Exercise Tracking
Log workouts with persistent timers, research-grade activity compendium search, and multi-exercise tracking. Complete the energy balance equation with validated expenditure data. Available on iOS and Android.
Quick Log Interface
The exercise quick log uses a 5-card asymmetric layout optimized for thumb ergonomics on mobile devices. Each card represents a major exercise category, positioned for easy one-handed reach.
Cardio
Running, cycling, swimming, rowing, elliptical, stair climbing, and walking. Automatically tracks distance, pace, and heart rate when synced with fitness devices.
Strength
Weightlifting, resistance training, and circuit training. Supports multi-exercise sessions with detailed tracking of sets, reps, and total weight lifted across all exercises.
Sports
Basketball, tennis, soccer, and other team or recreational sports. Tracks game duration and estimated calories burned based on sport-specific MET values.
Flexibility
Yoga, Pilates, stretching, and mobility work. Often overlooked but critical for recovery and contributing to NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis).
Thumb-Optimized Layout
The cards are arranged in order [Flexibility, Cardio/Sports, Strength/Weights] to place the most frequently accessed categories (Cardio and Strength) in the natural thumb reach zone for right-handed users, while keeping all cards accessible.
Persistent Timers
When you start an exercise session, a persistent timer begins running in the background. This timer:
- Continues tracking even if you close the app or switch to other activities
- Displays elapsed time in real-time when you return to the exercise screen
- Supports pause/resume for rest periods or interruptions
- Shows as an active timer banner at the top of the quick log screen
- Automatically calculates calories burned based on duration and activity type
Active Timer Banner
When an exercise timer is running, a banner appears at the top showing:
- Exercise name (e.g., "5K Morning Run")
- Current elapsed time in MM:SS or HH:MM:SS format
- Tap to open the timer modal for pause, resume, or finish actions
Activity Compendium Search
Eatomate uses the Compendium of Physical Activities, a research-grade database of MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) values for over 775 exercises. This ensures accurate calorie expenditure calculations based on peer-reviewed research.
What are METs?
A MET is the ratio of your working metabolic rate to your resting metabolic rate. One MET is defined as the energy cost of sitting quietly, approximately 1 kcal per kg of body weight per hour.
Example MET Values
Calorie Calculation Formula
Eatomate calculates calories burned using the standard exercise physiology formula:
Calories = MET × weight (kg) × duration (hours)
Example: 70kg person running for 30 minutes at moderate intensity
Calories = 8.0 × 70 × 0.5 = 280 kcal
Custom Activities
Beyond the quick log categories, you can log any activity from the compendium by searching for it by name. For example:
- Rock climbing (MET: 8.0)
- Kayaking (MET: 5.0)
- Boxing (MET: 12.0)
- Gardening (MET: 4.0)
- Shoveling snow (MET: 7.0)
- Playing with children (MET: 5.8)
This comprehensive database ensures accurate tracking even for uncommon activities, contributing to the most precise TDEE calculation possible.
Multi-Exercise Weight Sessions
For strength training sessions that include multiple exercises (e.g., chest and triceps day), the "Weights" card allows you to log a complete workout session tracking:
- Total session duration
- All exercises performed (stored as an array)
- Total sets completed across all exercises
- Total reps completed
- Total weight lifted (sum of all sets × reps × weight)
Why Track Total Volume?
Total volume (sets × reps × weight) is the gold standard metric for progressive overload in strength training. By tracking this over time, you can verify that you are consistently increasing training stimulus, which is required for muscle growth and strength gains.
Fitness Device Integration
Eatomate can sync exercise data from popular fitness platforms and devices:
Apple Health
Automatically imports workouts from Apple Watch, iPhone, and any apps that write to HealthKit.
Google Fit
Syncs activities from Wear OS devices and Android apps that integrate with Google Fit.
Strava
Imports runs, rides, swims, and other activities tracked on Strava with full GPS data.
Garmin
Connects to Garmin Connect for data from Forerunner, Fenix, and other Garmin devices.
When activities are synced from external sources, Eatomate uses the device-reported calories if available (especially accurate from heart rate monitors), or falls back to MET-based calculations using the activity type and duration.
Recent Activity Feed
Below the quick log cards, a "Recent Activity" section shows your last 5 workouts, displaying:
- Activity name (e.g., "5K Morning Run", "Chest & Triceps Workout")
- Duration in minutes
- Calories burned
- Relative time (e.g., "2 hours ago", "Yesterday")
This provides quick context about your recent training volume and helps identify patterns in your exercise routine.
Intensity Levels
For activities where intensity significantly affects calorie burn (running, cycling, swimming), you can specify an intensity level:
Low Intensity
Less than 50% max heart rate, conversation easily possible
Moderate Intensity
50-70% max heart rate, breathing faster but can still talk
High Intensity
70-85% max heart rate, hard to maintain conversation
Vigorous Intensity
Greater than 85% max heart rate, maximum effort, cannot talk
When synced with heart rate monitors, intensity is automatically classified based on your actual heart rate during the activity.
Closing the Energy Balance Loop
Exercise tracking completes the energy balance equation by measuring the EAT (Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) component of TDEE:
TDEE = BMR + NEAT + TEF + EAT
By tracking all four components, Eatomate provides the most accurate TDEE calculation available outside of a metabolic ward. This feeds into the complete energy balance equation:
ΔBody Composition = Energyin − TDEE
Physics-verified intake + validated expenditure = closed-loop metabolic system
Tips for Accurate Tracking
Use the Timer
Start the timer when you begin exercising, not when you finish. This captures the actual time spent moving, not your recollection afterward. The timer accounts for rest periods when calculating MET values.
Sync Fitness Devices
Heart rate monitors provide significantly more accurate calorie estimates than MET formulas alone. Connect your fitness tracker for the best data quality.
Log Consistently
Track all intentional exercise, even short sessions. A 15-minute walk burns ~70 calories, which matters over weeks and months when validating your energy balance.
Check the Dashboard
The exercise dashboard shows your weekly and monthly patterns, helping you identify if you are overtraining, undertraining, or hitting your targets consistently.