Weight Watchers points vs. Fitbit calories

[BostonLisa]

Hi there -

Am 51 and about 80 pounds overweight, and struggling to lose. I joined Weight Watchers and have been given points, which I'm estimating to be at about 1800 calories per day (I double entered a couple of days in both myfitnesspal and weight watchers apps). Am eating on average at or just below these points.

On an average, non-workout day in Fitbit with very little movement the minimum I've seen Fitbit recommend is 1900 calories. An average day is something like 2100 - 2200. Workout days are typically 2500. I have a Fitbit Charge. I've been struggling for awhile and suspected that there may be metabolic damage going on (as well as the beginnings of menopause) so I recently went to a local hospital who offered a BMR test using a breath machine of some kind and it calculated it to be 1650.

For those of you who have been at this awhile and also follow Weight Watchers, do you see a big discrepancy like I do here? If so, do you stay within points or eat closer to your Fitbit? My food choices are whole foods, with some splurges (very minor and controlled) for sanity. I cook my own food...lots of veggies, some fruits, lean meats, very little dairy, little or no grains.

Thanks very much.

Lisa

[HankH]

I am by no means an expert and am pretty new to the fitbit.  My calorie recommendations vary day by day based on the amount of activity.  I believe the recommendations on fitbit are based on your height/weight/age and what it takes to keep you alive for the day as a baseline.  Then as you are more active it adds calories to the recommendation based on what it believes you are burning.

I have mine set to get me to a goal weight in a certain amount of time.  It was a total of 45lbs by January 1st.  It is gradually increasing calories burned per day goal as part of it.  I don't generally follow the calorie intake suggestions and have been getting around 1700 a day with a few days I got up to almost 2000.  I have about 20 more lbs to go so I think it is going pretty good.  A nutrition person once told me a good thumb rule was your weight x 10 and subtract 100 and that should be your calorie intake per day to lose 1lb per week.  I don't know how accurate that is so take it for what it is.  The important thing is eating the right things and keeping active.  The more active you are the more you burn. I know there are some much smarter folks on here about this topic but I feel your struggle and if any thing I have said helps or encourages you then great.  

Good luck on your journey.

[WendyB]

I dont bother to count Calories.  I did at first but it got old doing both.

I just count points thats why I do WW.

[momoffourboys]

I think the 10 x your weight minus 100 only works if you are metabolically normal young adult - PCOS, Hypothyroid, Hashimotos, pre-diabetes insulin resistance or even age and you can gain weight using that formula. I would use that as a starting point, keep pristine records of what goes in your mouth and how much and those calories and after a few weeks if you aren't losing weight and you've increased your exercise, start lowing the calories...or raising your caloric burn through your exercise. If you are counting points and not losing then talk to your WW counselor about what you are eating with your points.  Changing up the composition of your diet might be needed or maybe your "points" are simply too many calories for you.  Unfortunately there is no one size fits all.

[LindaLiz]

I also do WW and record my food on my Fitbit app. I reach 1200 calories before I hit 26 Points Plus, so I have been stopping there. I believe the WW Points Plus are too generous given the fact that you don't have to count fruits and most vegetables.

Good Luck!

[Lindafay]

Hi Lisa,

I'm through menopause and 10 years older than you.  I've been an online WW member since 2005 and struggled, too. I've lost and gained 50 pounds over the last 20 years.

5 years ago, my insurance company gave us a $500/yr bonus off our health insurance if we did 5000 steps for 90 days during a 6 month period of time.  The next year it was 6000 and the following it was 6000 for 180 days for 12 months.  They gave us a pedometer and a place to log online. 

When I got a new job, I got a fitbit and decided to do 8000 steps (average) everyday for 12 months and I did it with an average of 9000 per day for the year (yes, I'm an excel nerd on tracking stuff).  Anyway, this year I said - 10,000/day and my average today is 11,450/day.  Remarkably, I've lost 20 lbs in the last 9 months.

I track my food on WW and let WW & fitbit talk to each other.  My goal is to never use any of the extra points WW gives you and to only use the fitbit points. 

I've compared my fitbit with my daughter and daughter-in-law and yes, I seldom use 2400 calories/day.  Ugh - they will do the same amount of steps and be at 3400.  So, the lesson I've learned is as horrible as it is, if I want the health of another 30 lbs less, then I need to keep walking and follow the program.

Good luck and if you want to connect and be a fitbit friend I'm just lindafay at bex dot net.  Good luck!

[KrissyK2216]

I agree with you. Just quit WW. It feels much more scientific and mathematically sound to count calories in vs calories out. The whole points thing seem a little mumbo jumbo. I have better results just doing fitbit.