BMR Changed and Seems Very Wrong

[Gunner523]

I called the Help Line earlier today yet I believe that the answer was incorrect. My BMR used to show every morning and was 1,590 calories (for the whole day as BMR). I am 5'4", 39 years old, and 203 pounds. I would use the BMR plus calories I burned each day from exercise in order to ensure that the calories I am consuming each day are lower. Suddenly my BMR changed yesterday and now shows 430 in the morning (for the whole day)! This seems very wrong. I did a manual calculation based on a few websites and it says that I should be close to 1,600 BMR.

The Help Line person said that his is only 500 each morning so perhaps my previous 1,590 was incorrect. I don't believe that he was correct. It should be roughly 1,600 for the day and it was given in one chunk at the start of each day. Did something change and now Fitbit is giving BMR throughout the day (seems odd)? Or is there a glitch?

I confirmed my profile settings, time zone, and everything is correct. I waited 24 hours to see if it would correct itself overnight and it did not.

[SteveH]

I'm afraid I agree with customer support. Your BMR calories should be added throughout the day and not in one chunk. I also have a few hundred by the time I get up which show the total added since midnight.

I can't explain why yours didn't work this way but it's now working as it should.

[Gunner523]

Hi Steve,

Ok, I'm not very "techy" so it seemed odd to me. It's making it a bit harder for me to plan meals to ensure that I am coming in at a deficit for what is going out. I guess that I could just "wing it" knowing that I should get an estimated 1,500-1,600 BMR by the end of the day for doing nothing (according to online calculators)...and then all the exercise will give extra. Thus as long as I plan less than, say, 1,500 for food that day than I am good.

Does that sound right as far as what you usually see on yours with having to estimate?

Thank you!!!

[SteveH]

You calorie goal is a bit of a moving target as it has to adjust to how much you eat and how active you are so it can be tricky. I've been using fitbit and logging food for over 3 years now and I not have a good feel for how my calorie burn vs calorie intake is going. I might adjust my evening meal portion size or whether or not I have an evening snack depending on the numbers but they are a guide rather than a rule. If I end up being over one day I cut back a bit the next. 

Give a while and see how it goes, I'm sure it'll all make more sense in a short while.

And if you get stuck or need ideas or inspiration then the discussions area of the community is a great place to go.

[Gunner523]

Thank you very much for your guidance!!!