Understanding the Core Concept
At its heart, the calorie burn bonus on Lose It! is a system designed to reward users for being more active than the app initially anticipates. Instead of relying solely on a fixed daily calorie goal, the bonus adjusts your budget in real-time, providing flexibility for those who exercise regularly or have more active days. This process begins by calculating your Estimated Energy Requirement (EER), which is a combination of your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and your chosen Physical Activity Level (PAL). The app then sets a 'Target Burn' based on this EER, which represents the calories needed to simply maintain your current weight. When your connected fitness tracker sends data indicating that your total daily calorie burn has exceeded this Target Burn, the difference is credited to you as a calorie burn bonus.
The Calculation Process
Here’s a simple breakdown of how the bonus is calculated:
- Lose It! calculates your Target Burn: This is your BMR (calories burned at rest) multiplied by your PAL (a factor based on your activity level). This is essentially your maintenance budget.
- Your tracker sends total burn data: Your Apple Watch, Fitbit, or Garmin tracks all calories burned throughout the day (resting and active) and sends this total to Lose It!.
- Lose It! compares the data: The app compares your tracker's reported total burn to the pre-calculated Target Burn.
- Bonus is awarded: If your tracker's total burn is higher than the Target Burn, the excess calories are added as a 'Calorie Bonus' to your exercise log.
For example, if your Target Burn is 2,000 calories and your Apple Watch reports you burned 2,300 calories, you will receive a 300-calorie burn bonus. This bonus can then be used to slightly increase your food budget for the day or contribute to a larger calorie deficit.
Integrating Fitness Trackers with Lose It!
The calorie burn bonus system is most effective when integrated with a compatible fitness tracker. This is because the app receives the most accurate, real-time data on your total daily energy expenditure. Lose It! integrates with several popular devices, with integration steps varying slightly. For Premium members, most trackers are supported, while Apple Watch users can integrate with the standard subscription.
Integration Comparison: Apple Watch vs. Fitbit/Garmin
| Feature | Apple Watch | Fitbit & Garmin (Premium) |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Works with standard Lose It! | Requires a Premium subscription |
| Data Sync | Syncs active and resting calories from Apple Health. | Syncs total daily burn (active + resting). |
| Double-Counting | Prevents double-counting by excluding synced workouts from the total burn. | Also prevents double-counting workouts that are included in the overall burn figure. |
| Bonus View | View detailed bonus calculation by tapping the info icon in the log. | Details are also viewable in the exercise section of the log. |
| Disable Bonus | Cannot disable the bonus feature if the watch is connected. | Option to disable the bonus is available in device settings. |
The Importance of Accuracy and How to Manage the Bonus
While the calorie burn bonus offers a dynamic way to track activity, its accuracy is dependent on the reliability of both the app's initial estimates and the fitness tracker's data. User activity levels can influence the initial Target Burn, and devices can sometimes have varying levels of accuracy in measuring total calorie expenditure. Some users on platforms like Reddit suggest ignoring the bonus to stick to a stricter, fixed calorie goal to avoid overestimating calories burned. However, for those who value flexibility, the bonus can be a powerful tool.
To effectively manage the bonus and avoid potential pitfalls:
- Evaluate your activity level: Ensure your PAL setting in Lose It! accurately reflects your typical daily movement. If you are generally sedentary but have a few active days, the bonus will be more relevant than if you're already very active and have your settings reflecting that.
- Monitor your progress: If you find you're not seeing the weight loss results you expect, you might consider eating back only a portion of your bonus calories or not eating them back at all. Some users find they are more successful when they treat the bonus as simply an improved deficit.
- Understand double-counting: Ensure your settings are configured to prevent double-counting. If a specific workout is sent to Lose It! from your tracker, make sure the app correctly identifies it as part of the total burn and doesn't add it as a separate exercise entry. You can check this by looking for a crossed-out workout entry in your exercise log.
Conclusion: Is the Calorie Burn Bonus Right for You?
The calorie burn bonus is an innovative feature that provides a more dynamic and personalized calorie budget for users who link a fitness tracker. It removes some of the guesswork from exercise-related caloric intake adjustments and provides a motivational reward for high activity days. For individuals who are highly structured and prefer consistency, it may be better to ignore the bonus and stick to a consistent, static calorie goal. However, for those who want their diet to adapt to their daily activity level, the calorie burn bonus on Lose It! is a valuable tool that, when managed thoughtfully, can support a healthy and flexible weight loss journey. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the bonus depends on individual goals, consistency, and a realistic understanding of how activity data impacts overall progress. For more information on managing your tracker settings, you can check the official Lose It! support pages.
