How do you accurately estimate activity levels?

ochibi91
ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Which method do you think is more accurate? Scooby's way of differentiating activity levels by the number of hours per week (e.g.: Lightly active is described as 1–3 hours per week of light exercise) http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

or....

by the number of days in a week. For example fat2fit's method of describing Lightly Active as light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk.

Replies

  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    You can't 100% accurately measure that, just like your tdee isn't 100% either.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    Just pick one and track your weight for a month. If you need to adjust the cals after to produce the desired result.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    Then do you measure by the number of 'hours' per week or number of 'days'?
  • Supertact
    Supertact Posts: 466 Member
    Then do you measure by the number of 'hours' per week or number of 'days'?

    It doesn't matter just pick one, eat like that for a couple weeks and see what happens than adjust.
  • Capt_Apollo
    Capt_Apollo Posts: 9,026 Member
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?
    Moderately active.
  • bradXdale
    bradXdale Posts: 399
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
    Your body doesn't care what you were doing before, I cares what you are doing now!

    Op set it at moderate and evaluate in 4 weeks. You can always adjust down if you need to, but most people are surprised how much they can eat and still lose weight.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.

    I hardly exercised before deciding to lose weight. But I was still in college so I was walking to and from class, including 1 short hill so I was still doing some walking in a day even if I weren't exercising.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
    Your body doesn't care what you were doing before, I cares what you are doing now!

    Op set it at moderate and evaluate in 4 weeks. You can always adjust down if you need to, but most people are surprised how much they can eat and still lose weight.

    I increased it from 1,200 to 1,350 last week and did not gain any weight. I'm planning on increasing it to 1,450cals. I was not eating back exercise calories btw. Is this correct?
  • Tedebearduff
    Tedebearduff Posts: 1,155 Member
    Which method do you think is more accurate? Scooby's way of differentiating activity levels by the number of hours per week (e.g.: Lightly active is described as 1–3 hours per week of light exercise) http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    or....

    by the number of days in a week. For example fat2fit's method of describing Lightly Active as light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk.

    Get a HRM ? monitor your calories burned that way ??

    Light activity doesn't count as exercise to me .. I see people logging cleaning and **** ... I've even seen someone log reading a book... Just log actual exercise
  • Azchange
    Azchange Posts: 110 Member
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?
    Moderately active.

    If that's the case, I must be severely underestimating my calories burned
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
    Your body doesn't care what you were doing before, I cares what you are doing now!

    Op set it at moderate and evaluate in 4 weeks. You can always adjust down if you need to, but most people are surprised how much they can eat and still lose weight.

    I increased it from 1,200 to 1,350 last week and did not gain any weight. I'm planning on increasing it to 1,450cals. I was not eating back exercise calories btw. Is this correct?
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
    Your body doesn't care what you were doing before, I cares what you are doing now!

    Op set it at moderate and evaluate in 4 weeks. You can always adjust down if you need to, but most people are surprised how much they can eat and still lose weight.

    I increased it from 1,200 to 1,350 last week and did not gain any weight. I'm planning on increasing it to 1,450cals. I was not eating back exercise calories btw. Is this correct?
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.

    I actually put it slightly lower than my tdee level (around 1500~1600+) because I'm afraid of overestimating my calories. I'm considering the fact that I'm super sedentary when I don't work out.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    Which method do you think is more accurate? Scooby's way of differentiating activity levels by the number of hours per week (e.g.: Lightly active is described as 1–3 hours per week of light exercise) http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

    or....

    by the number of days in a week. For example fat2fit's method of describing Lightly Active as light exercise/sports 1-3 days/wk.

    Get a HRM ? monitor your calories burned that way ??

    Light activity doesn't count as exercise to me .. I see people logging cleaning and **** ... I've even seen someone log reading a book... Just log actual exercise

    No, unfortunately I don't have one yet. Until I get one, I want to try to estimate my tdee as accurately as possible.

    I don't log light activity such as walking to and from class and cleaning as exercise.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?
    Moderately active.

