Adjusting Your Protein Goal on Lose It! App
Protein is a crucial macronutrient, and adjusting your intake is a common step for people with varying fitness and health goals. The Lose It! app provides flexibility for customizing your daily protein target, but the process may differ slightly depending on your device (iOS, Android, or web browser) and whether you are using a standard or custom nutrition strategy. Before making any changes, it's wise to consider your overall diet and health objectives to ensure your new target aligns with your needs.
Step-by-Step Guide for iOS and Android
Adjusting your protein goal starts in the 'Goals' section of the mobile app. The path is straightforward, but the specific icons vary by operating system.
For iOS Users:
- Open the app and tap 'Goals': You'll find this icon on the bottom banner of the Lose It! app.
- Select the 'Nutrition' section: Scroll down to see the different nutritional targets you can manage.
- Tap the protein graph: This will open the page for your current protein goal.
- Tap 'Edit': This option is usually in the top corner of the screen.
- Enter your new goal: You can set your protein goal in either grams or as a percentage of your total calories, depending on how you prefer to track your macros.
- Tap 'Save': This applies your new goal.
For Android Users:
- Open the app and tap 'Goals': Locate the 'Goals' icon on the menu.
- Select the 'Nutrition' section: Scroll down to access the different nutritional targets you can set.
- Tap the protein graph: This will display the details of your current protein goal.
- Tap the gear icon: This icon, typically in the top corner, allows you to edit your goal.
- Enter your new goal: You can input your new protein target in either grams or percentages.
- Tap 'Save': Confirm your changes to update your protein target.
Important Considerations: Custom vs. Recommended Strategy
Before you can freely edit your individual macronutrient goals, you must be on a 'Custom' nutrition strategy. The Lose It! app's default strategy automatically sets macro percentages based on your overall calorie budget and weight loss plan.
To switch to a custom strategy:
- Go to your Profile (top right corner).
- Under the 'Program' section, tap 'Nutrition Strategy'.
- Select 'Switch to a Custom Strategy'.
- Once enabled, you can then proceed with the steps above to edit your individual protein goal.
Web Version Instructions
For those who prefer to manage their goals via the web, the process is just as simple:
- Navigate to my.loseit.com and log in.
- In the menu, click 'Goals'.
- Click the specific protein goal you wish to edit.
- Click 'Edit Goal'.
- Enter the new information and click 'Save Changes'.
Setting Grams vs. Percentages: A Comparison
The optimal method for tracking protein depends on your goals and preferences. The app allows for both gram-based and percentage-based tracking.
| Feature | Gram-Based Goal | Percentage-Based Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Bodybuilders, athletes, and those targeting a specific protein intake per body weight (e.g., 1g per lb) | Individuals on a general high-protein diet or those following a standard macro split (e.g., 40/30/30) |
| Stability | Remains fixed regardless of your daily calorie budget. | Fluctuates daily based on your total calorie intake, which can vary. |
| Accuracy | Direct and precise. You know exactly how many grams you need to consume. | Less precise, as a higher calorie day means a higher protein goal (and vice-versa). |
| Flexibility | Easier to adjust for specific fitness phases, such as muscle gain or fat loss. | Good for a consistent dietary pattern, but less flexible for specific, fixed protein targets. |
Conclusion
Changing your protein goal on Lose It! is a simple, multi-step process that allows for precise customization of your dietary tracking. By navigating to the 'Goals' section and switching to a custom strategy if necessary, you can easily adjust your protein target in either grams or percentages. This flexibility empowers you to align your nutrition with your unique fitness and health objectives, supporting everything from muscle growth to general dietary management.
Choosing Your New Protein Goal
Before you edit your target, it's helpful to consider some best practices for setting your new goal. Your ideal protein intake depends on a number of factors, including your activity level, body composition, and overall health goals.
- For weight loss: A higher protein intake can help with satiety, reducing overall calorie consumption. A common recommendation is 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight.
- For muscle gain: To support muscle repair and growth, a higher intake is often needed, with common targets around 1.6 to 2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight.
- For general health: The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) is 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, a good baseline for less active individuals.
When you are ready to adjust, use the steps outlined above and input the new number. Remember to tap 'Save' to confirm your changes. By taking control of your nutritional targets, you can make the Lose It! app a more effective tool for reaching your health and fitness aspirations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do I do if I can't find the 'Edit' button for my macros on Lose It? First, check your 'Nutrition Strategy' under your Profile settings to ensure it's set to 'Custom'. If it's on a recommended strategy, you won't be able to manually edit the individual macro percentages.
2. Is it better to set my protein goal in grams or percentages? This depends on your specific goals. If you're an athlete or bodybuilder, setting a fixed gram amount (e.g., per pound of body weight) is often more accurate. For general diet tracking, percentages can be easier to manage as they adjust with your overall calorie budget.
3. Will changing my protein goal also change my calorie goal? No, changing your protein goal on its own will not alter your overall calorie goal. However, if you are tracking by percentages, a change in your calorie budget would affect the number of grams that correspond to your protein percentage.
4. Can I set different protein goals for different days of the week? The standard version of Lose It! does not currently support setting different macro goals for individual days. Some advanced apps offer this feature, but Lose It!'s functionality is more focused on a consistent daily target.
5. Can I use the web version to change my protein goal instead of the app? Yes, the Lose It! website (my.loseit.com) offers the same goal-editing functionality as the mobile app. You can log in, go to the 'Goals' section, and edit your protein target there.
6. Do I need a premium subscription to customize my macros? While premium access unlocks more advanced features, basic macro goal editing is available to all users. To access the most detailed nutritional tracking and customization, a premium account is helpful.
7. What if I want to remove the protein tracking from my dashboard? If you prefer not to see the protein macro on your log screen, you can usually manage which goals are displayed. This is often done by tapping 'Goals' and then adjusting the visibility of specific nutrients.
8. How do I switch back to the recommended strategy? If you ever want to revert from a custom strategy, simply go back to your Profile, tap 'Nutrition Strategy,' and choose 'Change My Strategy' to select one of the pre-set options offered by the app.
9. What if I want to add more nutrient goals than just protein? Under the 'Goals' section of the app, you can scroll down and tap 'Set Another Goal' to add other nutrients like fiber, saturated fat, or sodium.
10. How will a custom protein goal affect my other macros? If you are tracking by percentages and increase your protein percentage, the app will decrease the percentages for carbohydrates and fat to maintain the total at 100%. If you are tracking by grams, your other macros will not be directly affected.
