Calorie deficit not working

[JFiFi99]

I’ve been tracking calories using the Fitbit app and had a set up of a 500 calorie deficit per day which was helpful. This feature no longer works - it was working fine until today. It will only default to a fixed calorie goal. Any ideas how to fix it please?

[Besenovsky]

Further thoughts on the Calorie Deficit not working. I received a 10 year badge from Fitbit the other day and couldn't help but wonder how my experience with Fitbit was going given the current issue. I wrote to Fitbit about the 10 year badge saying, that I had been a loyal Fitbit user - but perhaps not for long. My view is that ever since the migration to Google the Fitbit experience has been going downhill. 

1. The web app is no longer functional
2. It is no longer possible to craft custom meals
3. The app for bicycling is of limited use as it recorded a 1041 calorie expended but only a distance of 0.3 miles
4. The nutrition and weight calorie deficit setting recently stopped working and despite complaints from many in the community it still is not fixed and no communication from Fitbit as to a date certain for the fix which is lame customer service communication
5. I had two Fitbit Charge 3s in a row brick on me due to the screen display going black. Fitbit wouldn’t replace the unit and offered me a discount on the purchase of a Charge 5 which was essentially the same as the “sale” price offered to new customers later that same year.
6. The QA/QC at Fitbit seems to be lacking and in addition to the two Charge 3s that blank screened on me, my daughter had an Inspire 2 and a Charge 4 do the same to her. She has moved on to an Oura ring.
7. The  Charge 5 and 6 no longer have altimeters which I used to count flights of stairs climbed daily
8. Lastly I cycle and the Fitbit does not broadcast heart rate either via BT or ANT+ and I have had to purchase a separate heart rate strap in order to broadcast HR to my Garmin bike computer

Every one of my Fitbit friends have moved on to the Oura or Garmin Ecosystems' Vivosmart. My business partner’s Vívosmart integrated strap failed and Garmin sent him a brand new unit - something that Fitbit would NEVER do. 

To the Fitbit community, stay with me here. Can you please provide me with a list of reasons to stay on the Fitbit system? I really want to hear them. And, if the Calorie deficit feature is either not remedied or, even worse, is EOL and no longer available then I am out of here. 

[spond64]

I keep seeing responses from Fitbit that you can change this manually. That’s the problem…we can’t. Someone else wrote they don’t think the developers at Fitbit understand the problem and I’m beginning to agree. I’d hope that your developers actually use the product so they understand. Not only is the calorie deficit not working but the weight goal isn’t either. I’ve loved my Fitbit and the app up until this issue. Please fix it soon. Thx. 

[Grepeta]

Ive contacted them 3 times about this issue, trying to get through to them
how many people use this feature fur weight management and how I see people
so frustrated they are thinking of leaving fit it . The last response said
they expect to have it fixed shortly … hmmmmm
We will see

Gwen LavoieRepeta

[Emmanuelg]

Thanks for all of your efforts!

[rae_rae_go]

A week of the same complaint. 49 posts saying the same thing. 1 person from FitBit offering a single unhelpful response several days ago. Not cool FitBit

[T.chase]

Hey Dave! Yes, you all keep saying this, but it has nothing to do with our issues. We don’t want a specific calorie amount. The calorie deficit is the difference between the calories we consume and the calories we burn in a day. It's a automatic feature. We don't and aren't using a set amount of calories. Seems Fitbit employees don't use the Fitbit if this is the feed back we are getting. The option you’re talking about doesn’t address our complaints or solve our problems. If you’re not sure what we’re referring to, one of us on this thread would be happy to explain. This is so frustrating that I had to give a one-star review until it’s fixed, which has been days now. We would kindly like an update. 

[Fi_H]

I called support again today, she was 1st level support, asked me to explain the issue and email them a screenshot, told me to check my app and iSO are up-to-date…..Put me on hold a number of times to talk to her manger/level 2 support. I stressed that this is (or at least should be) a known and widespread issue. She assured me they were working on it; but l have zero confidence that they are. I’ve been a loyal Fitbit customer since 2014 and am very disappointed by the lack of communication and response. I truly do not think they understand the issue. I’m considering other options.

