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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder if I'm setting my sights too low with regards to fitbit?

91 replies

fitbituser · 09/02/2019 07:32

I have around 4 and a half stone to lose to get to a healthy BMI, and I am doing a VLCD.

Even though I'm taking in so few calories I don't seem to be losing that much weight, and I wondered if I wasn't moving enough. Since I started the diet I've ensured on my Fitbit that I'm doing 10000 steps a day but should I be doing some exercise as well? The steps are just ones I do anyway (I have young children) - I don't stop myself when I get to 10,000 but I have found during the week when I am at work I only just make the 10,000 if you see what I mean: weekends are sometimes more.

Also, I'm only currently using it to track my steps, what else should I use it for? It's a charge 2.

Thanks :)

OP posts:
Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:01

I was asking fitbit advice, not diet advice: it's like me mentioning I have a one year old when talking about diets and being given potty training advice or something!

OP posts:
SherlockHolmes · 09/02/2019 08:02

Might not work for you op, but I up my steps by playing 2 or 3 lively songs quite loudly and then dance like a mad thing. I get completely out of breath, use up maybe an extra 1000 steps and enjoy it much more than "exercise"

If your children are old enough maybe they could join you?

Good luck with the weight loss, it's tough isn't it?

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:02

any time you can fit it in that's just it Stella, I really cannot fit it in. I work full time, I have two preschoolers and I am not exaggerating when I say during the day I barely have time to pee.

I also have to work at home.

OP posts:
Boysandbuses · 09/02/2019 08:05

I was asking fitbit advice, not diet advice: it's like me mentioning I have a one year old when talking about diets and being given potty training advice or something

No it's not because when you are eating so little upping the exercise won't help. It's entirely relevant. Losing weight is mainly about what you eat.

I am a single parent and work full time. I also work from home on an evening. I get up 30 mins early and have kettlebells at home and do a quick 30 minute workout. Or do squats/lunges etc while waiting for a pan to boil or the kettle or whole watching the kids in the bath.

You can fit something in. You have to be creative though.

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:07

OK, well, we all have different ways of going about things: maybe your kids are better behaved than mine Smile

I'm good with the diet I'm doing and have no intention of stopping it just yet. But I would like to get more out of my fitbit.

OP posts:
ilovetrees30 · 09/02/2019 08:10

You have also got to remember that your fitbit is only an estimate of your activity levels. I gain 10-20 steps just by brushing my hair in the morning. I work full time, have a dog and volunteer in the evenings and i still manage to do two weights sessions a week. I use my fitbit as a guide to whether I've moved enough rather than the specific number of steps. I average about 8k steps a day so i know if im only on 3k by dinner time Ive not done enough

RhiWrites · 09/02/2019 08:10

Hey, OP, I feel for you. I was your weight and FitBit changed my life. But no one is going to support a diet of under 1000 calories. It’s not safe.

If you really can’t make time for the gym then research HIIT exercises and do 15 minutes twice a day at home. Combine this with core strength exercises like abdominal crunches and the plank and you will see good results. But not at your current diet because you will faint.

I know it seems people are getting at you but everyone I know who cares about health and fitness would tell you the same. We just don’t want you hurting yourself.

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:15

Well, yes, it does feel as if people are getting at me, but the point is that I know I can't really exercise beyond "normal" walking. Obviously at weekends I can take the kids/dog out but during the week I'm generally getting in at 5/6, sorting out food and baths and bed, planning for the next day ... then exercising? I already know that it's just not going to happen.

So the idea is that rather than up my exercise I lower my intake - but still ensure I do some moving around, so the 10000 steps.

OP posts:
Boysandbuses · 09/02/2019 08:16

OK, well, we all have different ways of going about things: maybe your kids are better behaved than mine

So you absolutely can't for exercise in.

You aren't happy with with losing 4lb a week

You are happy with the diet

What is the advice you are looking for?

Fwiwmy youngest has special needs, so I doubt I fit it in because my kids are better behaved. If you can't fit in 10 squats 3 or 4 times a day or an extra walk or walk faster to raise your heart rate or even job on the spot for 5 minutes, it doesn't matter if you have set your sites to low, surely?

You are doing all that you can, you can't do anything else

swingofthings · 09/02/2019 08:17

What do you mean by more out of your fitbit? Are you looking at how you can burn even more calories. 600 calories a day is not recommended by any reasonable diet. Even the weight watchers of these world expect two bar replacement meals, a couple of snacks and one lean meal. One bar replacement is between 200 and 250 calories (and full of sugar!), so something is missing.

You say you can't fit it more exercise so I'm not clear how the fitbit can help you. The only thing I can think of is 1/2 hour going up and down stairs as quickly as possible, assuming you have stairs but if you take up this sort of exercise, you'll need to incorporate more calories in your diet, preferably proteins if you don't want to become unwell.

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:19

OK Boys, shall we just end our conversation on that note? :) Because tbh I think you're trying to be provocative on purpose now.

