Calorie Confusion and Problems Losing Weight

[SunsetRunner]

My FitBit One is really confusing me. I've had it since November, and the calorie burn and food intake have really been giving me trouble.

I'm 38, 5'1", 133 pounds (up from 123 when I started with FitBit)

Generally speaking, FitBit tells me that I burn around 1200 calories just being alive and not doing anything. From all I've read on various sites, a woman supposedly burns 1600-2000 calories a day. So there's confusion #1. For a while I had a goal of 6000 steps a day. (I have bad feet, walking is hard). It said I was burning maybe 1600 calories a day and alotting me 1000-1200 calories to eat. I lost a little weight, but then I was always hungry and started gaining weight. (No, I didn't cheat very much. I never allowed myself to go over by more than 100 calories.)

I moved my goal up to 8000 steps a day and a minimum 15 active minutes a day about two weeks ago. It barely cracks 1900 burned most days, but then sometimes claims I burned 2500 or more. It started telling me to eat 1500+ calories a day. I have gained weight and keep gaining. I wanted to get to 115 from 123, but instead have gained 10 pounds since November. What gives?

I feel like I'm starving if I eat less than 1500 calories a day. It's actually painful, not to mention a source of insane stress. I can't get much more activity because it causes pain. The most I've ever been able to get is 12,000 in a day, and that doesn't happen often. I have no idea how many calories I'm actually burning. There's got to be something I can do to be full enough and lose weight. Right now it seems that FitBit is just making me fat.

[WendyB]

Losing weight is more about what you eat then exercise.

Are you measuring your portion sizes? Thats improtant until you can see what an actual serving size is.

You can adjust the calories intake as it sounds like 1500 is to much. Try to reduce it

[SunsetRunner]

I count the calories in everything and weigh what I need to to figure out the calories.

At 1500 a day I feel hungry more than I'd like. I did 1200 a day for a month and I thought I was dying. I was miserable and weak all the time. I can't just starve myself all the time, that's why I started working out more. Anyway, if losing weight was only about food then things like FitBit wouldn't even exist because activity would be pointless. There has to be a way to figure out and balance eating enough to feel full and being active enough without overdoing it.

By the way, I misspoke before, I've gained 10 pounds since April, 5 of it since November.

[michellet20053]

It matters what youre putting in your body, regardless of the calories. Eventhough youre losing weight/dieting you shouldnt feel like youre starving. What are you eating? I've lost 20 pounds since i started my diet/exercise. Theirs a difference between good carbs and bad. good calories and bad. Since youre not super active you should be on the low end of carbs. You should eat fresh fruits and veggies. fish chicken healthy nuts keep the boxed foods to a minimal. Not too much red meat or pork. most of your calories should come from healthy fat, protein. I mean this is what has worked for me. best of luck!

[Heybales]

1200 is perhaps average for average height/weight gal (doubtful though) calorie burn if sleeping all day - called BMR.

2000 is considered average daily burn from average activity.

Whole lot of averages there obviously - none of which apply to you exactly.

Fortunately your Fitbit is trying to apply to you exactly.

And you are the one that set your weight loss or deficit goal that is creating your hunger.

Perhaps you don't have over 25 lbs to lose that 500 cal deficit is reasonable anymore, and 250 deficit would be better.

The stress is likely causing water to be retained, upwards of 20 lbs can happen that way - will that cause stress?

Eat a tad more, unstress body, unstress you. Then take that 250 cal deficit if less than 15 lbs to lose.

Food logging needs to be accurate too.

Calories is per gram, not per cup or spoonful.

Do you weigh everything you eat, and figure out the serving sizes based on weight eaten?

[SunsetRunner]

We have cut back on the carbs, eating more poultry and fish, brown or wild rice instead of white, and more veggies. Neither of us likes fruit. We make everything from scratch now too. We hardly ever eat anything out of a can or box anymore. I also turned to eggs and lean meat for breakfast instead of cereal or muffins, cut the sugar in my coffee by half and cut down a lot on my use of condiments and dressings in favor of more herbs and spices. We also both quit smoking last week.

[dancefoxtrot]

Briana

Sounds healthy, especially, breathing fresh air only.

Stay strong the cravings end. 

Barb

[dancefoxtrot · Accepted solution]

Briana 

You can eat lots of veggies, non starchy kind, to feel full. 

Check to see if you are hungry for other reasons like anxiety, boredom, or some other feeling. 

Exercising usually lowers hunger for a little while after.

Are you drinking 60 oz of water? Sometimes we feel hungry when we need hydration.

If you eat 1500 then burn 2000 eat day. The Fitbit will help you get there.

