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Decent Estimate for Non-Standard Exercise?

ChrysalisCove
Posts: 975 Member
I don’t get much enjoyment from the traditional “gym workout” style of exercise, but I do want to increase my activity level. One way I’m accomplishing that is through volunteering. I’ve done several walking-based activities, which were straightforward to log, but today I am a bit stumped.
I participated in a beach cleanup where I spent 90min walking in loose, pebbly sand, occasionally hauling 40-50lb bags up the length of the beach (about 1/2km).
Walking at a slow pace is estimated at 380cal, & I’ve read that walking in sand burns 20-50% more. Would you say 500cal is a decent estimate?
I don’t want to over-estimate, but don’t want to sell myself short either...
I participated in a beach cleanup where I spent 90min walking in loose, pebbly sand, occasionally hauling 40-50lb bags up the length of the beach (about 1/2km).
Walking at a slow pace is estimated at 380cal, & I’ve read that walking in sand burns 20-50% more. Would you say 500cal is a decent estimate?
I don’t want to over-estimate, but don’t want to sell myself short either...
0
Replies
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Go with walking at a slow pace.
Is there any benefit to randomly choosing a higher calorie burn?1 -
Go with walking at a slow pace.
Is there any benefit to randomly choosing a higher calorie burn?
No, but there is a danger in vastly under-estimating: dropping my intake too low. I know what 90-120min of walking feels like and this was much more physically intense. I plan to do this on a fairly regular basis, so it’s important to me that it be reasonably accurate.
I suppose next time I could borrow my spouse’s FitBit. I’m pretty far under for today anyhow, and it’s evening so I don’t think I’ll be eating anything back regardless. I’ll just use any difference as cushion until I can get a more accurate estimate.0 -
I'd call it 380, if it's actually 500 then that's 120 cals of extra deficit that day, or 360 cals of extra deficit over the week (if doing it regularly is 3 x a week) If you lose half a pound more than expected after 2 weeks then you know you're under estimating by 120 cals....0
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ChrysalisCove wrote: »Go with walking at a slow pace.
Is there any benefit to randomly choosing a higher calorie burn?
No, but there is a danger in vastly under-estimating: dropping my intake too low. I know what 90-120min of walking feels like and this was much more physically intense. I plan to do this on a fairly regular basis, so it’s important to me that it be reasonably accurate.
I suppose next time I could borrow my spouse’s FitBit. I’m pretty far under for today anyhow, and it’s evening so I don’t think I’ll be eating anything back regardless. I’ll just use any difference as cushion until I can get a more accurate estimate.
From your earlier post: "Walking at a slow pace is estimated at 380cal, & I’ve read that walking in sand burns 20-50% more. Would you say 500cal is a decent estimate?"
Underestimating calories by 120 a day will not result in anything "dangerously low". Remember the are allow ranges in the measurement of calories in foods and the estimates of calorie burn by individuals is even a bigger range.
You MAY lose a bit more than straight walking but nothing to approach a danger.1 -
Theoldguy1 wrote: »ChrysalisCove wrote: »Go with walking at a slow pace.
Is there any benefit to randomly choosing a higher calorie burn?
No, but there is a danger in vastly under-estimating: dropping my intake too low. I know what 90-120min of walking feels like and this was much more physically intense. I plan to do this on a fairly regular basis, so it’s important to me that it be reasonably accurate.
I suppose next time I could borrow my spouse’s FitBit. I’m pretty far under for today anyhow, and it’s evening so I don’t think I’ll be eating anything back regardless. I’ll just use any difference as cushion until I can get a more accurate estimate.
From your earlier post: "Walking at a slow pace is estimated at 380cal, & I’ve read that walking in sand burns 20-50% more. Would you say 500cal is a decent estimate?"
Underestimating calories by 120 a day will not result in anything "dangerously low". Remember the are allow ranges in the measurement of calories in foods and the estimates of calorie burn by individuals is even a bigger range.
You MAY lose a bit more than straight walking but nothing to approach a danger.
That. Unless you've already set yourself an overly aggressive weight loss goal (don't!).0
This discussion has been closed.
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