Fitbit as calorie counter?

In your experiences, how valid is the calorie counter on fitbit? I use my fitbit combined with MyFitnessPal to track my eating and activity. I usually track about 2200-2400 calories burned per day, with eating (in maintenance) around 1200. Technically, I should be losing a little weight but I am not (remaining stable). I move constantly and log about 14k steps/20 flights per day. Those last 5 pounds are a doozy!

I have to drop to 800 calories a day to lose weight. I maintain at 1300. Dropping 500 calories a day gives me a one pound loss per week.

I don't trust calories burned counters on anything. Not exercise machines, not Fitbits, nothing.

I've been using a couple of Fitbits since September of 2012. They are fantastic for counting steps and active minutes, and to motivate me to move more. The rest I ignore as unreliable.

Even if we track food closely, we are almost certainly eating more calories than we think. And we are burning far fewer than we would like to think. One of the best things I've learned is that if my weight is steady, calories in vs out are equal, regardless if the number. If we want to lose, we need to eat fewer calories.

Thank you for your insight. I have been trying to find a way to estimate my calories expended. I know there is no truly accurate system out there and clearly something is off or I would continue to lose weight.

For me exercise makes no difference in my weight. It does help me to feel better and have more energy. A woman needs about 10 calories a day to maintain a pound and a man needs 11 or 12 calories a day to maintain a pound of body weight.

To maintain, multiply your weight by 10. To lose one pound a week, deduct 500 calories a day.

Very interesting. Thank you. So, at 154 lbs, I should probably eat less than 1200 calories - more like 1000. That becomes increasingly more difficult as time progresses, as I'm sure the veterans here know.

At 154 pounds you should maintain at 1540 and lose a pound a week at 1000. The downside is that the less we weigh, the less we get to eat.

Protein forward really helps. Every year it gets harder and harder to lose and to maintain.

YES YES YES Please listen to White Dove. She is very wise!!!!

I am 17 years out, and agree, with White Dove, and Grim, completely!!!!

Any "out there" responses you get...well...

I suggest eating a protein forward diet as well as agree with your other posters. If you are eating carbs , loss will be much harder.

I can't lose if eating above 800 calls a day . If you only have 10 pounds to lose it shouldn't take long at 800 caps.

You are certainly kicking some Fitbit ass!

I love mine. I ignore the calories burned.