Barbara 

[PamelaHazelton]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

We have cut back on the carbs, eating more poultry and fish, brown or wild rice instead of white, and more veggies. Neither of us likes fruit. We make everything from scratch now too. We hardly ever eat anything out of a can or box anymore. I also turned to eggs and lean meat for breakfast instead of cereal or muffins, cut the sugar in my coffee by half and cut down a lot on my use of condiments and dressings in favor of more herbs and spices. We also both quit smoking last week.

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Do you have the My Fitness Pal app? Using that to log what you eat will give a clearer picture of the ratios of carbs/protein/fat, and that can help you burn the most fat without killing your muscle.

[Lindaluvs2soak]

where does your fitbit one tell you how many calories you burned????

[whome]

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@Lindaluvs2soak wrote:

where does your fitbit one tell you how many calories you burned????

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It is the last number when you cycle through pushing the button, just before the flower. The number is accompanied by a little flame to indicate "burn". 

You may want to go to the help area on the bottom of the dashboard page and click through to the One's manual.

 Good luck

[Janicestocks]

Hi Briana Dragon. I am of a similar height to you and also trying to lose weight. I think the 1600 calories a day is about right for women of our height. It might be worth doing a bit of weight training. 

I'm quite shocked at how efficent our bodies are. I can run 4 and a half miles and the firbit says I've only burned 475 calories.

It's a bit of a mine field but loosing weight is not the only goal is it. Gaining strength and fitness are also important.

Keep on trying.

[Trooper]

Try the Sugar Free Creamers for your coffee. They have less calories and add tons of Flavor to the coffee. I also use half a tablespoon of Kraft Cheesy Jalapeno Ranch to my meals to add flavor. I also use the Fat Free Mayo. 

[dancefoxtrot]

Be careful about processed foods like creamer as it is full of high fructose corn syrup. Not good at all. Better to use unsweetened vanilla almond milk with lots of calcium and only 30 cals a cup. 

Barb

[Amylp1971]

Yay!!  Congrats on quitting smoking!

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[teachermom]

Quitting smoking normally puts ten extra pounds on you and then during the year when you quit it just comes off.  My dr. told me that and it actually happened to me, so... Congratulations on quitting smoking! It is worth it to not have all of those horrible chemicals in your body. 

[amanda27020]

FitBit does not make you fat.....food makes you fat.

1,500 calories is a lot at your size. The less you weigh, the less calories you'll be allowed in order to lose. FitBit is telling me 1,200 calories to maintain. I started at 136 lbs in April and am now at 114. I use FitBit to log all of my calories. I have it set to a 500 calorie deficit and drink 100 oz of water everyday. I know everyone says to have your big meal in the mornings but I generally eat most of my calories in the evenings (because I love a big dinner). For breakfast I'll have 1/4 cup cottage cheese with Jello (Sugar Free) sprinkled on top or 2 egg whites. I try to eat a 50 calorie snack before lunch. At lunch I'll have something sensible like a protein shake, boiled eggs, a protein bar, salad, etc. I'll have a fruit/veggie snack in the afternoons (broccoli, celery, fruit, etc) and then I'll pig out and eat pretty much whatever I want for dinner because I have the calories left to do so. So, while I'm eating VERY low calorie for each "meal" during the day (normally around 50-60 calories), I eat 5 and sometimes 6 times a day. When my stomach starts to growl, I take that as an opportunity to drink 16-24 oz of water, thus curbing my appetite & getting in my water in one shot. This method has totally worked for me. 

Note: I do get in 10,000-12,000 steps everyday also. I break this up into 3 sessions. I stay very sedentary throughout the day with an office job. So, I take a walk in the am before work, a 10 minute walk on my lunch hour (fast walk or jog to spike my heartrate mid-day), and I try to get in 10-30 min after work. I truly think that getting my heart rate up mid-day has helped tremendously. So, if you can't walk 10,000 steps at once because of the pain, break it up into 3-4 short walks a day. 

Good luck! 

[josephz2va]

Try some healthy options as sidesteps to hunger management:

• Mix up a veggie salad
• Bake some egg whites or try an egg recipe such as Red Pepper Omelette
• Have a protein shake handy or follow a supplement plan such as from Bodybuilding.com for fitness
• Make sure you're drinking up to 8 glasses a day

[KrisCros]

I really, really appreciate your post. I feel like I read and read and read everyone's responses in hopes of capturing some helpful information I can actually incorporate into my own life, and I got that from you, so thanks!

[susiebee44]

I'm about your size also and usually eat around 1400-1500 cals a day to maintain my current weight.  I use My Fitness Pal to log food and exercise.  Awhile back, when I was still overweight, I had stalled out and was losing nothing.  I decided to cut out bread from my diet, as it was taking up too many of my daily calories AND I found it was a trigger food for me.  As soon as I did this, I began consistently losing weight again.  I'm at a healthy weight now but still logging food and being mindful about what I eat:  still not eating bread (also rarely eat potatoes or rice).  I do not miss these foods!