Calorie Deficit confusion

[Miss-Velma]

I have a two-fold question, I suppose.

Part one is this: I recieved my weekly summary from FitBit and I am confused about the math involved. According to my week, I burned 23,232 calories (for the week) and then ate 12,656 calories (for the week). But it says in "calories in vs out": -3576 calories. Where does *that* number come from, because my math has it at -10,576 calories (which is more than it should be, I know. See the second half) My plan goal is -7000/week so is there something I am doing wrong here? 

Part two: I recently (as in, about 6 weeks ago) began a new job that has me a LOT more active than my previous job -- basically I went from working at a register to working a labor-intensive factory job. Around that time is when I started wearing and using my FitBit. At this new job, I average 15k steps a day and about 3000-3500 calories burned/day. I should be eating up to 2500 calories a day? That seems like such a lot when I am trying to lose weight, especially since most days I have not done more exercise than what I get at work. I find it really difficult to eat so much, especially because I don't have as much time to eat full meals. I end up eating protein and meal bars at work but maybe I should try some of those shakes? (I plan to work out more steadily when my schedule becomes straightened out, but I'm afraid if I do more exercise I'm going to have to eat way more!) If stats are important, I'm at 242 pounds/5'3", female. 

I guess I would just like an explanation of some kind from somebody who understands this stuff ^^ 

(Also, I'm headed to work shortly, so I apologize if you reply/offer an answer and I don't respond right away. Thank you in advance for any help or guidance). 

[rfc1995]

@divedragon thanks again.  Funny re black holes, but then that would take me to worm holes, and i don't particularly want to think of worms in the context of food....though they are supposed to be high in protein i've heard.

before my workout yesterday, i did have a banana.  That of course basically rocketed me to the daily allotment of carbs, so i'm guessing banana = bad?  Above ground veggies are good.  I'm also assuming avocodos are a great thing for this?

Again, thanks.

[A_Lurker]

@FitBeforeFifty - I do tend to treat in with a grain of salt on high burn days (I've see 4000+ and one day 5000+ althought that day, at my current weight, did almost do me in).  I was actually surprised last week, which was low burn for me, that I could eat 100% of calories burned and not gain.  I figure everyone's experience is different.

Oddly, at this stage of my weight loss pretty much all of my calories burned come from NEAT.  Very little from formal exercise.  That will change as I continue to lose, but sometimes just getting through the day is all that I can manage.  Long story, but I have a full time paying job, and pretty much a full time (unpaid) personal commitment that starts when I get home.  Controlling my intake based on how much I'm burning gives me a great tool to use. 

I don't usually go out of my way to read profiles and look at data, but it looks like the original poster doesn't wear her tracker at all on Sundays.  No matter the reason, if Sunday is a 'free' day it could be throwing her system out of whack.  Myself, someone bought me lunch yesterday and I'm sure there was more sodium in it than my standard diet.  I automatically assumed I would be up this morning (oddly enough wasn't).  Knowing if someone hasn't lost weight for a week, a month, or multiple months would help with the response.

[FitBeforeFifty]

@divedragon, most studies on weight loss compare low fat to low carb but don't control for calories. The standford study you referenced, for example, just sent people off on their own for a year and said eat low carb or low fat and then measured the results 12 months later. It is probably true that people on low carb diets tend to eat fewer calories than those on low fat diets.  How many calories people tend to eat isn't that important to those of us that count calories. With today's technology providing ability to log our food quickly and easily, it doesn't matter how many calories people tend to eat, we know how many calories we ate. I probably spend less than 2 minutes every day logging my food.

I know most people want the fastest weight loss method but that isn't what is important. There are a 100 different diets that will allow you to lose weight very fast. What usually happens, however, is people gain it back. So the fastest method isn't the best method.

The best method is the one that is sustainable once you reach your goal. While a combination of ketogenic diet and IF might be a great way to lose weight fast, I question the sustainability. While I'm certain it works, it sounds like a major pain in the **ahem**.

To me the most sustainable way to lose weight is:

1. Favor whole foods over processed foods
2. Control calories in: Learn appropriate portion sizes
3. Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables and healthy fats
4. Eat enough protein to match your activity level and activity type.

Unlike Gershon, I don't promote a low fat diet. In fact, I eat pretty high fat content myself. This week, for example, I'm averaging 20% protein, 40% fat, 40% carbs.

[MissPepper]

all these answers are not helping me understand it  maybe fitbit needs an education section where they explain it like a classroom

[Dominique]

@MissPepper: you may want to have a look at Fitbit’s Food Plan Demystified:

Table of Contents

Part 1: Fitbit Food Plan Basics

Part 2: Fitbit's Food Plan In-Depth

Part 3: Fitbit's Food Plan Tracking Tools

Part 4: Tips for Fitbit Weight Loss Success

[ZafarSami]

Anyone who recommends eating more dessert gets my heartiest approval! 

[Kpappen]

Yes, I don't nderstand why it says I have to eat back my calories burned, I yself prefer to set why cal. INTAKE of want and deflect.

[Rich_Laue]

@Kpappen imnot sure if i completly understand, but when setting up a food plan fitbit wants to know how much you want to lose and how quickly you want to lose it.

Fitbit uses this to detemine what it thinks a daily deficit should be, everything is based on what has been consumed in food and calories burnt up to now. If it is determined your burning to many calories, you could loose weight to fast.

Ive also moved your post out of the new dashboard thread to a discussion on calorie deficit

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