So what exactly do I calculate?

gabrielleelliott90

I eat 1440 calories to lose 0.5lb per week. This is a healthy amount as I am going to stop at 119lb at my height of 163cm 5'4. I am at a healthy weight now, but I am 14lb away from goal. People have told me, don't calculate/log your walking when I'm walking around town etc as this is part of day to day life. Exercise is something you go out of your way to do. So I log things like zumba. Is this correct because I sure don't want to be undereating whatsoever. I only have 1440 which isn't that much.

DeguelloTex

It depends on how you set your activity level. If you set it to Sedentary, walking around town would probably count as exercise. If you're set to a higher activity level, it probably wouldn't.

gabrielleelliott90

DeguelloTex wrote: »

It depends on how you set your activity level. If you set it to Sedentary, walking around town would probably count as exercise. If you're set to a higher activity level, it probably wouldn't.

Yep I'm sedentary.

DeguelloTex

Then I'd probably count walking around town, since walking around town is beyond the scope of being sedentary.

Realistically, though, the activity levels and exercise burns are all just estimates. If you're living your life like you normally do and you're not losing as much weight as you expect, eat a little less. If you're losing more than you expect or want, eat a little more. Finding the balance for you is ultimately what's going to matter because most people aren't going to match exactly with what any app or online calculator says.

The only calculation that matters is how what you eat and how you move and the weight you lose all interact for you. The other stuff can give a good starting point, but it's only a starting point.

Sued0nim

Get a pedometer, I like the basic fitbit zip because it automatically synchs to MFP ...but you could just buy a cheap pedometer from a sports shop

Take first 3000 or so steps as you reaching sedentary and log anything after that as exercise (but half MFP allowance)

I like my zip because if does it all automatically

gabrielleelliott90

Thanks peeps