Is the fitbit flex accurate if its in your pocket?

[Valebie]

Usually whenever I'm at work and I have the fitbit on my wrist it says I've walked 10,000 or more steps. Today I wasn't able to find my wristband, so I just put it in my pocket. Today it said within 5 hours of being a cashier I didn't walk more than 4000 steps. My fitbit is only allowing me to eat about 800 calories today so that ill have a deficiency enough to lose 2 pounds a week. Could this really be accurate?

[danae]

As a cashier, do you mostly stand in one place but use your arms a lot? If so I would think the wrist movement may have been inflating your steps previously. Being on your feet for 5 hours is very tiring, but I know when I worked retail I didn't actually move around very much therefore the calorie burn was low.  If it were me I would try to raise your heartrate by working out before work- a brisk walk or jog or something to help increase your metabolism so you will burn more calories while working. I also would not rely on the Flex- it may not be the perfect match for you and the type of work you do.

[Valebie]

Hmm. Maybe youre right. I definitely appreciate your input. My job as being a cashier the most walking I usually do is to walk to the end of my register or to walk back to my register whenever we aren't super busy. And to help oth other cashiers bag. I also gather carts at least once during the day which usually takes about 20-30mins. I just wasnt sure, last week whenever I was going by all the stats I still managed to lose weight. I don't know. I do very much appreciate your input though! Thank you (:

[Heybales]

For that level of activity then - Fitbit would actually be underestimating if it saw no steps.

Because it bases all non-moving calorie burn on your BMR - what you would burn sleeping.

Awake and nonmoving burns more, normally called RMR.

Awake and standing would indeed be even more.

If you don't like the low calorie level, be aware you don't have to eat that low, and that may not even be reasonable for you depending on how much weight to lose. If decently over 40 lbs to go, ya 2 lbs weekly can be reasonable if healthy otherwise.

[Valebie]

That is interesting. I know, I'm just trying to reach my goal weight around my bday. All I have to lose is 14 more lbs. Should I try and lose it more slowly?

[Heybales]

Only 14 more lbs to go.

1 lb weekly is reasonable in that case, so let Fitbit create 500 cal deficit to whatever you burn daily.

10 lb to go is 1/2 lb weekly.

Most that try to do more end up at that pace anyway or worse when you include the weeks of no weight loss trying to do many different things to start losing again, so stessed out they make it even worse.

You making wise choices to lose slowly are much better than unwise choices and your body forces it on you anyway.

Great example I saw lately.

Gal lost 100 lbs in 2 years. Great job, right. Well, sticking to it through problably some problem times, yes, great job starting, yes.

But her maintenance at start weight was upwards of 3200 for sedentary life, she ate 1200, and exercised 1-2 hrs almost daily - creating 3000 cal deficit easily.

Should have been losing 6 lbs weekly, and she got it - for a few weeks, and then it kept going away.

Already eating 1200, where to go - exercise more to keep up the weight loss. She slowly but surely did.

100 lbs in 2 years is less than 1 lb weekly on average. She should be able to keep sustaining 2 lb avg weekly. Because ....

She had another 100 to go.

Scary. I'm following her story to see how already eating 1200 and daily 2 hrs exercise. If she gets sick and stops exercising - she can't eat 1200 or she'll gain fat. Bummer life already, and no where near goal.