, I kept track for a week without exercise, divided that number by 7 and got an average daily total. I took that number, took a deficit off, set MFP and Fitbit to sedentary and put that deficit number in. That way, if I have a slow day, I won't be too off and on days when I'm more active, I can eat more. That's been working for me, so that might be something to try.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    Sara05469 wrote: »
    I have myfitnesspal and Fitbit linked together. MyFitnessPal say I should eat 1,800 cals a day... but when I workout and everything the calories go up, I understand why, but do I eat these extra calories I burn or just the 1.800?

    Connect your accounts at http://www.myfitnesspal.com/fitbit

    Set your goal to .5 lb. for every 25 lbs. you're overweight: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided

    Enable negative calorie adjustments: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings

    In the MFP app, go to More > Steps and choose Fitbit.

    Ignore your Fitbit calorie goal and follow MFP's, eating back your adjustments. No need to log any step-based activity—your Fitbit is tracking it for you. Log non-step exercise (like swimming or biking) either in Fitbit or in MFP—never both. Exercise logged in MFP overwrites your Fitbit burn during that time.

    You can learn more (and find friends) in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • Sara05469
    Sara05469 Posts: 3 Member
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    Yeah I only use Fitbit to log water and exercise and MFP for food. But something just doesn't feel right I'll have to try and edit everything after work! Thanks for all the advice everyone
  • dmt4641
    dmt4641 Posts: 409 Member
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    Fitbit overestimated my calories burned and I didn't lose weight when I ate the calories fit bit told me to. editorgrrl gave a great explanation on how to make sure you are not double counting your exercise.