By default, MyNetDiary adds half of your logged exercise calories back into your daily food calorie budget because exercise calories are estimates, not measurements.
No app, gym machine, smartwatch, or fitness tracker directly measures the energy you burn. Each of them calculates an estimate based on inputs such as body weight, activity type, duration, movement, and sometimes heart rate. These estimates are useful for tracking trends, but they are not precise for every individual on every day.
Adding back only a portion creates a buffer against two kinds of uncertainty: the accuracy of the exercise estimate itself, and your body's individual response to that exercise.
Food calories are estimates too. Under FDA regulations, the calorie figure on a Nutrition Facts label may legitimately differ from a product's actual content. Uncertainty exists on both sides of the equation.
To be transparent: there is no validated scientific equation behind the exact figure of 50%. It is a practical, conservative starting point intended to reduce the risk of eating back more than was actually expended, which is a common reason weight-loss progress stalls. It is not a claim that anyone receives only half the benefit of their exercise.
Our dietitians cover this in more depth here: Should you eat back exercise calories?
Can I change the percentage?
Yes. The add-back percentage is adjustable from 0% to 100%, and this is a Premium feature.
- Tap the Me tab.
- Tap My Weight Goal & Plan, then Exercise Plan.
- Adjust Add Exercise to Calorie Budget — set your preferred percentage, or turn it off so exercise never changes your food budget.
| Setting | Best suited to |
|---|---|
| 0% / Off | Steady weight loss on a fixed daily budget |
| 50% (default) | Most people losing weight while exercising regularly |
| 100% | Weight maintenance, weight gain, or high-volume training |
How to tell whether the setting is right for you
Judge it by longer-term trends rather than any single workout. Over three to four weeks, compare your actual weekly weight change with your planned rate, and note your energy and hunger levels on active days. If your results match your plan, the setting is working for you. If not, it may be worth adjusting.