Do you count your steps as exercise?
Terpnista84
Posts: 517 Member
I walk a lot to and from work and also to the gym. Sometimes I'll walk during my lunch break as well. On a heavy walking day I can burn up to 800 calories from walking alone. I don't eat my exercise calories back and stick to 1,500 calories a day or less. I workout 5 times a week combining strength and HIIT for 40-60 mins. I feel like the walking calories are overestimating my total burn because it's part of my normal routine so I have turned that feature off for now. Should I count those calories as exercise and are they a factor in my overall deficit.
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I have my tracker to do all this for me.
I set my activity level to sedentary (even tho I am not) enabled negative adjustments and away I go...so yes I count those calories.
As for your walking calories I think that depends on where you are getting the burns and how that is setup.
For example if you are using a tracker and it's setup correctly with your height weight age etc...then probably are fine.
ETA: I only use true exercise as exercise and logging them. If it's just me going to the grocery store I don't log it as a workout but if I go for a purposeful walk for exercise I do log that as exercise on my tracker.8 -
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IAmSimplyKriss wrote: »I dont. I am in maintenance and my calories are 1820 for that. My bmr is 1320 and with all the walking i do at work i burn about 500 to 600 calories which to me if i took my bmr + walking calories burned it adds up pretty close to my maintenance calories
That is part of your regular daily activity tho.
The OP is eating appx 700 calories a day net which isn't healthy....even at half it's still under 1200.1 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.1
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I do what @SezxyStef does--set MFP to sedentary with negative adjustments. I use Runkeeper to track my runs, and it automatically logs any walk of 15 minutes or more as well, and syncs to MFP.0
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No, I don't. I eat a set amount for maintaining, and however much I exercise is how big my deficit will be. No need to worry about eating back, for me.0
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Fitbit zip linked to MFP adjusts my activity level automatically based on my steps (but I get about 3-500 over sedentary from it)
I log my true exercise as in workouts separately into Fitbit and that synchs too2 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped3 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
My steps per day varies wildly from 3,000-15,000+. I wouldn't assume it's usually the same every day for most people.11 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped
I was answering the question asked in thread title. Though it is actually very true for many people. They worry wayyyy to much about being over/under on a daily basis. The idea of this place in general is to be able to eat without counting calories eventually.2 -
deluxmary2000 wrote: »No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
My steps per day varies wildly from 3,000-15,000+. I wouldn't assume it's usually the same every day for most people.
But I was referring to me, not you. Also a weekly average, not a daily tally. I would hazard if you did average you're weekly steps it would be closer than you think. What is your weekly average the last two months?0 -
Easy solution: if you're losing faster than scheduled, then increase your activity level setting by one notch here in MFP. Should increase your base calories slightly.
All calories burned in a day factor into your deficit. Whether you label them as 'bmr calories' or 'exercise calories' or 'regular daily activity calories' does not change that. If your body uses energy, it is burning calories. And it is always using energy, the question becomes how much...2 -
I use a fitbit, and only log actual "exercise", while letting the fitbit get the steps in...but if I go for a purposeful walk, that's exercise to me.1
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No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
I have to disagree with this...On a Saturday with hubs, I'm lucky to get in 4000 steps (driving, sitting around all day)...but on a Wednesday I could easily get over 13000 with a workout....not all days are the same. There's nothing OCD about wanting to keep track and be aware of your daily activity and fluctuations.4 -
I count my steps as exercise because they are exercise. My activity level is set as sedentary, but most days I walk anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 steps, and my Fitbit ends up giving me up to a 700kcal adjustment.
And if I try to get away with not eating that adjustment for a few days in a row, I end up with terrible headaches and dizziness, and lose much faster than my expected 2lbs/week.5 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped
I was answering the question asked in thread title. Though it is actually very true for many people. They worry wayyyy to much about being over/under on a daily basis. Tthe idea of this place in general is to be able to eat without counting calories eventually.
This may be true for you but I'm personally quite happy continuing to count calories ad infinitum....I'm a data geek ...love that I now have 2 and a half years data (including 19 months maintenance) to look back on...
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I have my activity set to light activity because I get a minimum 8k steps a day. I don't log them because I'm already counting them that way. I log my Insanity workouts as extra activity.1
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No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped
I was answering the question asked in thread title. Though it is actually very true for many people. They worry wayyyy to much about being over/under on a daily basis. Tthe idea of this place in general is to be able to eat without counting calories eventually.
This may be true for you but I'm personally quite happy continuing to count calories ad infinitum....I'm a data geek ...love that I now have 2 and a half years data (including 19 months maintenance) to look back on...
I will also agree with this. I will be counting/logging indefinitely as I suck at proper portion sizing. Even after I meet my goal, I will be logging just to make sure I don't go over my maintenance.0 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped
I was answering the question asked in thread title. Though it is actually very true for many people. They worry wayyyy to much about being over/under on a daily basis. Tthe idea of this place in general is to be able to eat without counting calories eventually.
This may be true for you but I'm personally quite happy continuing to count calories ad infinitum....I'm a data geek ...love that I now have 2 and a half years data (including 19 months maintenance) to look back on...
It's true for the majority that I know here as we aren't that worried about a calorie or losing weight, more specifically to other goals. I do understand many people are here because they have a problem gainng/losing. I hope you have fun data
. 0 -
... how do you know you speak for the majority?
