How is my calorie goal calculated?
Calorie Counter starts with your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), which is the minimum amount of energy your body needs to maintain essential functions at rest, such as breathing, circulation, and brain function.
The app calculates your BMR using the Cunningham formula and your Lean Body Mass (LBM), which is estimated using the Boer formula.
BMI is not used to calculate your calorie goal. It is shown only as a general reference.
Your BMR is then combined with your activity and calorie deficit to determine your calorie goals.
When you choose Activity Tracking, the app shows this calculation during setup:
Gross Calorie Goal + Recommended Activity = Average Net Calorie Goal
Gross Calorie Goal is your baseline calorie goal before activity is added.
Recommended Activity is the amount of activity recommended based on your quiz answers
Average Net Calorie Goal shows the average daily goal when that recommended activity is included.
The numbers are based on your personal information, so they will be different for each person.
Why does my calorie goal change?
With Activity Tracking, your calorie goal changes according to the actual activity you log in the app or sync through Apple Health.
The Average Net Calorie Goal shown during setup is based on your Recommended Activity. It does not mean that your daily goal will always stay at that number.
For example, your setup might show:
1,130 Gross Calorie Goal + 440 Recommended Activity = 1,570 Average Net Calorie Goal
If you later log 700 calories of actual activity, your current goal will be adjusted based on those 700 calories instead:
Gross Calorie Goal + Actual Logged Activity = Current Calorie Goal
So your current goal may be higher or lower than the Average Net Calorie Goal shown during setup.
✍️ Note: The Recommended Activity is used to calculate your Average Net Calorie Goal. Your actual logged activity is what determines your changing daily goal.
Which number should I follow?
When using Activity Tracking, follow the current calorie goal shown on the Daily tab.
This number updates as you log workouts and other activity. You do not need to manually add or subtract workout calories because the app adjusts your goal automatically.
The same approach applies to your protein, carbs, and fat goals, which can also change as your activity changes.
Want a more consistent calorie goal?
If you prefer your calorie and macro goals to remain more stable instead of changing with each logged workout, switch to Estimation mode.
To change the mode:
Go to the Progress tab in the footer menu.
Tap the toggle icon in the Goal section:
Complete the short quiz and select the option to separate workout calories from your daily calorie goal:
You can also change this in your Profile settings at the top left of the main screen→ Energy Expenditure → select Estimation:
With Estimation, your typical activity and exercise information from the quiz is already included in your calorie calculation, so individual workouts do not increase your goal in the same way.
Can I change my BMR or Gross Calorie Goal?
Currently, there is no option to manually enter a custom BMR or Gross Calorie Goal. These values are calculated automatically based on on your personal information.
📌 Quick takeaway
Gross Calorie Goal + Recommended Activity = Average Net Calorie Goal
This is the calculation shown during setup.
With Activity Tracking, your daily goal then changes according to your actual activity:
Gross Calorie Goal + Actual Logged Activity = Current Calorie Goal
The current goal on the Daily tab reflects the activity you've actually logged for that day.