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.

[Elenita]

Briana, what are you eating in a typical day?

[maryboven]

will start trying that . started ai 199 now 182 need to get to 140 Mary Boven

[maryboven]

still looking too Mary

[primrosesm]

I love my fitbit.  I use it in conjunction with weight watchers.  I find it much easier to track my points with weight watchers so I really don't bother with tracking food in fitbit.

[emili]

losing weight is math. out more than in- you will lose weight. same in and out- you stay the same. more in than out you will gain. It really truly is just math. the fit bit is your guardrail - what you do between the lines is up to you. at your size eating 1200 calories a day without burning extra calories should not leave you tired and starving. you should not ever feel full but able to function with no trouble. I suspect the things you eat are not what you want so your brain is creating a "panic" "stress" "starving" scenario for you. But your body is fine. Listen to your body. Your fitbit is telling you based on your heart rate, age, height and weight the number of calories you are burning- approximately. You counting every calorie exactly, is keeping score on what goes in. Do the math. I promise you if you stop listening to your brain and listen to your body, you will see results. Let your fitbit keep you between the guardrails- do good things between the lines. If you want to talk more- please message me. I know what I speak of. I have done it, and keep doing it every day.

[DelilahRainbow]

Even better is some delicious Chocolate Almond Milk (if you are trying to sans out some artificial creamers)...Suddenly you have a faux mocha and have shed 200 calories!  YUMMAYYYYY

[I-train-hard]

Emily

you geting my vote 

Quote" losing weight is math. out more than in- you will lose weight. same in and out- you stay the same. more in than out you will gain."

[emili]

aww train- we're going to be best friends before you know it 😉

[SunsetRunner]

To Briana,

The best expert on the subject of diet is Nancy Clarke.  She wrote the Sports Nutrition Guidebook among others.  Although you quantify your caloric intake you have not explained where these calories come from.  In order, you have fat calories, alcohol calories, carb and protein calories at 9,7, and 4 you could eat 1500 calories of fat foods and have very little to eat.  In my experience, starving is a sign that you are losing weight and you indicate you starve and gain weight. Once you read Nancy's book you will have a guide for what is happening to you aside from any measurable activity.  And although you can recount what your doing what does your personal log say, what was your weight last year at this time?  In my view, the personal journal is the tanamount concept in meeeting personal goals.     

[SherMac]

You do not automatically gain weight when you quit smoking. Most gain because instead of a smoke in their hand they are shoveling food In. Excess calories = weight gain

[Ukase]

I'm sorry you're feet are giving you pain. 

In my candid opinion, if walking is tough for you, you should do something that won't hurt so much, like riding a bicycle or swimming. But, that's neither here nor there. 

If Fitbit is telling you that you're burning about 1600 calories a day, you've got to be pretty careful. The food you eat - the labels are essentially guesses. And - the fitbit just gives you an educated guess. It could very easily be that you're taking in a bit more than you should. 

And that bit adds up. I would say the best thing to do is to try to eat smaller meals that through the day provide the same caloric intake as you were before. 

It would also be helpful to share what you're eating and what time you're eating it. We may be able to provide more guidance with that information. 

[SunsetRunner]

You do not note anything about your exercise history.  You obtained a fitbit-so what!  Since you made the purchase you accomplished nothing other than gaining 10 pounds which is 35,000 calories.  If there was anyone who required a trainer you are it.  I would venture a guess that you are exceptionally deconditioned and your resting metabolic rate, especially excess post oxygen consumption is very poor.

There are different measurements for exercise and activity.  Exercise is a planned resource with a specific goal and activity is typically work, golf, etc.  I would also venture a guess you do not have a tough physical job like a ups worker or a roofer.  Once you assimilate that devices have nothing to do with physical results you will be better served!