FitBit and calories question - BMR, TDEE, etc.

ACB42
ACB42 Posts: 40 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I just started using my fitbit yesterday, and have a question about the calories burned. I currently have MFP set for 1320 (which is what the calculator on here estimated as my BMR). FitBit says that my burn yesterday was this number + 149 (not exercising, just hanging out), and it added the 149 to my MFP log as exercise calories. I would normally eat back "real" exercise calories, but I am having trouble wrapping my mind around this whole thing. Isn't the number that FitBit gives me more akin to my TDEE? Don't I need to eat below my TDEE in order to lose weight? So why are these calories added to my MFP diary, if I am not supposed to eat them?

Please tell me if my math/understanding is off here.

Replies

  • ACB42
    ACB42 Posts: 40 Member
    I finally figured out how to set up my fitbit dashboard so that is figures in my deficit. Now it makes more sense.
  • wnwilli05
    wnwilli05 Posts: 19
    What did you do on fitbit? I have been struggling with this same thing since I got mine. I love it, but don't always like the huge deficit it gives me because I don't think it is accurate.
  • ACB42
    ACB42 Posts: 40 Member
    I had to set up a "food plan" on the fitbit site and put in my weight loss goals. I am still tinkering with it, but this is working better now. (I still enter my food only on MFP, not on fitbit, but needed to set it up to figure in the deficit.)
  • Tigermad
    Tigermad Posts: 305 Member
    I just started using my fitbit yesterday, and have a question about the calories burned. I currently have MFP set for 1320 (which is what the calculator on here estimated as my BMR). FitBit says that my burn yesterday was this number + 149 (not exercising, just hanging out), and it added the 149 to my MFP log as exercise calories. I would normally eat back "real" exercise calories, but I am having trouble wrapping my mind around this whole thing. Isn't the number that FitBit gives me more akin to my TDEE? Don't I need to eat below my TDEE in order to lose weight? So why are these calories added to my MFP diary, if I am not supposed to eat them?

    Please tell me if my math/understanding is off here.

    Did you really only burn 1469 calories yesterday? That seems pretty low. It would mean for maintenance you could not at any more than 1469 calories or you would gain. I certainly couldn't live like that.
  • ACB42
    ACB42 Posts: 40 Member

    Did you really only burn 1469 calories yesterday? That seems pretty low. It would mean for maintenance you could not at any more than 1469 calories or you would gain. I certainly couldn't live like that.

    I started using it on Mother's Day, and my husband and kids let me sleep in and be lazy all day. So, yes, only 1469. I'm also 5'1" and only have 17 pounds to go to goal, so the starvation mode/weight loss/maintenance/goal range for me is pretty small.
  • wnwilli05
    wnwilli05 Posts: 19
    I've done that already. :) I guess I just never realized how active I am my job. I try to log 10,000 steps a day and with being a teacher that really isn't hard to do. :)

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