Skip to content

How to Track Weekly Calories in MyFitnessPal

3 min read

According to research published by MyFitnessPal, users who log their food consistently are more likely to reach their health and fitness goals. Tracking your daily intake is a start, but understanding your weekly average provides a much clearer picture of your overall dietary habits. MyFitnessPal offers built-in tools to help you analyze your calorie consumption over seven days.

Quick Summary

This guide details the process of using MyFitnessPal to access and interpret weekly calorie data. Understand how to find weekly reports, analyze trends, and leverage this information to stay on track with your health and fitness objectives. Learn about both free and premium features.

Key Points

  • Access Weekly Digest: Find your automated weekly calorie and nutrition report by navigating to the 'More' tab in the MyFitnessPal mobile app and selecting 'My Weekly Report'.

  • View Premium History: Premium users have unlimited access to past weekly reports, whereas free users are limited to the most recent two.

  • Utilize the Website: For more control over date ranges and a printable format, access your food diary reports through the MyFitnessPal website.

  • Analyze Trends, Not Just Days: Use the weekly report to identify long-term patterns and averages, which are often more revealing than focusing on daily fluctuations.

  • Ensure Consistent Logging: Accurate weekly data relies on diligent daily logging. Track all foods, beverages, and exercises consistently for reliable results.

  • Compare Goals and Intake: Your weekly report compares your total calorie consumption against your weekly calorie goal, providing a clear progress check.

In This Article

Accessing Your Weekly Calorie Report

MyFitnessPal automatically compiles a 'Weekly Digest' for all users, offering a summary of your nutrition, exercise, and step data. Accessing this report is a straightforward process within the app, whether you are a free or a premium user. For the most accurate weekly summary, ensure you consistently log your food and exercise throughout the week.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Mobile App

  1. Open the MyFitnessPal app and log in to your account.
  2. Navigate to the 'More' tab, typically found in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen.
  3. In the menu that appears, tap on 'My Weekly Report' or 'Weekly Digest'.
  4. Review the report for the previous week. For free users, only the last two reports are accessible.
  5. To change the time frame, tap the calendar icon at the top of the report page.

Accessing via the Website

  1. Log in to your MyFitnessPal account on the official website.
  2. Click on the 'Reports' tab in the main navigation menu.
  3. Select the 'Nutrition' report and specify a weekly date range to view your logged calories and other nutrients.

Interpreting Your Weekly Calorie Data

Looking at a weekly average can be more insightful than focusing on a single day. A weekly report can help you identify trends and understand the overall trajectory of your diet. You may notice patterns, such as higher calorie intake on weekends or a deficit during weekdays, which can impact your long-term goals.

Key Metrics in Your Report

  • Total Calories Consumed: The sum of all food calories logged throughout the week.
  • Total Exercise Calories Burned: The total calories burned from logged exercises.
  • Weekly Calorie Goal vs. Actual: A comparison of your set goal versus your actual intake.
  • Daily Average Calories: An automatically calculated average of your daily calorie intake for the week.

Comparison of Free vs. Premium Features

Feature Free Version Premium Version
Weekly Report Access Access to the last two Weekly Digest reports. Unlimited access to all past Weekly Digest reports.
Data Granularity General summary of nutrition, exercise, and steps. More detailed insights, including food group breakdowns and frequently logged foods.
Calorie Goal Settings Based on daily targets. Can set custom macro and nutrient goals, which can influence weekly averages.
Ad-Free Experience Contains ads. No advertisements, providing a cleaner tracking experience.
Nutrient Tracking Standard macronutrient display. Net carbs mode for keto tracking and more detailed nutrient breakdowns.

Manual Tracking and Analysis

While MyFitnessPal's automated reports are highly convenient, some users might prefer manual analysis for more granular control, especially for calculating specific weekly averages not explicitly shown by the app's free version. One method involves using the printable diary feature on the MyFitnessPal website.

How to Create a Printable Weekly Report

  1. Log into your account on the MyFitnessPal website.
  2. Click the 'Food' tab at the top.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'View Printable Report'.
  4. Select a specific date range for the week you want to analyze.
  5. Generate the report, which you can then use to manually calculate your own weekly totals and averages using a spreadsheet or calculator.

Optimizing Your Weekly Tracking Habits

To make the most of your weekly calorie tracking, consistency is paramount. Logging every single food and beverage item, including cooking oils and sauces, will ensure the most accurate data. Additionally, syncing your fitness tracker or a step counter can provide a more complete picture of your total calorie expenditure. Regularly checking your weekly report can help you recognize patterns that contribute to weight fluctuations, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your nutrition.

Conclusion Tracking your weekly calories in MyFitnessPal is a powerful way to gain a comprehensive overview of your eating habits. By utilizing the app's built-in 'Weekly Digest' or creating custom printable reports, you can move beyond daily numbers and focus on long-term trends. This data-driven approach empowers you to make smarter nutritional choices, helping you stay motivated and on track toward your health and fitness goals. Consistent and accurate logging is the foundation for effective weekly analysis, providing the insights needed for sustainable progress. For further reading, see the MyFitnessPal help center on their Weekly Digest feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can find your weekly calorie report, or 'Weekly Digest', by tapping the 'More' tab (three dots) at the bottom of the app, then selecting 'My Weekly Report' from the menu.

The free version of MyFitnessPal only allows access to the last two weekly reports. Unlimited access to past reports is a feature for Premium subscribers.

Yes, if you have enabled exercise calories in your settings, the weekly digest will include the calories you've burned from logged exercises in its calculations.

Log in to the MyFitnessPal website, click the 'Reports' tab, and then select 'Nutrition' to view reports for a custom weekly date range.

Tracking weekly calories provides a bigger picture of your eating patterns, helping you identify consistent trends over time rather than getting bogged down by daily fluctuations.

Yes, the MyFitnessPal weekly report automatically displays your daily average calories, making it easier to see your progress at a glance.

The accuracy of your report depends on consistent and detailed logging. Make sure to log every meal, snack, and beverage you consume throughout the week to get reliable data.

References

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3

Medical Disclaimer

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