    If that's the case, I must be severely underestimating my calories burned
    Are you losing weight at an expected rate? If yes than you have found your sweet spot, if no adjust to compensate. These are estimate to give you a place to start.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    an accurate estimate is an idiom.

    Yes, this.
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Pick a level, calorie goal and do it for a month and record your results

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?

    You have to remember your lifestyle before exercise. Was it sedentary? Have you always worked out 5 days a week? A lot of people jump onto MFP and have only been working out 3 days a week and set their activity levels to "Light / Moderate" and are eating way outside their calorie goal because they were super sedentary before. Just something to consider.
    Your body doesn't care what you were doing before, I cares what you are doing now!

    Op set it at moderate and evaluate in 4 weeks. You can always adjust down if you need to, but most people are surprised how much they can eat and still lose weight.

    I increased it from 1,200 to 1,350 last week and did not gain any weight. I'm planning on increasing it to 1,450cals. I was not eating back exercise calories btw. Is this correct?
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.

    I actually put it slightly lower than my tdee level (around 1500~1600+) because I'm afraid of overestimating my calories. I'm considering the fact that I'm super sedentary when I don't work out.
    Perfect!
    TDEE-?% gives you weight loss. No need to eat back exercise cals because they are accounted for.
  • neanderthin
    neanderthin Posts: 10,286 Member
    Okay, so I just estimate and see how it goes for a few weeks.

    Say, for example: a person who is sedentary throughout the day because they work from home but exercise 5 days a week for 60 minutes. How would you describe their level of activity? Lightly active or still sedentary?
    Moderately active.

    If that's the case, I must be severely underestimating my calories burned
    Are you losing weight at an expected rate? If yes than you have found your sweet spot, if no adjust to compensate. These are estimate to give you a place to start.
    Exactly. Nobody is going to know if they've calculated their numbers properly until they have some actual historical data. Doesn't matter how many times a person asks the question if their calculations are right until this happens.
  • Azchange
    Azchange Posts: 110 Member
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.

    You sound more like 'moderately active' to me, since you're don't have a sedentary lifestyle/job.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.
    How much are you losing per month? Is it more or less then you want?
  • lamps1303
    lamps1303 Posts: 432 Member
    [/quote]
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.
    [/quote]

    Does this mean if you use the TDEE you don't log exercise in MFP?
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.
    [/quote]

    Does this mean if you use the TDEE you don't log exercise in MFP?
    [/quote]
    Yes!
  • Azchange
    Azchange Posts: 110 Member
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.
    How much are you losing per month? Is it more or less then you want?

    I'm content with where I'm at, I was just stating my opinion on the information provided. I always stick with a conservative stance. Over estimate calories in food, underestimate calories burned. Seems to work well for me.
  • ochibi91
    ochibi91 Posts: 115 Member
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.
    How much are you losing per month? Is it more or less then you want?

    I'm content with where I'm at, I was just stating my opinion on the information provided. I always stick with a conservative stance. Over estimate calories in food, underestimate calories burned. Seems to work well for me.

    Same here. I'm aiming to be conservative too.
  • Zomoniac
    Zomoniac Posts: 1,169 Member
    BMR plus Fitbit, then manually add whatever a Fitbit can't track.
  • DirtyCurvesAhead
    DirtyCurvesAhead Posts: 121
    I just meant I do HIIT 4 times a week (45 minutes), walk 4-5 miles daily at work (slow pace), and starting to jog 1-2 days a week and play competitive paintball 1 day a week (3-4 hours) and I put lightly active. I never really though about it though and just went with the "rather be safe than sorry" mentality.
    How much are you losing per month? Is it more or less then you want?

    I'm content with where I'm at, I was just stating my opinion on the information provided. I always stick with a conservative stance. Over estimate calories in food, underestimate calories burned. Seems to work well for me.

    Same here. I'm aiming to be conservative too.
    If it's working and doing what you want don't change it.
  • lamps1303
    lamps1303 Posts: 432 Member
    Are you using TDEE method? If so you don't eat back cals burned.

    Does this mean if you use the TDEE you don't log exercise in MFP?
    [/quote]
    Yes!
    [/quote]

    Thank you.

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