OK so the fitbit - I'm using it just as a fancy sort of pedometer. Obviously it can do more than that, so I'm wondering what it can do and what I should be doing with it.

OP posts:
Boysandbuses · 09/02/2019 08:23

I am not trying to be provocative at all.

I just said You are doing all that you can, you can't do anything else

Exactly how is that provocative? You ARE doing all you can.

AuntieStella · 09/02/2019 08:24

The reason people are talking about diet and weight loss dips because you did in the opening post.

When the goal is weight loss, they are inextricably linked.

Your Fitbit is something that logs what you do, it cannot make you fit. You have choose to do that and work out a to fit in, Sorry if that comes over as more abrasive than I intend (I'm aiming for bracing!) but we cannot tell you how you can fit in more exercise as the obvious flexible choice (run rather than walk) has been met with a 'no'

There are no magic wands. We're not going to come up with a solution, because you post quite firmly that you cannot fit in more exercise., and also that you won't discuss any other part of your life (if you were potty training, btw, it would be easier to advice you, because we could be heartening about how much simpler can be when it's securely achieved, and how you could use the time hanging round a small and only semi-cooperative person to exercise your pelvic floor)

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:26

Well, I do know that Stella - I'm fat, not thick! Grin

Like a smartphone can't make you have more friends but people can suggest good apps, that was what I was asking really. Anyway, never mind

OP posts:
kirkandpetal · 09/02/2019 08:29

Would you have time for 20-30 mins to do an exercise video? (When kids asleep?!) I have Davinas 7min workout on my iPad, and I do 3/4 of them every 2 or 3 days. They focus on different areas, and trust me you get sweaty and the heart pumping! That combined with perhaps a 5:2 diet....so eating a sensible diet 5 days and fasting at 500/600 Cals for 2 days. If you use your Fitbit and my fitness pal, they sync together to give you a full picture.
Good luck with your weight loss journey!

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:30

Even if I wanted to give up my current diet I've never got on with fitnesspal tbh

OP posts:
FromEden · 09/02/2019 08:31

It's easy to do, say 60 squats. It takes about 3 minutes or even less. If you don't have time for that then do 20. It's easy to get some small weights, 5lbs or so and hold them while doing squats. That's exercising, it's really easy to fit in around your life. Then you do more, or go for a brisk walk in the evening. You can do that and lose weight when eating more than 600 calories. It will be more gradual and that's ok. What you're doing now is completely unsustainable

kirkandpetal · 09/02/2019 08:31

What don't you like about MFP?

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:32

Does it matter? Do you work for them? Grin It isn't relevant because MFP isn't relevant on the diet I'm currently doing.

OP posts:
Fairylea · 09/02/2019 08:34

You need to walk faster, not do more steps. Walking 10k steps isn’t going to do anything for your weight if you’re walking normally - it needs to be briskly.

Download the Active 10 app and give it a go alongside your Fitbit. It records how many “active 10s” you do - 10 minutes of brisk walking. Aim for 3 a day. Much better for your heart, weight and overall health than trying to do the random 10k steps everyone seems to think everyone should be doing.

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:35

Thanks, Fairylea

OP posts:
TheSmallAssassin · 09/02/2019 08:41

Honestly, people are trying to help! 600 kCals is really not enough, you will damage your health! VLCD should only be carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

10k steps a day is a good place to be and 4lb loss is fabulous, but you really don't want to be losing weight any quicker, you will knacker your body and health! You just have to be patient and keep plodding on, it's the only way.

The reason people say that you are likely not to be able to maintain the loss when you lose weight really fast is because you won't have learnt anything about eating sensibly, so when you stop the VLCD, you haven't learnt about portion size for example, or how to limit yourself to a few treats. It really, boringly is about changing your eating habits for life, so you might as well start as you mean to go on.

If it helps, I have found Fitbit really good for seeing where I am calorie wise throughout the day and doing step challenges with people.

mum11970 · 09/02/2019 08:41

Without doing any extra exercise your Fitbit isn’t going to tell you any different. There is no magic way of burning more calories doing nothing different. Not sure what you are expecting people to help you with if you insist your food intake is fine and you have no time to even do a few squats. You could give your Fitbit to one of the kids and get them to run around with it; the stats on your Fitbit would go up but you wouldn’t be any slimmer.

Original poster
fitbituser · 09/02/2019 08:44

Fucking hell, people really do think fat = thick. Confused

All right, then.

OP posts:
MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 09/02/2019 08:44

it's all very well to say you KNOW that the fit bit won;t make you fitter but all your slightly hostile posts are just reiterating

have a fitbit
are on a vlcd
have no time to exercise

so really nothing is going to change except for starving yourself.

You are just going to have to squeeze more time from your day and move more...
park the car one/two/three streets away, walk faster
run up and down the stairs, can you do that twice for every time you have to go up and down?
make sure you are out for a brisk walk every single lunchtime