Generally confused about MFP, BMR, and Fitbit calories in/calories out

Maria_R88
Maria_R88 Posts: 8 Member
edited June 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all,

Is anyone else in a quandary about how many calories they should be eating or allotting on MFP versus what they set on their Fitbit?

I recently went to the doctor and had a BMI/BMR reading. My Basal Metabolic Rate is 1245. Being ignorant of the calculations needed to set my calories for the day, I adjusted my daily calorie goal in MFP to 1245.

Then, in doing research about BMRs and calorie requirements, I realized my goal was probably too low. I wish I could find the calculation I did online that brought me to my present 1500 goal. You had to add a number to your BMR and subtract a number to account for exercise. But my Fitbit number is still higher than that at around 2,200 per day.

Last week I got a Fitbit and it calculated my calorie goal as something almost twice that. I also see that it takes into account how many calories you burn at rest.

Maybe it's the OCD in me, but having the differing calorie goals between the two apps bugs me. (As in, "ack! The numbers aren't the same! The numbers aren't the same!")

Does anyone have any suggestions for figuring out how many calories to aim for? At 1245 a day, I was holding steady and not losing weight. Could this be because I wasn't eating ENOUGH calories?

Should I just give up and <<gulp>> let the MFP number differ from the Fitbit number?

Any suggestions, discussion, examples of what you've done, etc will help me greatly!

Thanks!

Replies

  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    You should eat above your BRM but below your TDEE. My fitbit numbers and my MFP numbers never match though - use MFP for food - Fitbit for exercise.

    If you're not losing weight is because you're eating too many calories - probably because of inaccurate logging because you should be losing rapidly at 1245. Are you using a food scale? Using the recipe builder? Using accurate entries?
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    If you were not losing weight at 1,245 (and you don't have a medical issue impacting weight loss that you haven't shared in your post), then my suspicion is that your logging is off -- that is, you are taking in more calories than you think you are. Your diary is closed, but if you open it you may get some helpful advice.

    How long were you at 1,245 without seeing weight loss?
  • Maria_R88
    Maria_R88 Posts: 8 Member
    Okay, it's good to know that the Fitbit and MFP numbers don't have to be the same.

    I do use the recipe builder but not a food scale. Since I rarely eat out, I get lazy about using the recipe builder because I could be using it all. the. time. I realize I need to be more accurate in the food I'm tracking.

    Also, now that I have a Fitbit, I also realize that MFP was waaaaay overestimating my calorie burn during exercise. For instance, MFP said I burned about 250 calories on the bike last night but the Fitbit said I only burned 113. This could account for why I thought I should be losing and I wasn't.

    Thank you for the feedback, you guys! I'm excited for the more accurate tracking of the Fitbit.
  • lauraesh0384
    lauraesh0384 Posts: 463 Member
    I just eat what MFP tells me to and I use Fitbit for fitness/exercise. I'm 5'6" 157 lbs and MFP tells me to eat 1820 to lose 1 lb/week. I usually eat closer to the 1900. No problem with weight loss. But I also burn 2000 calories by 6pm with my normal daily routine on days that I work.

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