How do you know you aren't the minority in any subset just because that's your viewpoint doesn't mean it is widely shared ..perhaps the majority on MFP do want to keep calorie counting
It's just an odd way to phrase any subjective opinion to be honest, without the info to support it ..just dem feels4 -
JustMissTracy wrote: »No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
I have to disagree with this...On a Saturday with hubs, I'm lucky to get in 4000 steps (driving, sitting around all day)...but on a Wednesday I could easily get over 13000 with a workout....not all days are the same. There's nothing OCD about wanting to keep track and be aware of your daily activity and fluctuations.
Hence why I said weekly average. One doesn't gain fat from one or two days of caloric overages in a week. Weight yes(which will flutuate), fat no. I've been in the game for over three decades, and it's way more simple than people who only been watching macros/calories for a couple years make it.0 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
This is really not true for many people you know
Also if I get to the evening and have been a lazy *aardvark* then the dog gets a walk and I get my calories upped
I was answering the question asked in thread title. Though it is actually very true for many people. They worry wayyyy to much about being over/under on a daily basis. The idea of this place in general is to be able to eat without counting calories eventually.
I have to agree with this. I have been in maintenance going on 3.5 years and don't log...I don't get all wrapped up in this many steps or that many steps or OMG, that many calories, etc...I just do the things that lean, healthy, and fit people do and the rest takes care of itself.
My activity can definitely vary from day to day...but if I look at it all as an average over, say a week...well, it all just kind of evens out as this overall level of activity...I really don't like the idea of drowning in the day to day minutia...I'd go insane.3 -
I have my activity set to light activity because I get a minimum 8k steps a day. I don't log them because I'm already counting them that way. I log my Insanity workouts as extra activity.
Same. My activity level is set to include all the daily walking I do. When I do exercise on purpose, I log it. If I didn't include my walking calories, I'd be working with 1200 calorie limit each day. Yeah, no.1 -
No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
That's fine for people who use TDEE and do walk the same amount each day. However, MFP uses NEAT. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p11 -
As another poster said, I have a fitbit flex that tracks my steps.
I have my activity set as SEDENTARY and have negative calories active - so as the day progresses - I get more calories to eat (or not) based on the walking my fitbit logs.
In that respect, yes I count my walking... BUT if I set out in the evenings to walk - I use the MapMyWalk app - and that is counted as separate exercise - and is NOT double counted by fitbit either.
I usually do my walks for exercise in the evenings - and get back late enough that I don't eat any of the calories back anyway...1 -
I have a fitbit and definitely eat back the calories I burn from walking. I've had the summer off work and some days I've walked for 3 hours. That earns me some ice cream or a few slices of toast in the evening!1
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... how do you know you speak for the majority?
How do you know you aren't the minority in any subset just because that's your viewpoint doesn't mean it is widely shared ..perhaps the majority on MFP do want to keep calorie counting
It's just an odd way to phrase any subjective opinion to be honest, without the info to support it ..just dem feelsIt's true for the majority that I know here as we aren't that worried about a calorie or losing weight, more specifically to other goals. I do understand many people are here because they have a problem gainng/losing. I hope you have fun data.
This is what I stated, not the majority of MFP. I would hazard the majority of people sign up for MFP fail, not that is a bad thing. We learn from a failures. Though a lot of the advice you hear on here from vets is ignored for those who give advice who really don't have a great track record or have had great sucess. Part of the problem of MFP. People want to hear certain answers even if they aren't true.
If you honestly have a goal to log for the rest of your life, I think you are just making it hard on yourself when you don't have to. Your life though, just my bit advice as I try to give back to the fitness community just as a extremely successful person who became Mr Universe as well as many people I know here still do for me. I hope things go well for you and everybody that is working for their goals.
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I count mine because walking is my exercise. I wear a Fitbit and although my job is very active, I don't count those steps towards my exercise. When I venture outside to do my walk after work, I turn the GPS on Fitbit and log that as such0
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kshama2001 wrote: »No need to. I know my rough TDEE with all my weekly activities on average. It seems very O.C.D. to worry about how much you walk since that is usually the same amount every day in general.
That's fine for people who use TDEE and do walk the same amount each day. However, MFP uses NEAT. http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818082/exercise-calories-again-wtf/p1
What I'm saying is I don't walk the same amount every day, though my activities average out therefore I dont find it necessary to log every little movement I do. MFP has a lot of defaults or standards that shouldn't be used, a quick look at the exercise calories is proof enough. From what I read most people just adjust them eventually. Same principle, a lot of the successful people I know do here. Though we tend to go with the flow and if we care to drop weight or gain we just adjust if needed just on a smaller scale.0 -
StaciMarie1974 wrote: »Easy solution: if you're losing faster than scheduled, then increase your activity level setting by one notch here in MFP. Should increase your base calories slightly.
All calories burned in a day factor into your deficit. Whether you label them as 'bmr calories' or 'exercise calories' or 'regular daily activity calories' does not change that. If your body uses energy, it is burning calories. And it is always using energy, the question becomes how much...
Cosigned. Walking is definitely exercise which counts towards Calories Out.
However, if someone is not eating a considerable amount exercise calories back and not losing faster than expected, they are probably making errors in their food logging and underestimating Calories In.2
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