Tracking Burned Calories with Fitbit accuracy?

Georgiepecker

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Hey guys. Just curious as to your guys opinions on the matter. I work full one on my feet 8 hour days, lifting here and there, etc. on top of that I generally try to lift for at least an hour, 5 days a week.

My question is this, do you think the calories burned that Fitbit with heart monitor reports is a good estimate to go off of? I am 180 lbs at 5'10, fast metabolism.

I usually burn around 4200-4500 calories on work days according to Fitbit. This makes it very hard to bulk at 300-500 calorie surplus.

However, if the number is somewhat accurate it's what I'm gonna have to do if I want to lean bulk. What are your guys opinion. Of course I can always try it out and monitor weight/fat gain but curious on anyone else's opinions
 
bloodnthunder

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I use it. Here's the thing, it's not perfect by any means. However if u use the same thing every day, even if it's not perfect every time, you get a baseline and can track your progress off of that since your measurements will be consistent. Some days I've noticed it'll say like 3300 cals burned and my macros come out to 3000 but I lose weight meaning it was a bit low in its weight estimate. Others it works the other way. So basically what I'm saying is just use the same thing no Matter what system you use and consistency will be the key.
 
Georgiepecker

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I use it. Here's the thing, it's not perfect by any means. However if u use the same thing every day, even if it's not perfect every time, you get a baseline and can track your progress off of that since your measurements will be consistent. Some days I've noticed it'll say like 3300 cals burned and my macros come out to 3000 but I lose weight meaning it was a bit low in its weight estimate. Others it works the other way. So basically what I'm saying is just use the same thing no Matter what system you use and consistency will be the key.
Ok great to know thanks
 
The Whizard

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For me it was very inaccurate. Gave me credit for 500 calories for an hour walk even on flat ground. In reality I burn ~300. Actually all fitness watches overestimate. Google Stanford fitness tracker study. What the trackers are good for is comparing one days steps/distance to another to see how calories need to be adjusted day to day. I would not trust the calories burned your tracker claims.
 
mkretz

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I use it. Here's the thing, it's not perfect by any means. However if u use the same thing every day, even if it's not perfect every time, you get a baseline and can track your progress off of that since your measurements will be consistent. Some days I've noticed it'll say like 3300 cals burned and my macros come out to 3000 but I lose weight meaning it was a bit low in its weight estimate. Others it works the other way. So basically what I'm saying is just use the same thing no Matter what system you use and consistency will be the key.
Don't forget that's just calories burned...that doesn't include your bmr...that's why you still lose weight
 
kjkitzman

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The fitbit already has the BMR calculated, I know because one day I only did 300 steps because of surgery and it was around my BMR that I burned. I think they are pretty accurate. I like to go off of them especially when cutting and bulking. I know that if I burned or have over 15,000 steps in a day to eat a bit more than normal.
 
Georgiepecker

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The fitbit already has the BMR calculated, I know because one day I only did 300 steps because of surgery and it was around my BMR that I burned. I think they are pretty accurate. I like to go off of them especially when cutting and bulking. I know that if I burned or have over 15,000 steps in a day to eat a bit more than normal.
Mine usually says I burn around 4200 calories though. I weigh 183lb and am 5'9 ao to eat 500 surplus I'd have to eat 4700...that has just been making me fat fairly quickly however...
 
kjkitzman

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How old are you? And your on your feet all day? Are you doing manual labor?
 

hambone2493

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Have you set up an online account ( to enter age height weight etc.)? Do you take any sort of fat burner or caffeine? Does it have a heart rate sensor? What's your body fat? Do you take any thyroid hormone? Are you on any anabolics (sarms, gh, steroids,PH's, insulin)?
 
The Whizard

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Fitness trackers are not accurate for calories burned. Google Stanford fitness tracker study. They are however helpful in seeing how active you are day to day. They do not take into account TEF and attempt to make up for that in giving you additional calories burned via exercise.
 
Georgiepecker

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How old are you? And your on your feet all day? Are you doing manual labor?
Im 20 and yes I am on feet all day but generally not necesarilly much lifting or any of that sort. Here and there.
 
Georgiepecker

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Have you set up an online account ( to enter age height weight etc.)? Do you take any sort of fat burner or caffeine? Does it have a heart rate sensor? What's your body fat? Do you take any thyroid hormone? Are you on any anabolics (sarms, gh, steroids,PH's, insulin)?
Yeah I've done all that. My body fat is around 13% and yes it has heartbeat sensor. I'm on test Cypionate 100mg / week but also on hi Tech 1-testosterone 330mg/day but my weight was still gaining fat doing 4000-4500 a day.
 
kjkitzman

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Yeah I've done all that. My body fat is around 13% and yes it has heartbeat sensor. I'm on test Cypionate 100mg / week but also on hi Tech 1-testosterone 330mg/day but my weight was still gaining fat doing 4000-4500 a day.
then your eating too much I would say if you are eating that much and gaining.
 
Georgiepecker

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then your eating too much I would say if you are eating that much and gaining.
yeah so I think the Fitbit is a bit inaccurate in that regard, maybe even by like 1000 calories lol
 
kjkitzman

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yeah so I think the Fitbit is a bit inaccurate in that regard, maybe even by like 1000 calories lol
it is somewhat accurate for me because i sit at a desk all day so the movement they i do have is from walking or working out. But if you are active it will more than likely count more "steps" then what is really happening. The higher the steps the higher margin for error. What I have seen to be right is if you take your total calories burned at the end of the day x 80%-85% and that should be what you burned.
 
Georgiepecker

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it is somewhat accurate for me because i sit at a desk all day so the movement they i do have is from walking or working out. But if you are active it will more than likely count more "steps" then what is really happening. The higher the steps the higher margin for error. What I have seen to be right is if you take your total calories burned at the end of the day x 80%-85% and that should be what you burned.
Ok that'd be a lot closer to what I'm seeing actually thanks
 

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