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How to Remove Calorie Burn Bonus on Lose It? A Step-by-Step Guide

4 min read

Many fitness app users struggle with unexpected calorie bonuses that inflate their daily budgets and can hinder weight loss progress. For those seeking stricter control over their calorie logging, this guide details how to remove calorie burn bonus on Lose It! by adjusting settings for specific connected devices and understanding the app's behavior.

Quick Summary

Disable the calorie burn bonus on Lose It! by following device-specific instructions. Toggle off the bonus for Fitbit or Garmin devices, but note that Apple Watch users must disconnect their device entirely. Take control of your daily budget and stop the app from automatically adding extra exercise calories.

Key Points

  • Device Dependence: The method to remove the calorie bonus depends on your connected fitness tracker, with some devices allowing a simple toggle while others require disconnection.

  • Fitbit & Garmin: Users can easily toggle off the 'Calorie Bonus' setting within the Lose It! app's Automatic Tracking section.

  • Apple Watch: The calorie bonus cannot be disabled directly; users must fully disconnect their Apple Watch from Lose It! to remove it.

  • Google Fit / iPhone Steps: To stop bonus calories from step data, you must either disconnect or change your Google Fit settings to sync only workouts.

  • Manual Exercise Tracking: After disabling the bonus, you can manually log exercise calories or set a fixed daily budget for more control.

  • Reclaiming Control: Removing the bonus allows for more precise calorie tracking and helps prevent overconsumption of calories based on potentially inflated exercise estimates.

In This Article

Understanding the Lose It! Calorie Bonus

The Lose It! app automatically syncs with various fitness trackers and relies on the data they provide to adjust your daily calorie budget. A calorie bonus is added to your log when your total daily calorie burn, as reported by your device, exceeds what the app estimated for your activity level. While this feature is designed to be helpful, some users prefer to manually account for exercise and want to stop the automatic adjustment.

How the Bonus is Calculated

Lose It! calculates a “Target Burn” based on your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and chosen activity level. If your connected device, like a Fitbit or Apple Watch, reports a total calorie burn (resting + active) higher than this target, the difference is added as a “Calorie Bonus” to your log. For many on a weight loss journey, this extra buffer can be unwelcome, as it gives permission to eat more calories and can slow progress. The key to removing this bonus lies in understanding and managing your app's connections.

Device-Specific Methods to Remove the Calorie Bonus

For Fitbit Users

Removing the calorie bonus for a Fitbit is straightforward and can be done within the Lose It! app settings, without needing to disconnect the device entirely.

  1. Open the Lose It! app.
  2. Tap the 'Profile' icon in the top right corner.
  3. Scroll down to the 'Automatic Tracking' section and select 'View All'.
  4. Tap on 'Fitbit' from the list of connected apps.
  5. Scroll down to the 'Allow Fitbit to Write Data' section.
  6. Toggle off the 'Calorie Bonus' option.

For Garmin Users

Similar to Fitbit, Garmin users can easily disable the calorie bonus without full disconnection.

  1. Open the Lose It! app.
  2. Tap the 'Profile' icon.
  3. Scroll down to 'Automatic Tracking'.
  4. Select 'Garmin'.
  5. Toggle off the 'Calorie Bonus' setting.

For Apple Watch Users

Unfortunately, there is no option to simply toggle off the calorie bonus for Apple Watch users. The app's integration with Apple Health means the bonus is an inherent feature. To remove it completely, you must disconnect your Apple Watch from Lose It!.

  1. Open the Lose It! app and go to your 'Profile'.
  2. Navigate to 'Automatic Tracking' and tap on 'Apple Watch'.
  3. Tap 'Disconnect'.
  4. Manually delete any existing calorie bonus entries for the current day by swiping left on the entry in your log and tapping 'Delete'.

For Google Fit and iPhone Steps

Users tracking steps via Google Fit or iPhone's built-in step tracker also face limitations. You cannot disable the bonus while continuing to sync step data. To prevent the bonus, you must either:

  • Change Google Fit settings to only sync workouts.
  • Disconnect the app entirely from Lose It!.

Comparison of Calorie Bonus Management by Device

Feature Fitbit Garmin Apple Watch Google Fit / iPhone Steps
Option to Disable Bonus Yes Yes No No
Action Required Toggle a single setting Toggle a single setting Disconnect the device Disconnect or limit sync data
Effect on Other Data Other syncs remain active Other syncs remain active All data syncs from Watch stop Steps sync stops; workouts can continue
Recommended for Tighter Control Easiest adjustment Easy adjustment Disconnect is required Disconnect is required

Reclaiming Control of Your Calorie Budget

For those who prefer a more rigid and consistent calorie target, managing the automatic bonus is essential. Once you've removed the bonus, you have several options for tracking exercise and still accounting for it accurately without losing control.

How to Track Exercise Manually

  • Log Exercise: After disabling the calorie bonus, you can manually log your workouts in the 'Exercise' section of your log. This allows you to choose exactly how many calories are added back to your budget, or if any are added at all.
  • Set a Fixed Budget: If you want to eliminate all fluctuations, you can set a fixed calorie budget that does not change regardless of your exercise. You can find this option by going to Profile > Budget > Budget Type > Fixed.
  • Ignore Exercise Calories: Some users simply ignore exercise calories in their budget entirely, viewing exercise as a health bonus rather than a means to eat more. This approach ensures you stick to your baseline calorie goal.

Conclusion

The ability to remove the calorie burn bonus on Lose It! varies significantly based on the connected fitness tracker. While Fitbit and Garmin users have a simple toggle, Apple Watch and Google Fit users must take more drastic measures, such as disconnecting the device entirely. Understanding these differences is crucial for anyone who prefers to have manual control over their daily calorie intake and exercise logging. By following the device-specific instructions and exploring alternative tracking methods, you can tailor the Lose It! app to perfectly fit your weight management strategy and regain full control of your progress.

For additional support and updates on feature requests, you can visit the official Lose It! support pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Calorie Bonus is an extra calorie allowance added to your daily budget by the Lose It! app when your connected fitness tracker reports that you have burned more calories than the app's initial daily estimate, known as your 'Target Burn'.

Some users prefer to remove the bonus for more consistent and predictable calorie tracking. It prevents exercise calories from being automatically added back into their budget, allowing for stricter adherence to their diet plan.

No, you cannot disable the calorie bonus for an Apple Watch within the Lose It! app. To remove it, you must disconnect your Apple Watch entirely.

To turn off the bonus for a Fitbit, go to your Profile in the Lose It! app, navigate to 'Automatic Tracking', select 'Fitbit', and toggle off the 'Calorie Bonus' option.

Yes, Garmin users can turn off the bonus. Find 'Automatic Tracking' in your Lose It! profile, select 'Garmin', and switch off the 'Calorie Bonus' toggle.

If you disconnect your Apple Watch, the calorie bonus will stop appearing on your log. However, all automatic syncing of your activity data from the Watch will cease.

You cannot disable the bonus while continuing to sync steps from these sources. To prevent the bonus, you will need to disconnect the app or adjust Google Fit settings to only sync workouts.

References

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.