Anyone else just subtract from Fitbit cals?

rs050711
rs050711 Posts: 16 Member
edited November 30 in Health and Weight Loss
Since Sept I've lost about 25 pounds but for the last few months I keep gaining and losing the same five pounds over and over. I recently got a fitbit and have synced it with MFP; MFP usually gives me about 400-600 extra calories a day through fitbit adjustments.

To keep it simple, I'm thinking of just aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day from whatever Fitbit tells me I burn. And not worry about MFP numbers. I'm hoping that would get me about a pound a week loss without too much restriction. Anyone else do it this way? On average I'd be able to eat in the 1,500-2,000 range since Fitbit usually tells me I burn 2,000-2,500 depending on the day. Seems a little too good to be true. Anyone else have experience with basing their calorie intake/deficit on what Fitbit tells you?

Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    I have my accounts synced, so I'm essentially eating the number of calories that Fitbit has me burning (I'm maintaining right now).
  • fvtfan
    fvtfan Posts: 126 Member
    rs050711 wrote: »
    Since Sept I've lost about 25 pounds but for the last few months I keep gaining and losing the same five pounds over and over. I recently got a fitbit and have synced it with MFP; MFP usually gives me about 400-600 extra calories a day through fitbit adjustments.

    To keep it simple, I'm thinking of just aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day from whatever Fitbit tells me I burn. And not worry about MFP numbers. I'm hoping that would get me about a pound a week loss without too much restriction. Anyone else do it this way? On average I'd be able to eat in the 1,500-2,000 range since Fitbit usually tells me I burn 2,000-2,500 depending on the day. Seems a little too good to be true. Anyone else have experience with basing their calorie intake/deficit on what Fitbit tells you?

    Actually at the end of the day the numbers should end up being the same - or close if you are eating the adjustment calories.
  • tiffkittyw
    tiffkittyw Posts: 366 Member
    rs050711 wrote: »
    Since Sept I've lost about 25 pounds but for the last few months I keep gaining and losing the same five pounds over and over. I recently got a fitbit and have synced it with MFP; MFP usually gives me about 400-600 extra calories a day through fitbit adjustments.

    To keep it simple, I'm thinking of just aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day from whatever Fitbit tells me I burn. And not worry about MFP numbers. I'm hoping that would get me about a pound a week loss without too much restriction. Anyone else do it this way? On average I'd be able to eat in the 1,500-2,000 range since Fitbit usually tells me I burn 2,000-2,500 depending on the day. Seems a little too good to be true. Anyone else have experience with basing their calorie intake/deficit on what Fitbit tells you?

    Yes, that is what I do. Fitbit tells me my TDEE is anywhere between 1,800-1,980 depending on the day so I know as long as my "gross" daily average intake is no more than 1,300-1,400 I can lose about .8 to 1 lb a week. On a side note, I set Fitbit and MFP to maintaince sedentary so Fitbit will add in my exercise calories. I know if I have 500 calories remaining for the day that I'm on track for a 1 lb loss. I also told Fitbit and MFP I'm 1 inch shorter to improve accuracy and I've had no problems so far, 36 lbs down since September.
  • rs050711
    rs050711 Posts: 16 Member
    tiffkittyw wrote: »
    rs050711 wrote: »
    Since Sept I've lost about 25 pounds but for the last few months I keep gaining and losing the same five pounds over and over. I recently got a fitbit and have synced it with MFP; MFP usually gives me about 400-600 extra calories a day through fitbit adjustments.

    To keep it simple, I'm thinking of just aiming for a 500 calorie deficit every day from whatever Fitbit tells me I burn. And not worry about MFP numbers. I'm hoping that would get me about a pound a week loss without too much restriction. Anyone else do it this way? On average I'd be able to eat in the 1,500-2,000 range since Fitbit usually tells me I burn 2,000-2,500 depending on the day. Seems a little too good to be true. Anyone else have experience with basing their calorie intake/deficit on what Fitbit tells you?

    Yes, that is what I do. Fitbit tells me my TDEE is anywhere between 1,800-1,980 depending on the day so I know as long as my "gross" daily average intake is no more than 1,300-1,400 I can lose about .8 to 1 lb a week. On a side note, I set Fitbit and MFP to maintaince sedentary so Fitbit will add in my exercise calories. I know if I have 500 calories remaining for the day that I'm on track for a 1 lb loss. I also told Fitbit and MFP I'm 1 inch shorter to improve accuracy and I've had no problems so far, 36 lbs down since September.

    Awesome, thanks! That's interesting about setting to maintenance sedentary, something to think about.
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