Please can someone clarify (brain fog)

sarahcandlin9118
sarahcandlin9118 Posts: 9 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
Some help would be appreciated.

I am trying to lose approx 1lb per week

I have my fitbit linked to MFP I average 8,000 - 14,000 steps per day, (Busy Mum) Occasional swim or weights session.

My BMR is 1560 Cals (without) exercise.

Is it possible to lose weight with this number set as my base calories, then eat back any extra activity calories given. (net calories will have me in a deficit)

OR......

Set MFP Up as intended with activity set a "not very active" and eat back exercise calories?

The latter gives me a base calories of 1430. 🤔

Help🤯

Replies

  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    If 8000-14000 steps is your normal, day to day, doing stuff and running around after kids, I'd set to 'active'. From there, let Fitbit do the work (ie, eat any additional adjustment it sends over to MFP as well). Track for 4-6 weeks, then compare actual loss to expected lose and adjust as/if neccesary.
  • sarahcandlin9118
    sarahcandlin9118 Posts: 9 Member
    Hi, thanks for replying,


    "If 8000-14000 steps is your normal, day to day, doing stuff and running around after kids, I'd set to 'active'. From there, let Fitbit do the work (ie, eat any additional adjustment it sends over to MFP as well). Track for 4-6 weeks, then compare actual loss to expected lose and adjust as/if ne"

    Would this not be double counting then?
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    sarahcandlin9118 wrote: »
    Hi, thanks for replying,


    "If 8000-14000 steps is your normal, day to day, doing stuff and running around after kids, I'd set to 'active'. From there, let Fitbit do the work (ie, eat any additional adjustment it sends over to MFP as well). Track for 4-6 weeks, then compare actual loss to expected lose and adjust as/if ne"

    Would this not be double counting then?

    Nope. If you have Fitbit synced, it will only add extra once you're over your baseline setting (and if you have negative adjustment on, it will actually take away calories until you hit that mark). So first thing in the morning, your diary will give the calories for active setting, then a + amount for exercise, which will make your remaining (net) calories lower, presumably the 1450 cals you get for sedentary setting.

    Here's a shot from my homepage, have not moved enough yet today to add exercise cals (and have also prelogged my food), so it currently thinks I'm over (not the greatest example, because I have a custom goal set, and actually normally have negative adjustment off, just turned it on to show you).

    aq3nvth4l8u1.png
  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    I agree with the above advice. With FitBit synced and negative calories enabled you can pick an activity level that reflects your typical step count (if averaging more than 10-12k then you’re active)
    and MFP won’t give you an adjustment until after your FitBit projects you will burn more cals in the day than MFP estimated just based on your stats. The adjustment is just that - a true up of what you did burn compared to what MFP predicts.

    How much weight do you have to lose in total? If 20-50 lbs then yes set MFP to lose 1 lb/week. Log as accurately as possible, ideally using a food scale. Monitor and adjust over time, changing the goal to 0.5 lb/week when you get under 20 lbs to go.

    I used MFP synced with FitBit, eating back all my calories and never had any issues. Also a busy working mom who averaged about 12k steps a day so even as a petite female over 40 with a desk job my TDEE was around 2200-2300 when I was very active.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories