Weight loss following fitbit calorie counter

[Craigjmoran]

I usually use myfitnesspal to count my calories for weight loss but was wondering how other people have got on following fitbit calorie counter as it seems to be quite complicated 

[tractorlegs]

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@Craigjmoran wrote:

I usually use myfitnesspal to count my calories for weight loss but was wondering how other people have got on following fitbit calorie counter as it seems to be quite complicated 

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For me, following the Fitbit app's calorie counter and recommendations has been very effective. The advantage of Fitbit over MyFitnessPal is that the Fitbit app updates your calorie needs throughout the day as it receives data from the tracker. So, basically, if you are having a day with a lot of physical activity, the app adjusts your calorie needs upwards because of the energy you've burned - and, conversely, if you sit around the app adjusts the calorie recommendation downward. Fitbit is more of a real-time tool, instead of a static recommendation that would be provided by a service like MyFitnessPal or WW.

As far as it being complicated, I think there's a learning curve required when switching from another structured plan, but I don't think it's more complicated. Just my opinion, as a person who has used both.

[Craigjmoran]

Do you have your plan set to sedentary or personalised? @tractorlegs

[tractorlegs]

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@Craigjmoran wrote:

Do you have your plan set to sedentary or personalised? @tractorlegs

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In settings, I had the app set to lose weight at 2 pounds per week. I'm on an iPhone: I tapped the account button (upper right corner) > scroll down to "Goals" and choose "Nutrition and Body" > then under "Weight", "Your Goal" then follow the prompts. I don't remember or see a sedentary or personalized option - -

[UVcat]

I used the "sedentary" setting when I was calorie counting on here; when I tried "personalized", it was always overestimating how much I would burn in the evenings -- so I'd go to bed thinking I'd hit my calorie goal and then wake up to fitbit saying I had gone 200 calories over -- nuts to that! 🙂

That was at least two years ago, though, that I last used the calorie counter, so it may have improved significantly since then. 

Hope that helps!

-UVc

[Craigjmoran]

Yes sedentary seems to work best for me to as it builds up your allowance as the day goes on allowing me to keep better track of my intake.

Did you find that using Fitbit as a calorie counter worked for you to reach your fat loss goals?

[UVcat]

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@Craigjmoran wrote:

Yes sedentary seems to work best for me to as it builds up your allowance as the day goes on allowing me to keep better track of my intake.

Did you find that using Fitbit as a calorie counter worked for you to reach your fat loss goals?

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I did find fitbit's calorie counter helpful when I was losing weight. I logged my "Calories In" using the fitbit food log (which I honestly did not think was great, but I think it has improved since then) and I lost at the rate predicted by my fitbit (at that time, a flex with no HR monitor)'s estimate of my "Calories Out" -- on average over ~6 months. It was my first time counting calories and it was the first time I managed to lose a significant amount of weight -- not that surprising, but somehow it was a revelation for me!

I have since maintained that loss (it was only 15-20 lb, but this was after years of slowly increasing in weight) for over three years. I no longer track my food, but I try to keep my calories out in the same range as when I was losing. I monitor my weight on the scale and adjust my eating accordingly.

I have noticed folks complaining that their HR-enabled fitbits overestimate their calories burned. I have not ever used an HR-enabled one. My current alta seems completely in line with the calorie burns my flex was estimating (though I think it does give me less steps for the same hikes... grumble!)

Hope that helps! 

-UVc

[Craigjmoran]

I have my myfitnesspal app linked to my Fitbit so i track my intake that way. I was dubious myself about Fitbits calories out estimate but most people seem to be saying that it isn't too far off. I only need to lose a couple of kilos but will continue to track calories through it afterwards

[Esya]

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@Craigjmoran wrote:

I have my myfitnesspal app linked to my Fitbit so i track my intake that way. I was dubious myself about Fitbits calories out estimate but most people seem to be saying that it isn't too far off. I only need to lose a couple of kilos but will continue to track calories through it afterwards

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This is why you cannot do this without weighing yourself.

If/When you notice that FitBit is under or overestimating your weight loss, it translates into it under or overestimating your calories burned. So for exaple if it says you had a calories deficit, but the scales are hardly going down, just increase the calories deficit until you start losing at a rate that works for you. Try not to apply changes too often though, as you might lose track of what is going on. Then you know what deficit in FitBit works for you. Might take some time finding out where that balancing point is, but once found it is easy to work around it.

[Craigjmoran]

I have the Fitbit Aria 2 so my scales are linked to it that way so hopefully everything should be as accurate as possible…