Fit bit confused

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blkandwhite77
blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I just got my fit bit flex and I'm confused about the calories burned. The fit bit says to lose 2lbs a week you need to eat at a deficit of 1000 calories a day which we all know. However it's showing my calories burned at around 1800 so does that mean I'd have to eat 800 calories a day to lose 2lbs a week (don't worry I wouldn't eat that few. I like food too much and you know surviving) but is that what the fit bit is saying?

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  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
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  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    Aiming for 2 pounds per week is not an appropriate goal for most people. MFP sets the lowest goal for women at 1200 calories to ensure that we have enough calorie to get adequate nutrients.
  • charlieandcarol
    charlieandcarol Posts: 302 Member
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    Yes the fitbit is estimating that so far on this day (you still have 6 hours to go) you have burnt 1831 calories total (ie BMR plus all activities.). The fibit uses a calculation to determine your BMR, and then adds the BMR incremently to your calories total as the day proceeds, so you still have 6 hours of BMR and whatever activities you do in that time to be added.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
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    Weird as MFP has me needing to eat 1500 calories including the steps from fit bit but according to the fit bit that barely put me (me at around a 300 calorie deficit) I realize I have 5.5 hours left but it's going to be sitting at a computer trying to force myself to write a paper for school I don't want to write so I won't be burning very many more calories lol seems like a big difference in calories burned as MFP of 1500 + 1000 for deficit has me burning 2500 calories.
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    If your BMR was 1200 you'd still burn 300 calories in the last 5.5 hours in the day, even if you were in a coma.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
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    Maybe I'm just being anal the 400 less calories burned by end of day seems like a rather large discrepancy between the two but guess I can be patient and wait until midnight to see lol. Ty for your help.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
    edited November 2015
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    usmcmp wrote: »
    Aiming for 2 pounds per week is not an appropriate goal for most people. MFP sets the lowest goal for women at 1200 calories to ensure that we have enough calorie to get adequate nutrients.

    It's totally appropriate for an obese woman but ty for your concern. :)
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    blkandwhite77 wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    Aiming for 2 pounds per week is not an appropriate goal for most people. MFP sets the lowest goal for women at 1200 calories to ensure that we have enough calorie to get adequate nutrients.

    It's totally appropriate for an obese woman but try for your concern. :)

    When I was obese 2 pounds per week was too steep of a deficit for me to sustain.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
    edited November 2015
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    I'm completely happy with amount of food I've been eating for 3 months and not hard at all. Plus I eat back at least half my exercise calories so there is rarely a day I have ate 1200 calories. Normally it ends up being closer 1400-1500. Why does everyone assume if your base calories are 1200 the person is actually eating only 1200? Or that it will be difficult for someone else because it was difficult for another person? No. The 1200 is my starting point. Then I count in my "extra" exercise calories as well. ;)
  • usmcmp
    usmcmp Posts: 21,220 Member
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    blkandwhite77 wrote: »
    I'm completely happy with amount of food I've been eating for 3 months and not hard at all. Plus I eat back at least half my exercise calories so there is rarely a day I have ate 1200 calories. Normally it ends up being closer 1400-1500. Why does everyone assume if your base calories are 1200 the person is actually eating only 1200? Or that it will be difficult for someone else because it was difficult for another person? No. The 1200 is my starting point. Then I count in my "extra" exercise calories as well. ;)

    I didn't assume you were only eating 1200 calories, I assumed MFP set your goal to that.
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
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    blkandwhite77 wrote: »
    usmcmp wrote: »
    Aiming for 2 pounds per week is not an appropriate goal for most people. MFP sets the lowest goal for women at 1200 calories to ensure that we have enough calorie to get adequate nutrients.

    It's totally appropriate for an obese woman but ty for your concern. :)

    I am obese and 2 pounds a week is not possible for me. At 1200 calories I could only expect to lose 1.4 a week.

    About your Fitbit though, when did you start to wear it? If it's today than you have to give it some time to get to know you and the data will be more accurate.

    If you want a better idea of what your calorie burn estimation is at complete rest, you can find that out by clicking on the calorie burn, choosing today, and turn your phone to it's side. It will give you a chart that will show you what your calorie burn is broken down by 15 min time chunks.
  • blkandwhite77
    blkandwhite77 Posts: 281 Member
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    I just checked it's been almost 8 weeks since I actually got serious with logging and I've lost 13 pounds so it's averaging pretty close to 2lbs a week. Now some weeks it's 1-1.5 others it's 2-3lbs it varies but still pretty close :) as for the tip for fit bit ty! I'm still trying to figure out what all this little gadget tracks. Like if I went on a treadmill would it log as steps so don't log it as exercise? So many questions! Lol don't worry I'm trying to google them all so I don't drive everyone here batty with 50 questions :D thanks again!
  • charlieandcarol
    charlieandcarol Posts: 302 Member
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    How I work my Fitbit is I have it linked to Fitbit and I have negative adjustments enabled.

    I log food in MFP only and I go off MFP calorie goals.

    I log exercised in Fitbit but only non-step based activities, eg bike riding. Things like walking on a treadmill are automatically logged by step count by the Fitbit.

    Logging activity in MFP and linking your Fitbit to MFP will result in a double up of your activity.

    I think there is a Fitbit group somewhere.
  • Qskim
    Qskim Posts: 1,145 Member
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    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

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