Help with FitBit adjustment

katiecey
katiecey Posts: 4 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm using my FitBit consistently, and am wondering if I should mark my activity level at Sedentary and just go off the activity adjustment (allowing negative calorie adjustments as needed), or keep it at lightly active (I walk 2-3 miles a day at my job 4 days a week). Just want to have the most accurate limits on here.

Can anyone help?

Replies

  • lauraesh0384
    lauraesh0384 Posts: 463 Member
    From what I understand, it doesn't matter what your activity level is because everything evens out in the end. You get larger adjustments with a lower activity level but your calorie goal is also smaller. Somebody can correct me if I am wrong.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    They will both result in the same number of calories recommended per day. The difference is if you want to "earn" more (in which case you should choose "sedentary" and get larger adjustments) or if you want to have more in your base and "earn" fewer calories (in which case you should choose "lightly active" and get smaller adjustments).
  • katiecey
    katiecey Posts: 4 Member
    I'm not necessarily looking to eat my activity calories, as in trying to lose weight. What I'm worried about it getting too much "added" calories and not moving enough (like if I have a lazier day or don't work). Does that make sense? When I switched to sedentary, it dropped my daily calorie allowance by like 280 calories. I plan on eating more calories when I do actual, intentional exercise (so I don't deplete myself). Just trying to figure all this out.
  • daj150
    daj150 Posts: 815 Member
    To be as accurate as possible, you should select lightly active if you are on the move that much at work. But as already mentioned, it doesn't really matter in the end...but you will have a better perspective on your health the more accurate you set and log things.
  • lauraesh0384
    lauraesh0384 Posts: 463 Member
    katiecey wrote: »
    I'm not necessarily looking to eat my activity calories, as in trying to lose weight. What I'm worried about it getting too much "added" calories and not moving enough (like if I have a lazier day or don't work). Does that make sense? When I switched to sedentary, it dropped my daily calorie allowance by like 280 calories. I plan on eating more calories when I do actual, intentional exercise (so I don't deplete myself). Just trying to figure all this out.

    I'm set to lightly active and I eat back 75% of my exercise calories. MFP is designed to eat them back if you exercise otherwise you'll end up with net calories lower than your initial goal. My "goal" is set at 1300, and I generally eat around 1900-2000 gross calories.
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    katiecey wrote: »
    I'm not necessarily looking to eat my activity calories, as in trying to lose weight. What I'm worried about it getting too much "added" calories and not moving enough (like if I have a lazier day or don't work). Does that make sense? When I switched to sedentary, it dropped my daily calorie allowance by like 280 calories. I plan on eating more calories when I do actual, intentional exercise (so I don't deplete myself). Just trying to figure all this out.

    Assuming that your estimates for calories in and calories out are accurate, eating your activity calories will not stop you from losing weight if you're using a calorie goal from MFP.

    If you enable negative adjustments, it will subtract calories from your goal when you don't move as much as your activity level would have estimated. It will do this whatever your activity level is -- the only difference between activity levels is that you get a higher "base" level of calories at higher activity levels.
  • katiecey
    katiecey Posts: 4 Member
    Okay, it makes sense now. If I'm lightly active, then the Fitbit will tell MFP if I'm doing more activity than what they've allotted, to make sure I am getting enough calories. Thank you!!
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    katiecey wrote: »
    Okay, it makes sense now. If I'm lightly active, then the Fitbit will tell MFP if I'm doing more activity than what they've allotted, to make sure I am getting enough calories. Thank you!!

    That's exactly how it works. And you choose "lightly active" and then spend the day on the couch binge-watching Netflix, Fitbit will tell MFP that too and it will subtract calories so you don't accidently eat too much (as long as you have negative adjustments enabled).
  • katiecey
    katiecey Posts: 4 Member
    You guys are awesome. Thanks for all the help. I won't be worried about eating those FitBit adjustment calories now :smile:
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