This article explains why MyFitnessPal doesn't convert steps into calories directly, and what you can do to get credit for extra walking.
Steps are a great signal, but they're not calories on their own. Here's how to turn a good walk into a logged one.
Currently, there is not a way to convert your step count into calories burned, unless you've connected MyFitnessPal to one of our integration partners. Many partners can automatically log burned calories from your walking or other activities.
Workarounds
If you take an additional walk specifically for exercise, here's how to get credit for it:
- Log it as Walking in your Exercise diary, and record the number of minutes walked.
- If your pedometer reports calories burned directly, add a custom exercise to your database and call it Pedometer.
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If you'd rather chart your steps over time instead of logging them as exercise, add steps as a measurement to track.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my activity level setting already account for daily steps?
Yes, to some degree. Your profile's activity level factors in typical daily movement, which is why we recommend logging only additional, intentional walks as exercise.
Which is more accurate: logging Walking or a custom Pedometer exercise?
A custom exercise using your pedometer's own calorie estimate is usually more accurate than our general Walking calculation, since it reflects your device's own tracking.
Can a fitness tracker sync steps directly into my diary?
Yes, if it's one of our integration partners. Check the integrations page for supported devices.