Gained a pound

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Hi all,

I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.
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Replies

  • Philtex
    Philtex Posts: 946 Member
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    Congratulations on losing two pounds in two weeks. Think long term and watch the trend over time, not each weekly reading.
  • capaul42
    capaul42 Posts: 1,390 Member
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    I didn't trust mine when I first got it either. I've found that the longer I wore it, the more accurate it seems. Been losing at plan for months eating back approximately 90% of my calories, less some days if I'm just not hungry.

    That said, our scale weight fluctuates for so many different reasons that daily weighing can be a pain unless you understand that. I went up 1.6lbs from yesterday's weigh in. But I know that's partly water weight from exercise and sodium intake. And it's also partly food waste as I haven't gone to the bathroom yet.
    Time of the month also affects scale weight as our bodies tend to retain water during TOM and during ovulation. So if you're going to weigh daily, don't sweat the fluctuations too much, okay?
  • emmas434
    emmas434 Posts: 29 Member
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    capaul42 wrote: »
    I didn't trust mine when I first got it either. I've found that the longer I wore it, the more accurate it seems. Been losing at plan for months eating back approximately 90% of my calories, less some days if I'm just not hungry.

    That said, our scale weight fluctuates for so many different reasons that daily weighing can be a pain unless you understand that. I went up 1.6lbs from yesterday's weigh in. But I know that's partly water weight from exercise and sodium intake. And it's also partly food waste as I haven't gone to the bathroom yet.
    Time of the month also affects scale weight as our bodies tend to retain water during TOM and during ovulation. So if you're going to weigh daily, don't sweat the fluctuations too much, okay?

    I did used to weigh daily, so was used to seeing fluctuations, but recently only been weighing weekly. Today stressed me I think because today is typically my weigh in day and it's the first time I've went up rather than down.

    I'm glad to hear about the Fitbit, I might apply the 90% to my calorie adjustments too
  • booksandchocolate12
    booksandchocolate12 Posts: 1,741 Member
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    Weight loss is not linear. There will be weeks when you do everything right and the scale will show a gain. This won't be the last time you see the scale go up when you feel like it should've gone down, but it all evens out over time.

    A gain of a pound is nothing to stress over. Could be water retention from exercise, or if you're getting your period, or any number of things.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,182 Member
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    Indeed, if you are truly in a calorie deficit you truly will lose weight despite the various water-retaining effects of salt, stress, and mense. It is because women are so much more afflicted with this variation of water loading that they get frustrated and confused with weight loss. Stay in your calorie deficit every day. Don't cheat. Check your weight once a day if you want, but once a week or month is ok, too.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    edited August 2016
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    You've lost quite a bit. you know how much to eat.
  • emmas434
    emmas434 Posts: 29 Member
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    You've lost quite a bit. you know how much to eat.

    I'm not sure I understand your point, I'm not asking why I'm not losing weight because I haven't monitored my food correctly. I watch, weigh and measure what I consume.

    The weight I've lost, has been without the Fitbit HR, now that I'm allowing myself to eat more based on the corrections I'm recieving from the Fitbit, seeing a gain on a weigh in day just spooked me a little.

    Weight loss is not linear. There will be weeks when you do everything right and the scale will show a gain. This won't be the last time you see the scale go up when you feel like it should've gone down, but it all evens out over time.

    A gain of a pound is nothing to stress over. Could be water retention from exercise, or if you're getting your period, or any number of things.


    I will put this to memory, and try not to panic too much next time! As long as the scale goes down over the months I'm happy either way
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    You've lost quite a bit. you know how much to eat.

    I'm not sure I understand your point, I'm not asking why I'm not losing weight because I haven't monitored my food correctly. I watch, weigh and measure what I consume.

    The weight I've lost, has been without the Fitbit HR, now that I'm allowing myself to eat more based on the corrections I'm recieving from the Fitbit, seeing a gain on a weigh in day just spooked me a little.

    Weight loss is not linear. There will be weeks when you do everything right and the scale will show a gain. This won't be the last time you see the scale go up when you feel like it should've gone down, but it all evens out over time.

    A gain of a pound is nothing to stress over. Could be water retention from exercise, or if you're getting your period, or any number of things.


    I will put this to memory, and try not to panic too much next time! As long as the scale goes down over the months I'm happy either way

    Sorry, this was pre-coffee. My point was: if you were losing well without the fitbit, why not kinda aim for that same calorie count, if you feel you've STOPPED losing with the fitbit. Does that make sense?
    But yes, weight loss isn't linear. I went back and looked at my own weight loss and it was quite a jagged downward line. Good luck.
  • leejoyce31
    leejoyce31 Posts: 794 Member
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    Did I miss something? You said you lost 3 pounds. What gain are you referring to?
  • itsthehumidity
    itsthehumidity Posts: 351 Member
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    I have a Fitbit Surge (which has HR) and it overestimates my calories burned by 1000-1500 per day. It's so incredibly wrong that I simply ignore that aspect of it. My TDEE is more around 2200, and I verified that by steadily losing a pound a week eating 1700 calories per day. The Surge, however, says I burn anywhere from 3200-4000 calories per day.

