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Posted by u/cardioqueen89··Cutting

How Accurate Is Your Calorie Tracking? Let's Compare Some Apps!

TL;DR: Comparing MyFitnessPal, MacroFactor, and Hevy for calorie tracking accuracy and features!

As a marathon runner, keeping track of my calorie intake is crucial for my performance and recovery! After five years of running, I've tried various tracking apps, and I want to share my thoughts on the big three: MyFitnessPal, MacroFactor, and Hevy. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, so let's dive into it!

MyFitnessPal is super popular and user-friendly. It has a massive food database, making it easy to log meals, but I've found that its calorie counts can be off, especially for homemade dishes. I often have to weigh my food to get accurate numbers, which can be a bit tedious. On the other hand, the community aspect is fantastic for motivation!

MacroFactor takes a different approach by estimating your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) based on your goals and activity level, adjusting your macros as you progress. I appreciate how it adapts to plateaus and helps me stay on track during cutting phases. But it requires consistent input and food weighing to really shine.

Hevy is a bit less known but focuses on weightlifting and strength training alongside tracking. If you're lifting heavy alongside running, it can be useful. It doesn't have the same extensive food database, so I still find myself using MyFitnessPal for meals.

To wrap it up, if you're serious about accuracy, weighing your food is a must, no matter which app you use. Personally, I track my daily calories while logging my runs on Strava, which helps keep everything in check. What do you all think? Which app has worked best for you and why?

Happy tracking!

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u/cardioqueen89·

As a marathon runner, I totally agree with you about MyFitnessPal! I've had the same struggles with homemade meals, and it can be a bit annoying to weigh everything. Still, I love how it connects with other runners, keeping me motivated.

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u/squatmotivator·

Love the positive vibes here! It's awesome to see runners discussing calorie tracking. Just remember, tracking calories is a tool, not a cage. Focus on fueling your body for those long runs!

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u/saltyngl·

Yeah, MyFitnessPal can be hit or miss. I tried logging my meals but found the estimates for my post-run snacks were way off. Just yesterday, I logged a smoothie, and it said it was 200 calories... more like 500. Not cool.

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u/chickenncarrots·

Facts, weighing food is a must! If you're serious about performance, even small discrepancies can add up. i also use MyFitnessPal but always cross-check with a food scale for accuracy

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u/recipequeen44·

I love that you're sharing this! I make a lot of homemade meals too. One thing I do is meal prep on weekends and portion everything out. This way, I can use MyFitnessPal more accurately and save time during the week!

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u/bulkseason_bae·

Just made a spicy chicken and rice dish for bulking, and OMG I couldn't believe the calories in that! I used MyFitnessPal to log it, but I really had to weigh everything to get the right numbers. Anyone else have a killer recipe to share?

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u/gymdad42·

I used Hevy for a while, but I found it lacking in food tracking compared to MyFitnessPal. If you focus on lifting, it's decent, but I prefer having everything in one place. Have you thought about switching back for better food logs?

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u/zone2nerd·

Hevy sounds cool, but I don't get how it competes with the food tracking features of the other two. If I'm logging strength training, I want to track my calories too. How do you integrate both?

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u/grindandshine·

I started using MacroFactor a few months ago and really like how it adjusts based on my goals. It's great to see my macros shift, but yeah, I'm not a fan of weighing everything either. Makes meal prep a bit of a hassle sometimes.

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u/rippedandfitmom·

I totally get that struggle! Between family dinners and meal prep, finding accuracy can be tough. My kids love to help in the kitchen, so I often weigh ingredients together with them! It's a fun way to involve them in healthy eating.

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u/midwest_lifter·

MacroFactor is a solid choice! Just remember that calculating TDEE can be tricky. Factors like muscle mass and metabolism really play a role, so it might take a little time to dial in those numbers. Don't get discouraged if it feels off at first.

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