Need help understanding BMR/calorie counting

[LalaBoo]

I can not believe this guessing watch cost $200! I wanted a TRACKER that I can use daily during my weight loss journey, however I ended up with a Fitbit... My husband bought it for me this week for my birthday. As a mother of 7 dedicated to being healthy, accuracy in my calories lost and heart rate is vital!!! I don't need to guess. Off by a few is completely understandable, but a whole hundred+ is unacceptable. I shouldn't wake up and have lost 500 cals. I mean come on.... Sheesh I am DISAPPOINTED!! So I called Fitbit support and I was told it guesses even of your not wearing it based on the info you've entered into the app. Okay, didn't like that but to make matters more difficult I can't even go into the Fitbit or into the app and adjust my counts for actual calories lost. I'mm over it and searching for a better tracker. Which ,btw, stinks because me husband ordered the Aria scale also. 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SteveH]

I think you may be getting confused with BMR calories. These are the calories you burn just keeping your body alive (even when asleep). These are calculated from your profile settings for age, weight etc so you needn't be wearing your fitbit to get them. The number you see first thing in the morning is your total BMR calories since midnight. 500 sounds quite normal. There's more information on this here:

http://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1381

[LalaBoo]

Good morning Steve and thank you for taking the time to reply. I am unaware on anything called BMR because I am heading this workout journey on my own and I'm absolutely learning as I go. With that being said I thank you for the information you sent as I will read it and pray it helps. I'm still a bit concerned though because in addition to the calories I wake up to, which you referred to as BMR, after sitting with my family this morning to have devotion my fitbit picked up another 100 or so calories with me not even wearing it. That is such a disappointment.... Also I really don't like that I can't change my own stats if I have more accurate ones, you know what I'm saying? Again, thanks so much!

[Rich_Laue]

BMR is your Basic Matabolism Rate, doing a search gf or BMR I find that the human Body needs to burn calories, even when it is sitting or asleep. 

It's a case of as long as a person is living and breathing, they need to burn calories to stay in this ate called living. 

Even without wearing your tracker your Fitbit account assumes your still alive. Are you? 

[wtksk8r]

Since you are trying to lose weight then it is important that you know your total calorie expenditure, both from just keeping your body warm, your heart pumping and your brain working as well as those used up when you exercise. That way you can determine how much you can or should eat in order to make sure your intake is less than your expenditure.

The unit does allow you to track calories for specific activities so you can tell how much effort you are expending during each exercise and you can then determine if you need to increase or decrease intensity or time of exercise.

[Colinm39]

@LalaBooWelcome, and to get you on a successful journey underrstanding the relationship between BMR and Activity is the key to success.

It's very important you have the correct personal settings because these are used by Fitbit to calculate your BMR and this calculator is the same as used by Fitbit and recommended by their moderators.

You can also apply the factors below which is used by many to ascertain your level of effort and total calories burned for the day includinbg your BMR. Mutliply BMR x Factor. or divide your daily calorie burn by BMR to see you effort factor.  I have average 1.65 over the last few months and now losing some weight at the rate planned.

Sedentary.  Little to no regular exercise. (factor 1.2)

Mild activity level: Intensive exercise for at least 20 minutes 1 to 3 times per week. This may include such things as bicycling, jogging, basketball, swimming, skating, etc.  If you do not exercise regularly, but you maintain a busy life style that requires you to walk frequently for long periods, you meet the requirements of this level.  (factor 1.375)

Moderate activity level: Intensive exercise for at least 30 to 60 minutes 3 to 4 times per week. Any of the activities listed above will qualify.    (factor 1.55)

Heavy or (Labor-intensive) activity level: Intensive exercise for 60 minutes or greater 5 to 7 days per week (see sample activities above).  Labor-intensive occupations also qualify for this level.  Labor-intensive occupations include construction work (brick laying, carpentry, general labor, etc.). Also farming, landscape worker or similar occupations.     (factor 1.7)

Extreme level: Exceedingly active and/or very demanding activities:  Examples include:  (1) athlete with an almost unstoppable training schedule with multiple training sessions throughout the day  (2) very demanding job, such as shoveling coal or working long hours on an assembly line. Generally, this level of activity is very difficult to achieve.  (factor 1.9)

[LalaBoo]

I am so sorry I'm just now reading this! Thank you so much for taking the time to write this for me, it is very much helpful! Deeply sorry for my late reply and again thank you so so so much! This helped in major ways! Have a blessed day on purpose!

[Colinm39]

@LalaBoo Great to hear from you.. You are now on the way now.

[LalaBoo]

Yes! I've lost about 15lbs since we've last spoken. That's is a little over
50lbs total since I've had my daughter. I'm super excited to lose this last
45. I just have to keep praying & pushing! Thanks for the support!!!

ItsMeLala