Fitbit suggests 4-6k calories a day, is this right??

[Labinopper]

So, a little background, I've been using Fitbit for around 3-4 months now, I've just started wanting to keep track of my calories in and burnt, so I work in retail as a shift manager, and my typical day entails around 14-20k steps, a heart rate in the fatburn zone for almost all my shift (8-10 hours 5 days a week, when I'm at home like right now it's at 68, at work the lowest it goes is 85, highest 120, average is around 110 at a guestimate) as I'm not only moving around fast, I'm usually carrying something heavy or lugging cages or trolleys of stock around. From the last two days my calories intake is less than 2k, whilst fitbit suggests anywhere from 4k to 5k depending on the length of shift and whatnot.

So onto my actual questions

Is that actually realistic??

Do you find that your fitbit suggests a reasonable amount of calorie intake??

If so, how on earth do I go from 2k to 4-5k calories??

I don't eat often, and when I do its usually snacks of some kind, but I do tend to eat breakfast (cereal) and dinner. I just genuinely am at a loss as to how much food Fitbit wants me to eat?!

[Chocobo9]

tbh, I don't trust Fitbit completely when it comes to calories you have to eat, the cal in vs out.

As far as I know, Fitbit also calculates the calories burned during the night while you sleep or sit or really anything you do. 

Normally, when it comes to eating the calories I go to MyFitnessPal since it is more accurate/reasonable in giving you a number to eat whether it's for weight loss/gain etc. 

So what I have done is sync my MFP with Fitbit, where the MFP is for food and Fitbit for exercise, walk, gym etc. 

I hope my answer helps out!

Here is the link on how Fitbit calculates the high amount of calories:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Surge/Starting-calories-burned-seems-too-high/m-p/1044604#M36771

[Dominique]

It’s hard to say whether or not it’s realistic, without knowing anything about you, except your job & activity level: how much you expend doing what you do also depends on your sex, age and size (height + weight).

Also note estimating energy expenditure with a fitness tracker isn’t an exact science, and even if two different Fitbits will not necessary agree.

[MackinzieW]

I find that Fitbit is not realistic in giving a correct amount of calories to eat. It is also hard to judge because you didn't give any physical details such as weight, age, and goal. When I used to go to the gym the only people I found eating 4-5k caloris a day were weightlifters whom spent on average 4hrs in the gym a day. Good luck! 

[A_Lurker]

@Labinopper- I wouldn't ignore it completely, but I wouldn't eat as much as it says.  You don't mention if you're looking to lose weight or not.  I've found that it can be off, but I also have 4000+ calorie burn days and I'm still losing weight on 2750 a day.  I actually raised it recently as my activity increased.  I'd just suggest to take high calorie snacks during the day to give your body adequate nutrition.  I'm thinking nuts, dried fruit (look for ones without added sugar) and possibly even trail mix.  I've worked with guys who live off double double coffee and coke during the day... although none of them were particularly heavy, I'm not sure it's good for people in the long run.

I suggested in another thread that someone just pick a number and stick with it for 3-4 weeks and see how it goes.    I basically run a 1000 calorie deficit but stop eating at 2750 each day.  If I only reach 3000 (rare) I would stop eating at 2000 calories.  If I hit 5100 (once or twice) I stop at 2750.

[Dominique]

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@A_Lurker wrote:

I suggested in another thread that someone just pick a number and stick with it for 3-4 weeks and see how it goes.

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That’s an excellent way to "calibrate" calories estimated by Fitbit (expenditure) and you (intake) against your actual weight changes. 3-4 weeks should be long enough to eliminate the normal daily fluctuations caused by water retention etc.