How to determine activity level

serinaster

I average about 6000- 7000 steps a week with low of 3000 and highs of 7-8000. I noticed initially MFP was giving me calories based on steps taken but now I only get workout calories. I set my level at sedentary at it gives me 1200 calories and 1400 for active.

What should be my activity level settings? I'm currently at 1200 calories and I eat back my exercise calories that range from 200 -400. I had gone from 161 lbs to 155.5 and now am creeping back up again at 157 today. I might be PMS'ing as I've been craving and eating junk food (girl scout cookies, gummy candy here and there).

serinaster

FTR I started weighing all my food so I know I'm not eating more calories than I log.

Panini911

it may just be water fluctuations. i tend up and down over short periods but over two weeks I an clearly trending down. Maybe try a weight trending app (I use happy scale)

i also include "junk food" daily and bigger treats on weekends as long as they fit in my calorie goal. helps keep me happy VS white knuckling my way thru weight loss.

Talan79

You can use this:
<5000 steps.d (sedentary);
2) 5000-7499 steps.d (low active);
3) 7500-9999 steps.d (somewhat active);
4) > or =10,000-12,499 steps.d (active); and
5) > or =12,500 steps.d (highly active)

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715035

lorrpb

Do you have a step tracker linked with MFP? If so, it doesn't matter what your MFP setting is because the calories will get synced out in the end. A lot of people set MFP to sedentary and the sync do its job.