MyFitnessPal Add Exercise Class: How-To

Yes, you can add an exercise class to MyFitnessPal by using the app’s exercise logging feature, which lets you search for hundreds of pre-loaded activities or create a custom entry for your specific class. You enter the class duration, and the app estimates calories burned based on your profile and the activity’s metabolic equivalent (MET) value. The result is a logged exercise entry that adjusts your remaining calorie goal for the day.

Where to Find Exercise Logging

Exercise logging is available in both the MyFitnessPal mobile app (iOS and Android) and the website. The location differs slightly by platform:

• Mobile app: Tap the “+â€� (plus) icon on the bottom navigation bar, then select “Exercise.â€� Alternatively, go to the “Diaryâ€� tab and tap “Exerciseâ€� at the top of the diary.
• Website: Click “Diaryâ€� in the top menu, then click the “Exerciseâ€� tab within the diary view. You’ll see an “Add Exerciseâ€� button.

Once you’re in the exercise screen, you can either search for a specific activity or browse categories like “Cardio,� “Strength,� or “Sports.�

How to Add a Specific Class

Most group fitness classes—like Zumba, spin, yoga, Pilates, boot camp, or barre—are already in MyFitnessPal’s database. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Open the exercise log (as described above).
2. Tap the search bar and type the class name (e.g., “Zumba,� “hot yoga,� “spin class�).
3. Review the results. You’ll see multiple entries with different intensity descriptions (e.g., “Zumba, general,� “yoga, power,� “cycling, stationary, vigorous�).
4. Select the entry that best matches your class intensity.
5. Enter the duration in minutes (e.g., 45). The app calculates calories burned using your weight, height, age, and gender.
6. Tap “Save� or the checkmark. The exercise appears in your diary with the calorie estimate.

If you can’t find your exact class, search for a similar activity. For example, a “HIIT boot camp� can be approximated by “calisthenics, vigorous effort� or “circuit training, general.�

Creating a Custom Exercise Entry

When the database doesn’t have your class—or you want to use your own calorie estimate—you can create a custom exercise:

1. In the exercise log, tap “Add Custom Exercise� (usually at the bottom of the search results).
2. Enter the exercise name (e.g., “Barre class – my studio�).
3. Choose a category (Cardio, Strength, etc.).
4. Enter the calories burned per minute. This is the tricky part—you need a reliable estimate. Many wearable devices or studio equipment give a per-session total; divide that by the class length to get per-minute.
5. Save it. Next time you take the same class, it appears in your “Recent� list for quick logging.

Be careful with custom entries: if you enter an inflated calorie burn, you’ll see a larger calorie adjustment, which can slow weight loss if you eat those calories back.

Understanding Calorie Estimates

MyFitnessPal uses a MET (metabolic equivalent) system to estimate calories. Each activity has a MET value based on research compendiums. The formula is:

Calories burned = MET × weight (kg) × duration (hours)

For example, a 150-pound (68 kg) person doing “aerobics, general� (MET ≈ 7.3) for 30 minutes (0.5 hours) would burn about:

7.3 × 68 × 0.5 = 248 calories

That estimate assumes a moderate effort. If you push harder, you burn more; if you take it easy, less. The app doesn’t adjust for fitness level or muscle mass, so treat the number as a starting point, not a precise measurement.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Logging the entire class as high intensity when it includes warm-up/cool-down. Many classes have 5–10 minutes of low-effort stretching. Use a moderate intensity entry for the whole session, or split the time into two entries.
• Double-counting steps or other activity. If your fitness tracker syncs steps and you also log a walking class, you may double-count. Pause sync or manually exclude the class from step count.
• Eating back all exercise calories. MyFitnessPal’s calorie adjustment is often higher than actual burn. A common approach is to eat back only 50–75% of exercise calories to account for estimation error.
• Using “calories burnedâ€� from a machine. Treadmills and ellipticals often overestimate by 10–20%. Use the app’s MET-based value instead, or enter a lower custom number.

Syncing with Wearables and Apps

If you wear a Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, or other tracker, you can connect it to MyFitnessPal. When you do, the app may automatically log exercises detected by the device. However, this can create duplicate entries if you also log manually. To avoid this:

• Turn off “Exercise Calorie Syncâ€� in the app’s partner settings, or
• Only log manually and disable the device’s auto-detection for that class.

Some studio apps (like Peloton or ClassPass) can also sync directly to MyFitnessPal, but this varies by platform. Check the “Apps & Devices� section in MyFitnessPal settings to see what’s currently supported.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t I find my exact class in the search?

MyFitnessPal’s database is extensive but not exhaustive. Search for a generic term like “dance� or “strength training� and pick the closest match. Alternatively, create a custom exercise with your own calorie estimate.

How does MyFitnessPal calculate calories for an exercise class?

It multiplies the MET value for the activity by your body weight in kilograms and the duration in hours. Your weight is taken from your profile, so keep it updated. The MET values come from published compendiums of physical activities.

Should I log strength training classes differently from cardio?

Yes, because MET values differ. A strength class like “resistance training, general� has a lower MET than a vigorous cardio class. Logging strength as cardio will overestimate calories burned. Use the “Strength� category for weightlifting or bodyweight classes.

Can I log a class that I attend but don’t finish?

Yes, just enter the actual duration you participated. For example, if you left a 60-minute class after 40 minutes, log 40 minutes. The app will calculate based on that time.

Does MyFitnessPal count exercise calories toward my daily goal?

Yes, by default, exercise calories are added to your “remaining� calorie goal. You can change this in settings under “Exercise Calories� to not add them, or to add only a percentage. Many users prefer to ignore them to avoid overeating.

Why does my calorie burn look too high or too low?

Estimates are based on average effort. If you’re new to a class, you may burn less; if you’re very fit, you may burn more. Use the app’s number as a baseline, and adjust your custom entry if you consistently find it inaccurate.

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