how to turn off exercise calories in myfitnesspal

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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05-02-2025

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MyFitnessPal is a popular app for tracking your food intake and exercise. Many users find the automatic exercise calorie adjustments helpful, but some prefer to track their calories solely through food logging. This article will guide you through turning off the automatic exercise calorie deduction in MyFitnessPal, allowing you to maintain a more precise control over your daily calorie count. This is especially important if you're meticulously tracking your macros or have specific calorie goals.

Understanding Exercise Calorie Adjustments

Before we delve into how to disable this feature, let's briefly understand why MyFitnessPal automatically adjusts your daily calorie budget based on your logged workouts. The app does this to account for the calories you burn during physical activity. This can make it seem like you're consuming fewer calories when in fact your daily intake hasn’t changed.

The calculation used is often based on algorithms and may not be entirely accurate for every individual and workout. Factors like intensity level and individual metabolism significantly impact actual calorie expenditure. Some users find this automated adjustment inaccurate and prefer to manage their calorie count manually.

How to Disable Exercise Calories in MyFitnessPal

The process for disabling exercise calorie adjustments in MyFitnessPal is straightforward. However, the exact steps might differ slightly based on your device (Android or iOS) and the app version you are using.

Step 1: Accessing Settings

Open the MyFitnessPal app on your phone. Navigate to your profile, usually found by tapping your profile picture or initials in the top right or left corner. This typically brings up a menu where you can access settings, or look for a “settings” icon (usually a gear).

Step 2: Finding the Calorie Adjustment Setting

Within the settings menu, look for options related to calorie goals, dietary settings, or exercise tracking. The exact wording may vary, but look for settings related to "exercise calories," "calorie adjustments," or something similar. You may need to scroll down to locate these settings.

Step 3: Disabling Automatic Adjustments

Once you locate the appropriate setting, you will likely find a toggle switch or an option to enable or disable automatic calorie deductions for workouts. Toggle the switch to the “off” position or select the option to disable the feature. This prevents MyFitnessPal from automatically subtracting calories burned from your daily calorie goal.

Step 4: Confirming the Change

After disabling this feature, it's always a good idea to double-check that the changes have been saved and are reflected in your daily calorie calculations. Record a workout and see if your daily calorie allowance remains unchanged, confirming your new setting.

Alternative Methods: Manual Tracking

If you prefer even more control, you can continue logging your workouts to track your activity levels. However, instead of letting MyFitnessPal automatically adjust your calories, you'll simply track the activity without impacting your daily calorie goal. This way you have a record of your workouts while remaining in full control of your calorie intake.

Important Considerations

Disabling exercise calorie adjustments doesn't mean you stop burning calories during exercise. It simply means MyFitnessPal will no longer automatically account for those calories in your daily total. Be mindful of your overall calorie balance and ensure your food intake aligns with your fitness goals.

This might be useful if you are focusing on a specific macronutrient target rather than overall calories. You might find it beneficial to maintain a consistent macro ratio, even if your overall calorie count varies slightly from day to day.

By following these steps, you can gain greater control over your MyFitnessPal experience, tailoring it to suit your individual needs and preferences. Remember that consistency in tracking, whether or not you use exercise calorie adjustments, is key to achieving your fitness objectives.