Fitbit calorie estimate -- personalized or sedentary?

  • Since I'm a new Fitbit user, I'm still trying to get used to all the ins and outs of the thing. So, I'm seeking some advice from some more seasoned users, specifically about the calorie estimate setting.

    I've got my settings done to set me up for a 1,000 calorie deficit per day (I think this is something I can manage, given my level of activity.) Anyway. I noticed that the default setting for calorie estimation is "personalized", so that they do the calorie burn estimate based on your past history. Should I leave that as is, or change it to sedentary, do you think? Would it make any difference? (I'm assuming it would, even if it was just a small difference.)

    I'd really like to get the most out of my Fitbit so I want to have everything tweaked as precisely as I can. Thanks for any advice!
  • I have it set for "personalized"... So far it seems to be doing a pretty good job of coming up with calorie estimates based on my "activity"... Now I just got to get back to sticking with them... so I can start losing again... lol...
  • I have it set to personalized.
    I guess it depends on you.
    I feel like I'm using the fitbit to encourage myself to be more active, so I hopefully am rarely having actual "sedentary" days.
    So I don't want to start with a super low calorie count for the day, even though the fitbit adjusts some due to your activity. I just feel like for me I might pick out my meals too conservatively based on that, and get super hungry.

    I looked over my history charts of calories burned (based on the actual activity the fitbit recorded), and while there's a huge spike on the weekend when I work out alot, the other days don't vary too much, so I think what they estimate is going to be decent.

    I'm currently set to the medium level 500 calorie deficit, wish I was tough enough for the 1000 deficit like you.
  • Quote: I'm currently set to the medium level 500 calorie deficit, wish I was tough enough for the 1000 deficit like you.
    Ahahaha, yeah..I think I might change that, actually, and drop back to the 500 calorie deficit. That way, I'll still be getting a decent deficit, and if I do happen to get to a higher deficit some days, well....BONUS!