    Some say it's accurate; some say it's not. There are enough people who say it's not to indicate you shouldn't trust it unless you verify it with other means.
  • tracymayo1
    tracymayo1 Posts: 445 Member
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    I personally compare my Fitbit "calories remaining" and my MFP calories remaining and usually by the end of the day they are very close. Maybe about 20-75 calories off.
    Considering I usually have about 400+ calories LEFT in my daily budget - I don't worry about it.
    But I agree with the others who say it is good to compare - gives you a better average if you are looking at 2 programs that sync.

    As for your weight TREND - you can try weight grapher... it helps me NOT freak out over every gain. like now with TOM - I have gone up about 5-8lbs depending on the month. As I can see what my weight was 28 days ago on weight grapher compared to my current weight, I can see the trend is always down - and where my TOM was last time - if I see it go up on BOTH lines - I KNOW it will sort itself out based on the last month results.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,498 Member
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    I have a Fitbit Surge (which has HR) and it overestimates my calories burned by 1000-1500 per day. It's so incredibly wrong that I simply ignore that aspect of it. My TDEE is more around 2200, and I verified that by steadily losing a pound a week eating 1700 calories per day. The Surge, however, says I burn anywhere from 3200-4000 calories per day.

    Some say it's accurate; some say it's not. There are enough people who say it's not to indicate you shouldn't trust it unless you verify it with other means.

    Really? Are you very sedentary? I'm curious because I'm a 42 year old woman and my TDEE is also about 2200, but I am fairly active.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 27,988 Member
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    leejoyce31 wrote: »
    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    Did I miss something? You said you lost 3 pounds. What gain are you referring to?

    In the thread title (but not her OP) she says she gained a pound.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,868 Member
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    weight loss is a trend over time...you're not going to lose every week...weight fluctuates up and down...you will have weeks with no loss, weeks with gains, and weeks with smaller or larger losses...you have to look at the overall trend over time and the bigger picture.

  • emmas434
    emmas434 Posts: 29 Member
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    I have a Fitbit Surge (which has HR) and it overestimates my calories burned by 1000-1500 per day. It's so incredibly wrong that I simply ignore that aspect of it. My TDEE is more around 2200, and I verified that by steadily losing a pound a week eating 1700 calories per day. The Surge, however, says I burn anywhere from 3200-4000 calories per day.

    Some say it's accurate; some say it's not. There are enough people who say it's not to indicate you shouldn't trust it unless you verify it with other means.

    My TDEE for today from my Fitbit is 2450 cals, for ~12000 steps. I have mfp set to sedentary for a calorie intake of 1600 cals a day for a loss ~0.5 pound a week and the Fitbit is giving me an adjustment of 600. I don't know if this seems realistic or not.
  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
    edited August 2016
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    emmas434 wrote: »
    Hi all,

    I recent obtained a Fitbit charge HR just under three weeks ago, I have been trusting the calorie adjustments it has been giving me despite sometimes feeling they are too high. I lost 3 pounds last week so don't know if this is just a fluctuation, or a real gain as I typically only weigh weekly.

    I have mfp set to sedentary, I'm 5' 6" and CW 173 pounds, SW 196 pounds.

    I have a Fitbit Surge (which has HR) and it overestimates my calories burned by 1000-1500 per day. It's so incredibly wrong that I simply ignore that aspect of it. My TDEE is more around 2200, and I verified that by steadily losing a pound a week eating 1700 calories per day. The Surge, however, says I burn anywhere from 3200-4000 calories per day.

    Some say it's accurate; some say it's not. There are enough people who say it's not to indicate you shouldn't trust it unless you verify it with other means.

    2200 is quite low for a man, unless you're very small or very sedentary. My TDEE is around 2900 on a normal day and I'm not super active (I'm counting days where I don't hike - there my TDEE is much higher still).
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,464 Member
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    You lost 3 and fluctuated up 1. Don't worry!
  • afatpersonwholikesfood
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    I have MFP set for 1 pound per week and eat my entire Fitbit adjustment most of the time. Here's the last month's weekly weigh-ins:

    196.2, 198.8, 197.6, 196, and 191.8 this morning.

    I have averaged 1.1 lbs per week. This pattern (which included a gain for no apparent reason) has been repeating itself for a few months. It's just how weight loss works sometimes. Can't let one week or even a few weeks bother you too much.