[java] Cannot retrieve string(s) from preferences (settings)

I have encountered a problem in my Android application. The problem is that for some reason, I can't retrieve the string of a ListPreference from my preferences.xml file. Here's the code I tried:

private void showUserSettings() {     SharedPreferences sharedPrefs = PreferenceManager             .getDefaultSharedPreferences(this);      try {          String feet = sharedPrefs.getString("feet", "NULL");         int intfeet = Integer.parseInt(feet);         int intinches = Integer.parseInt(sharedPrefs.getString("feet", "NULL").trim());         int weight = Integer.parseInt(sharedPrefs.getString("weight", "NULL").trim());         int age = Integer.parseInt(sharedPrefs.getString("age", "NULL").trim());         double calories;         double inches = ((intfeet * 12) + intinches);         if (gender.equals("Female")) {             //BMR = 655 + ( 4.35 x weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 x height in inches ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )             calories = 655 + (4.35 * weight) + (4.7 * inches) - (4.7 * age);         }         else {             //66 + ( 6.23 x weight in pounds ) + ( 12.7 x height in inches ) - ( 6.8 x age in years )             calories = 66.5 + (6.23 * weight) + (12.7 * inches) - (6.8 * age);         }         //ListPreference listPreference = (ListPreference) findPreference("exercise");         //CharSequence currText = listPreference.getEntry();         String exercise = sharedPrefs.getString("exercise", "NULL").toString();         if (exercise.equals("Sedentary")) {             double sedentary = calories * 1.2;             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), sedentary + "", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();         }         if (exercise.equals("Light")){             double light = calories * 1.375;             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), light + "", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();         }         if (exercise.equals("Moderate")){             double moderate = calories * 1.55;             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), moderate + "", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();         }         if (exercise.equals("Very active")) {             double veryactive = calories * 1.725;             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), veryactive + "", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();         }         if (exercise.equals("Extra active")) {             double extraactive = calories * 1.9;             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), extraactive + "", Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();         }         else {             Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), "Uh oh", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();         }     }catch (Exception e) {         e.printStackTrace();     } } 

Whenever it gets to the second if/else statement, it directly goes to the else statement. I don't know why it is doing this. I have searched SO and Google, but with no avail. I basically hit a brick wall. Any help regarding this problem would be highly appreciated.