Versa 3 - Calories burned seems too high

[Feconiz]

Hello, I know questions like this have been asked before, and I have read quite a few of them trying to figure out if my calculations are wrong or if the watch is counting too many calories for me. So, let's start with my details:

Fat % (as measured using scales so take with a pinch of salt): 41.8%
Exercise: Used to not do much, working from home so sitting most of the day, have started swimming 4 times a week for the past couple of weeks and walking most days I don't swim.

So I have used Fitbit in the past without using a tracker (just to keep track of calories). This time around I decided to get a tracker so I can get some more accurate data about my activity levels. So before I started using the tracker I was aiming to eat about 2k Calories a day. This was based on my BMR, which I now understand is the wrong metric to use (thanks to the community I found out that TDEE is a thing, and it all made sense).

Now my issue is that going by the top Google result calculator (here) my TDEE should be about 3,288 calories per day (assuming moderate exercise). This makes sense, so if I wanted to be in a 1000 calorie deficit, that would mean 2288 calories per day on average.

The issue is that since I have started wearing the tracker, the number of calories that it says I should eat has skyrocketed. Yesterday (the first full day of wearing the watch), it says that I burned 4000 calories, which would mean I would have to eat 3k calories. What I did all day was: I woke up, sat on the computer and worked for most of the day, then walked to the pool (188 calories), swam (304 calories), walked back (395 calories), and spent the rest of the time sitting down again.

Doing some searching I found some advice (like setting the watch to be on the dominant hand while wearing on the non-dominant) which helped make step counting more accurate today, but I seem to be going for a similar number of calories again. Today I did essentially the same as yesterday.

I know I have written a whole essay, just bear with me, I am almost done. The question: Since TDEE is supposed to account for the exercise, shouldn't it be much closer to the value the app gives me than it is? I understand that the TDEE is an average of workout and non-workout days, but it feels like the calories burned that I am given is way too high. I get that since I am overweight a deficit for me would be a surplus for others, but eating 3k calories while trying to lose weight feels wrong (which might be because I don't know how many calories I was eating while gaining). Especially since I have also been trying to make my diet be more healthy which has lead to less calorie-dense food (I have not been hungry at any point yet).

Sorry for asking a question that has been answered a million times, I've just been scratching my head for a few hours on this. Also sorry for the essay 😋.

Moderator Edit: Personal info removed

[Feconiz]

To add: Today it ended on 4500 calories burned. I ate 2k calories, and all my meals seemed like reasonable portions... 😕 

[Feconiz]

Update 2: 1500 calories burned in my sleep,I know there should be some burned calories, but this seems too much

[SilviaFitbit]

@Feconiz Welcome to the Fitbit Community. Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with calories burned. 

I appreciate that you shared detailed information in order to have a better understanding. Fitbit devices combine your basal metabolic rate (BMR)—the rate at which you burn calories at rest to maintain vital body functions (including breathing, blood circulation, and heartbeat)—and your activity data to estimate your calories burned. If your device tracks heart rate, your heart-rate data is also included, especially to estimate calories burned during exercise. The number you see on your Fitbit device is your total calories burned for the day.

Your BMR is based on the physical data you entered in to your Fitbit account (height, weight, sex, and age) and accounts for at least half the calories you burn in a day. Because your body burns calories even if you’re asleep or not moving, you see calories burned on your device when you wake up and will notice this number increase throughout the day.

While checking the TDEE website you shared, it seems that your maintenance calories are around 3,311 with light exercise. However, it will increase with the more exercise you do. Your BMR with exercise 1-3 times per week is 3,311. 

I'd like you to make sure you're tracking your food in the Fitbit app and chose a food plan according to your needs. It's always recommended to contact a professional for advice on your diet needs. 

Hope this helps. 

[Issadrac]

I have had numerous Fitbits in the last 10 years. The Versa 3 is calculating calories burned to high. I have been searching the web to find out how to fix this. One post said to increase you max heart rate, that didn't work. Case in point my old fit bit charge, if I did nothing but sit at a desk all day id burned anywhere from 1900 to 2200 calories. The versa 3  has me at 3300 to 4000 calories. Yesterday I did my normal desk job, and got maybe 8k steps and i hit 4300 calories. is there a hidden feature to fix this ?

[fascha]

I came to this thread since I noticed the same. I have had a fitbit device since 2012 and I know my estimated and observed TDEE to be 2300 with about 10K steps and the new Versa 3 I just got is giving me almost 3K which is way off.  I track calories pretty religiously so I know what my TDEE is and it's certainly not anywehre near 3K with those steps. Hoping there's a fix or I'm going to return it and keep using my old Versa 2 which is very close based on what I observe of my intake vs weight.