Understanding Your Calorie Budget in Lose It!
Your daily calorie budget in Lose It! is a dynamic tool designed to help you achieve your weight management goals. For most users, this budget is automatically calculated based on the weight loss rate you select and updates as your weight changes. However, there are several reasons you might want to take manual control. Maybe you've consulted a dietitian and need a specific calorie target, or perhaps you feel the automated adjustments are too aggressive. Fortunately, Lose It! offers a straightforward way to set a custom or fixed budget on both its mobile app and website.
Changing Your Budget on the Lose It! Mobile App
The process for adjusting your calorie target on the Lose It! app is quick and simple. The steps are slightly different depending on your mobile device (iOS vs. Android), but the overall path is the same.
Step-by-Step Guide for the Mobile App
- Navigate to your Profile: Open the Lose It! app and tap the 'Profile' icon, typically found in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Access the Program section: Scroll down within your Profile until you find the 'Program' section. Tap on the 'Budget' option.
- Select Custom: Within the Budget menu, you will see a 'Budget Type'. Change this from the default 'Standard' to 'Custom' or 'Fixed'.
- Edit your budget: A prompt will appear allowing you to enter your desired daily calorie budget. Enter the new number.
- Save your changes: Tap 'Save' to confirm and apply your new calorie budget.
Alternative Adjustments in the App
If you prefer to keep the standard automated plan, you can still influence your calorie budget by adjusting your underlying settings. This is useful for making gradual, more natural changes to your daily target.
- Weekly Weight Loss Rate: Adjusting your weight loss rate (e.g., from 1.5 lbs/week to 1.0 lbs/week) will result in a higher daily calorie target.
- Activity Level: Changing your activity level from 'Not Active' to 'Somewhat Active' will increase your estimated daily calorie needs.
Adjusting Your Calorie Budget on the Lose It! Website
For those who prefer a desktop interface or don't have access to the mobile app, the Lose It! website offers the same functionality.
Step-by-Step Guide for the Website
- Log in to your account: Visit my.loseit.com and sign in with your credentials.
- Go to Goals: Click the 'Goals' link from the sidebar menu.
- Edit your plan: Locate the 'Plan Details' box and click 'Edit Plan'.
- Change Budget Type: Change your 'Budget Type' from 'Standard (Default)' to 'Fixed'.
- Enter new budget: A field for 'Calorie Budget' will appear. Enter your new desired daily calorie total.
- Update: Click 'Update' to save and apply the changes.
Custom Budget vs. Standard Plan
| Feature | Custom/Fixed Budget | Standard/Default Plan |
|---|---|---|
| Adjustment Method | Manually set by the user. | Automatically adjusts as your weight changes. |
| Consistency | The daily calorie target remains constant. | The daily target decreases over time as you lose weight. |
| Expertise Required | Recommended if advised by a medical or nutrition professional. | Calculated based on your initial goals and profile information. |
| Flexibility | Provides complete control over your daily target. | Offers less direct control but adapts to your progress. |
| Initial Setup | Can be selected during initial setup or changed later. | The default option when you start a new plan. |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your calorie budget isn't updating as expected, consider these common issues:
- Syncing problems: Ensure your app is synced and updated to the latest version. Try logging out and back in.
- Minimum budgets: Lose It! has a built-in safety feature that prevents your calorie budget from dropping below a certain minimum. If you've been losing weight, this may be why the budget is not decreasing as you expect.
- Exercise logging: If your activity is synced via a device like a Fitbit, Lose It! may be adding exercise calories back into your budget. Review your settings for exercise calorie bonuses.
- Weekly rate changes: Remember that changing your weekly weight loss rate will immediately affect your automatically calculated budget. If you want a static number, you must select the 'Custom' budget type.
Conclusion
Taking control of your daily calorie budget on Lose It! is a simple process that gives you greater control over your weight management journey. Whether you need to set a specific target recommended by a professional or simply want more flexibility, the app and website both provide easy-to-follow steps. By navigating to your profile and selecting the 'Custom' or 'Fixed' budget option, you can ensure your daily calorie goal aligns perfectly with your evolving health and fitness needs. For more details on the automated process and other features, you can always refer to the official Lose It! support website.