[JElton]

Hi David,  can you please give us an update on when a fix will be released?   This is one of many threads asking for help!  Can this please be escalated?  Who’s in charge to resolve?   Please tell us something.  

[PinkDahlia]

Yes mines doing the same for the past couple days, I hope they fix it soon 

[JLee2026]

Has anyone got an update on this? Keep checking everyday.... it's really putting me off track.

[Bazal]

Absolutely nothing !!
Very frustrating and I've now cancelled my premium until they get it sorted
!!

[Emilyborne]

I’ve tried reaching out to support multiple times with ZERO assistance. They are not understanding the issue. It’s incredibly frustrating that this is still ongoing. I resorted to leaving a 1 star review on the App Store. Not sure what else can be done to get their attention on this. 

[Besenovsky]

Hey, David it has been one week since you replied that the development team was aware of it. Your workaround does not work as it sets a static calorie target. The app has a feature to help a user set their calorie goal with dynamic 250, 500 etc., calorie deficits which is extremely useful to help balance input and output calorie balances for nutrition and weight control. This feature had been available for years and then malfunctioned just over one week ago. Someone on the development coding team must have made a change to the app which inadvertently caused the malfunction. If it is true, as some have speculated, that the development team doesn’t fully understand the issue please have them reach out to me directly and I will walk them through the problem so that we can finally resolve the software glitch for what is truly one of, if not the, quintessentially most useful Fitbit feature that helps to differentiate Fitbit from other exercise trackers. Over to you…

[spond64]

David:  Please provide an update on the loss of this key function for many of us.  As you can see by the number of replies posted in this community, there are many people who use the calorie deficit function and want it back.  We've seen your post with the "workaround" for this, but that workaround does not work!  As others have stated, any of us would be more than willing to get on a call with your team to explain exactly what the issue is, as it doesn't appear your team uses your own product or at least this function.  I've noticed many people have taken to writing poor reviews for the app on the App Store as well as other places giving both the app and Fitbit poor reviews which I think will increase until this issue is resolved.  We haven't received an update from you or another Fitbit Moderator in 7 days.  We'd appreciate an update and acknowledgement that your team understands the problem and is working on it.  Thank you.

[spond64]

Besenovsky:  Thanks for your continued messages to Fitbit.  I just sent another reply to David, too.  MAYBE they'll start to understand.  Fingers crossed.  

[JessicaAL]

Here is my latest (4th) email I have received after reminding them I was on day ten (now 11) of this malfunction. 

“We have formally escalated this case to our higher support team for a more in-depth investigation. Due to the issue, we are unable to provide a specific resolution timeframe at this precise moment. We will, however, keep you updated as soon as we receive any resolution information or a clearer outlook from our specialized team.”

I encourage everyone to keep reaching out and letting them know it’s still a problem and a valued feature that needs to be fixed.

[Grepeta]

Have been on them about this every couple of days Hope everyone is doing
the same !

Gwen LavoieRepeta

[JElton]

I called again today and received some of the same.   There is also another thread out on Fitbit community called “Calorie Calculations Wrong” about this same issue.  At least they are being hit with plenty of complaints and feedback.  It’s a shame though that David doesn’t even acknowledge our requests for an update. A simple message would go a long way. 

[EmmaLouLou]

This ‘fix’ doesn’t work and the issue remains. It’s actually quite disappointing that we purchase FitBits, use the app, we share our stats through media channels which always advertises FitBit. Yet after we’ve relied on the app and its service for all this time (years), I think you actually have no idea of the consequences this is causing to people’s tracking systems. I’m struggling without the clear calorie deficit data. I’ve manually written out two weeks worth of calorie data because I’m worried I’m not keeping within my deficit I’ve tried so hard to maintain. 
Fitbit, this has worked for many years, whatever error has occurred your side, don’t you think you respectfully owe your users a swift fix, some human communication for something so very important in our daily health? 
Terrible customer service. Please respond by return.  Very disappointed. 

[Fi_H]

Couldn’t agree more. My tracking is completely messed up after years of using this functionality. Going on 9+ days - this is not good enough!