Energy Target

Learn about:

1. How to set a Weight Goal 
2. How to set a Custom Energy Target
3. Whether you'd like to Add Expenditure Above Baseline to Energy Target
4. Whether you'd like to be in Target or Balance mode

Weight Goal

By default, your Energy Target is calculated from your Weight Goal. 

To adjust your Weight Goal:

1. Go to More > Targets + Profile
2. Scroll down to Weight Goal
3. Tap on Update to enter your Current Weight
4. Tap on Update to enter your Weight Goal > Next
5. A separate window will pop up 
   
   
   
   
6. Use the + and - buttons to adjust your weight loss/gain rate. This will automatically calculate either a daily Energy Deficit (if you'd like to lose weight) or Energy Surplus (if you'd like to gain weight). This will also determine your Goal Forecast.
7. Apply

You will now see an overview of your Energy Deficit/Surplus, Energy Target, Goal Forecast, and Weight Goal Timeline. 

Custom Energy Target

If you would prefer to set your own custom fixed energy target, you can do so by:

1. Go to More > Targets + Profile
2. Tap on Advanced Settings
3. Toggle on Custom Energy Target 
4. Enter your custom value in the text box

Add Energy Expenditure Above Baseline to Energy Target

You also have the option to include any energy expenditure above baseline to your Energy Target:

1. Go to More > Targets + Profile
2. Tap on Advanced Settings
3. Toggle on/off Add Expenditure Above Baseline to Energy Target. This setting adds any energy burned above your Baseline Activity Level (from both exercise and general activity) to your daily Energy Target. 

For example, let's say you've set a Weight Goal (to Maintain Weight). At the beginning of the day: 

• BMR = 1394 kcal
• Baseline Activity = 279 kcal 
• Total Burned = 1673 kcal​

Energy Target = Baseline Target (1673) - Consumed (0) = 1673kcal

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If you have exercised (either logged exercise or imported general activity from a device), this will adjust your Burned calories.

For example, if you did 60 minutes of road biking (equaling 500 kcal):

• BMR = 1394
• Adjusted Baseline Activity = 261*
• Exercise = 500
• Total Burned = 2155 kcal

*Note that the Baseline Activity has been adjusted to account for time spent exercising. Learn more here.

Now your Energy Target is:

​​Energy Target = Baseline Target (1673) + Expenditure Above Baseline (483) - Consumed (0) = 2155 kcal. 

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Here's how we calculate Expenditure Above Baseline:

• Baseline Activity = 279 kcal
• Exercise + Adjusted Baseline Activity = 761 kcal
• Expenditure Above Baseline = 761 - 279 = 482 kcal

This ensures that your baseline energy target is static until you exercise above and beyond your baseline for the day. Therefore if you toggle OFF include exercise, your energy target will be the same as your baseline. 

Energy Target or Balance

We have two distinct modes for the third circle in your Energy Summary: Energy Target and Energy Balance. 

Energy Target

Target Mode is meant to show you, in reference to your target, how much you have remaining or how over your target you are.

If you have set a Weight Goal, the calculation is:

Energy Target = Baseline Target (+/- Weight Goal if you have set this) + Expenditure Above Baseline (if you have set this) - Consumed

If you have set a Custom Energy Target, the calculation is:

Energy Target = Custom Energy Target + Expenditure Above Baseline (if you have set this) - Consumed

Energy Balance

Balance Mode is simply meant to show you the basic energy balance of Expenditure - Consumed. 

It will tell you if you are in a deficit or a surplus based on Consumed vs Expenditure, regardless of if you've set a Custom Energy Target or Weight Goal. 

You can switch between Target and Balance mode by:

1. Go to More > Targets + Profile
2. Tap on Advanced Settings
3. Toggle on Target or Balance mode

You can also toggle between these two settings by tapping on Target or Balance in the top right corner of your Energy Summary in your Diary.

Please note, if you have set Balance mode, your weight goal/custom energy target will still be applied to your energy target in the macronutrient targets section of your diary.

Reset Defaults

If you would like to restore the defaults used in Cronometer click the Reset back to defaults button in the top right corner of the Energy Target section. This will return your settings to Weight Goal settings with a goal to maintain weight.

Learn about Energy Target settings on the mobile app