fitbit's calorie counter vs. calorie odometer?

[tally_]

There are inconsistencies between my "odometer" (the little gauge that measures under, in the zone, and over calorically) and the calorie counter that tells me how many calories I have left to eat. Both are set at the same calorie deficit. Any ideas? Which one do I trust?

[janinemb]

Ignore the odometer, it gets way too confusing. It's telling you if you've over eaten at that precise time in the day. So, if it's telling you at lunch time you've over eaten, an hour later it might tip back to 'in the zone'. Another couple of hours later it might tip back to under eaten just before dinner. Then it
L shoot right back up to over eaten again as soon as you do have dinner! It'll drop back again, but it's just not as useful as it should be, I don't think it works well with most people thought processes and ends up panicking many and just confusing the rest. I removed the tile from my desktop and app as soon as I found out I could 🙂

[tally_]

Yes! That is the problem exactly! Thanks so much! I'm removing the tile now! 

[Gershon]

Unlike most people, I track calories meticulously. My base metabolism is about 2,100 calories. I add 80 calories for each mile I walk. That turns out to be close to Fitbit's number. I log the actual number at the end of each day. To lose weight, I eat 500 claories a day less than what I actually burn. This results in about four pounds lost each month. I could do more, but I don't feel like it. 🙂

I keep the odometer so I have the end of the day calories burned.

[Raviv]

Another odometer hater here.

The problem is that it tries to use a small amount of data to predict the rest of the day.  So if you eat a big breakfast, enough to be fine with skipping lunch, it's going to say "OMG!  You're totally overeating today!!" and freak you out.  Then, a little after noon, you're suddenly in the okay range, and then as dinnertime approaches it's "Why aren't you eating!!  For the love of all that is holy, put some food in your mouth!"

And at the end of the day, you were right where you were supposed to be.  I can do without the e-freakouts from the app.

I do use the tile that says I have X number of calories remaining for the day, and that will also change somewhat, depending on my activity.  Sit on the couch and it goes down a little, busy day and it goes up, workout at the end of the day and I can have a bigger dinner.  But in that case, it makes sense.