activity level

zfitgal

When setting my activity I don't know how to set it. I work out heavy 6 days a week, for one hour a day. The rest of the day I go to work which is somewhat active, I'm on my feet and moving, then u gonto puck up my three year old daughter, I do house work, park etc. Should I put active or very active?

rosebarnalice

I go with setting my activity level at "sedentary" and then adding my exercise when I do it.

Even though I "think" I'm "very active", the truth is that this approach has been pretty spot on in terms of MFP's predictions about my weight loss. I think if I had set my activity level higher and then not logged my workouts that it would ahve been less accurate.

zfitgal

And do you eat your exercise points? Because I was eating about 1200-1300 calorie diet and I haven't been able to lose a pound for 5 months. I fluctuate between three numbers. I don't know what to do, do I need to increase my calories? I just took a break from the gym for a few days and I'm breaking from diet (I feel like I'm eating everything in sight). All I want to do is get back on track...any insight or suggestions. ..

zfitgal

I have been doing weight watchers that brought me this low calorie diet..im new to myfitness pal...

sammyliftsandeats

Do you have a food scale to measure your food? That is the #1 tool for me.

I know weight watchers gave 0 point values for certain fruits and vegetables...they DO have calories, so it is important to log them accurately.

Yes, 100g of spinach isn't going to break the calorie bank for most but if you have only a small amount to lose, there is less room for error.

malibu927

I would start at lightly active first. Your activity level doesn't include exercise in it, which is why it gets logged separately and you eat a portion of those calories back. Try that and judge your weight loss over the next month (while logging everything with as close to 100% accuracy as possible...if you haven't been losing on 1200 calories, you're eating more than you think). If you lose faster than expected, then move up to active and repeat.

zfitgal

I do alot of heavy lifting 1200 is way to low for me! I would never eat that low, I was thinking of eating 1700-1800.

sammyliftsandeats

zfitgal wrote: »

I do alot of heavy lifting 1200 is way to low for me! I would never eat that low, I was thinking of eating 1700-1800.

http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

You can try this calculator to figure out what is good for you.

Then you can custom set your calorie goal.

Keep in mind, this calculator is taking into account all of your activity whereas the MFP formula doesn't factor in the exercise, but it does factor in what type of job you have and general everyday activity.

zfitgal

Thank you, I did it. It said I need to eat 1680 to lose 1.5 lbs a week. My fitness pal says 1440, then when I include exercise it adds up to 1680 too.

zfitgal

Does mfp recalculate weight for every certain amount of pounds lost?

zfitgal

Also, on days I don't work out I should just keep it the calories mfp tells me?

sammyliftsandeats

zfitgal wrote: »

Does mfp recalculate weight for every certain amount of pounds lost?

Yes, as your caloric needs will change as you lose weight.

zfitgal wrote: »

Also, on days I don't work out I should just keep it the calories mfp tells me?

If you are using the calorie count MFP gave you and adding in exercise to get the number that Scooby gave you, then on rest days, you can just eat the standard MFP calorie number minus exercise calories.

malibu927

zfitgal wrote: »

Does mfp recalculate weight for every certain amount of pounds lost?

Not automatically, but it should prompt you to update your goals after 10 pounds lost without updating.