How to manually add steps to lose it app?

With over 57 million users worldwide, the Lose It! app is a popular tool for tracking health goals. For those who need to record activity when a fitness tracker isn't available, knowing how to manually add steps to lose it app is essential for accurate data.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a detailed explanation of logging daily steps in the Lose It! app on both iOS and Android. It also covers enabling the steps card in your log and exploring the alternative method of recording a custom walking exercise.

Key Points

• Access the Log Tab: To begin manual entry, navigate to the 'Log' section of the Lose It! app.

• Enable the Steps Card: The 'Steps' card must be visible in your log, which can be toggled on through the 'Goals' settings.

• Use Direct Entry for Daily Totals: The easiest method for entering a total number of steps is directly through the 'Steps' card in the 'Health' section of your log.

• Log a Custom Exercise for Specific Workouts: For more detailed tracking of a specific walking session, create and log a custom exercise with defined duration and estimated calories burned.

• Beware of Sync Conflicts: Manual entry may override data from synced fitness trackers, so consider disabling automatic sync to avoid double-counting or discrepancies with your calorie bonus.

• Manual Steps vs. Custom Activity: The app handles direct step counts and custom exercise logs differently, impacting how calories are calculated in your daily budget.

For anyone who uses a pedometer or simply forgets their synced device, manually logging your activity is the best way to ensure your progress is accurately reflected in your Lose It! account. There are two primary methods for doing this: directly entering your total daily steps or logging a specific walk as an exercise.

Method 1: Direct Manual Step Entry

This method is ideal for entering a total number of steps for the day, such as from an analog pedometer or a day when your synced device was not functioning. You will need to ensure the 'Steps' card is enabled in your log before you can manually add data.

How to enable the Steps card in your Log

• On iOS and Android:
  • Open the Lose It! app.
  • Tap the 'Goals' tab.
  • Scroll down to and tap the 'Steps' chart.
  • Tap 'Edit' (iOS) or the gear icon (Android).
  • Toggle on 'Show on the Log tab'.

How to manually log steps on iOS

1. Open the Lose It! app.
2. Navigate to the 'Log' tab.
3. Scroll down to the 'Health' section.
4. Tap on the 'Steps' card.
5. Enter your total daily steps.
6. Tap 'Save'.

How to manually log steps on Android

1. Open the Lose It! app.
2. Navigate to the 'Log' tab.
3. Scroll down to the 'Health' section.
4. Tap on the 'Steps' card.
5. Enter your total daily steps.
6. Tap 'Record'.

Method 2: Log a Custom Walking Exercise

This approach is more suitable for recording a specific walking workout, which allows you to detail the duration, distance, and calories burned. It is particularly useful when you have a good estimate of these metrics for a particular activity.

Creating a custom exercise

To save time on future entries, you can first create a custom exercise for your typical walk.

1. Open the Lose It! app.
2. Tap on the 'Profile' icon in the top right corner.
3. Scroll down to the 'Exercises' section.
4. Tap on 'Custom Exercises'.
5. Tap the '+' icon (iOS) or 'New' (Android).
6. Enter the name, for example, 'Outdoor Walk'.
7. Enter the average details for your typical walk (duration and estimated calories) and tap 'Save'.

Logging the custom exercise

1. Open the Lose It! app.
2. Navigate to the 'Log' tab.
3. Scroll down to the 'Exercise' section.
4. Tap 'Add Exercise' (Android) or 'Add Workouts' (iOS).
5. Search for the 'Outdoor Walk' exercise you created.
6. Enter the specific exercise details for that day.
7. Tap 'Add' (iOS) or 'Save' (Android) to log it.

Comparison: Direct Steps vs. Custom Exercise

Feature	Direct Manual Step Log	Custom Walking Exercise Log
Purpose	Entering total daily steps from a separate pedometer or phone.	Logging a specific period of walking activity with more detail.
Level of Detail	A single total step count for the day is entered.	Allows detailed input of duration, distance, and calories.
Use Case	Catching up on activity after forgetting to carry your phone or use a connected tracker.	Precisely logging a dedicated workout, like a morning run or hike.
Effort	Quick and simple, for a general daily figure.	More detailed and accurate for a specific activity.
Calorie Impact	Can affect the daily calorie bonus, which is calculated based on step counts.	Manually added calories are added to the exercise total.

Important Considerations for Manual Entry

When manually logging your steps or exercise, it's crucial to understand how Lose It! calculates your calorie burn. If you have an automatically syncing device, such as an Apple Watch or Google Fit, the manual entry might interfere with or override the synced data for the day, or not affect it at all, depending on the app's internal logic. For instance, if a custom exercise is added for a time period where a synced tracker already logged data, the manual log will take priority. This can sometimes cause confusion regarding calorie bonuses, where manual steps might not trigger the expected bonus because the app is designed to calculate it from synced data. To avoid any data conflicts, it is recommended to disable automatic step tracking before manually inputting your daily steps.

Conclusion

While automatic fitness tracking is convenient, knowing how to manually add steps to the Lose It! app provides essential flexibility and backup. For quick, total daily step counts, the direct manual entry via the 'Steps' card is the fastest method. If you need to log a specific workout with more detail, creating a custom walking exercise is the more accurate approach. Consistency is key to weight management, so having these tools ensures your progress is always tracked, even when your technology fails. It is always wise to double-check your entries to prevent any discrepancies that could impact your daily calorie budget.

For more information on how the Lose It! app manages activity tracking, you can visit their official support page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I enter a specific number of steps for one particular workout?

While the direct steps log is for your total daily count, for a specific workout, it is best to log it as a custom exercise. This allows you to input duration, distance, and calories burned for that particular activity.

Where is the 'Steps' card if I can't see it in my log?

If the 'Steps' card isn't visible, you need to enable it. Go to the 'Goals' tab, find the 'Steps' chart, tap 'Edit' or the gear icon, and toggle on 'Show on the Log tab'.

Why didn't I get a calorie bonus after manually entering my steps?

Manual step entries do not always trigger the calorie bonus, which is often calculated based on activity data from a synced device. The app’s logic may prioritize or handle synced data differently than manual logs.

Will my manual entry override data from my Apple Watch or Google Fit?

Yes, manual entries can often override or interfere with data from synced devices, especially for the time period entered. It's a good practice to manage or disable automatic tracking when using manual logs to prevent discrepancies.

How do I ensure my custom exercise calories are included in my budget?

When creating or logging a custom exercise, make sure the 'Exclude from Total Calories' option is turned off. This ensures the burned calories are properly credited to your log and adjust your daily budget.

Is it possible to edit or delete a manually entered step count?

Yes. If you need to make changes, tap on the 'Steps' card in your log, and you will be able to edit the number. To delete, you may be able to swipe on the entry or find an edit option.

Can I manually log steps on the Lose It! website as well?

Yes, manual logging can also be done on the Lose It! website, my.loseit.com. The process involves navigating to the 'Log' or 'Exercise' section and finding the relevant entry options, similar to the app.