Calories burned CANNOT be accurate!

[SunsetRunner]

I know there are supposed algorithms, but my Fitbit just cannot be telling me the truth.

Here's the backstory: I was a solid exerciser doing Beachbody stuff until about a month ago.  I had one health issue after another that left me super sedentary.  In addition, I had to temporarily totally change my diet during that time.  I can feel that I'm less healthy by how my clothes fit and the scale has started to reflect a couple of pounds.

The issue is that, even with all that, my Fitbit is still giving me my congratulatory fireworks every day after I hit 2250 calories.  It usually does it around dinner time.  I want to feel good, but the fact that it does it is baffling to me since I've stopped exercising altogether and I know I've been super lazy. 

Couple that with the fact that it's about the same amount I'm eating daily and I'm gaining (instead of staying--or losing since I'm losing muscle mass), I just can't trust my Fitbit at this point.

Also, I went for a stroll today with my kids (one is 5 so she doesn't go anywhere very fast) and my Fitbit said I burned 198 calories for a mile, even when it shows that part of my walk was under even the fat burn section.  That's usually what I burn in a 20-25 HIIT workout.

I'm aware that I need to get back on track (two kids suddenly being back at home all day isn't helping), but that's a story for another day...please help!

[JohnnyRow]

You didn't tell what your daily calorie burn was before and now.

Look at what your BMR daily (or hourly or per 15 minutes) calorie burn is.

Check your weight is entered correctly.

A mile walk with a 5 year old could take an hour or 2.  That makes a big difference and you gave us no info on how long it took.

[SunsetRunner]

My BMR is roughly 1450 calories and I never really changed weight because when I was working out, I was also lifting weights.  So I gained muscle in place of losing fat.

My walk took 29 minutes and officially burned 186 calories.

[JohnnyRow]

You still didn't tell us what fitbit used to say you burned in a day and what it says now, only that you hit 2250 around dinner time.

I wasn't questioning your weight distribution, only suggesting to check what fitbit has it listed as, as weight is a big factor in calories burned and if it is somehow set way off, that is a way calorie burn can be off.

[SunsetRunner]

Ah ha!  You have reached the crux of why I posted.  My calorie burn HAS NOT CHANGED since I stopped exercising.

When I was doing BB 6ish days a week, I would burn about 2250 calories by dinner time.  Not having exercising and been rather sedentary, my Fitbit still says that I've burned 2250 by around the same time.  When I take my watch off at the end of the day, it's about 2400 calories (which is crazy, since I eat about 2000 a day and I'm not losing, I'm gaining.  I know my metabolism is slow, but c'mon!).

I don't see how this can be possible.  If I can at least rely on this thing as even a close estimation, what's the point?