light, moderate, vigorous effort?

aribugg

a bit new here, sorry if this has been covered before.
considering everyone has different fitness levels, how do i know exactly what i should log in?
See, i just got a stationary bike. i havent been on a bike since i was 10 lol. so, what feels like a bit of vigorous effort to me, i think might be considered moderate effort for someone who is actually in better health (and strength) So would i put vigorous or moderate...?

LAnne16

I could be wrong, but I'd think it is the effort you put in based on your own fitness level. If you are sweating your *kitten* of and your legs are sore and you're panting... That's probably vigorous effort if it's consistent.

Personally, I never go vigorous because I know that right now, it's never consistent so even if I spend 15 minutes going vigorous and 15 minutes normal, I'd say it was moderate effort.

rachelamber_x

I would recommend putting moderate, purely because MFP usually overestimates calories burned.
Going for the moderate one will counteract that a bit

aribugg

overestimates?? you're breakin my heart!!! DX

Mr_Knight

So would i put vigorous or moderate...?

You're on the right track! Most people miss this entirely.

"Vigorous" only applies to people who are very very fit. Moderate is for people who are quite fit. Anyone less than that should be using "light".

concordancia

Light effort, you should feel your heart rate coming up, but still be able to carry on a normal conversation.

Moderate effort, your breathing should be coming up. You can't speak in paragraphs anymore.

Vigorous effort, conversation is out of the question.

cwolfman13

So would i put vigorous or moderate...?

You're on the right track! Most people miss this entirely.

"Vigorous" only applies to people who are very very fit. Moderate is for people who are quite fit. Anyone less than that should be using "light".

I tend to agree with this. I made this very mistake early on...I kept putting vigorous effort for everything. Then a buddy of mine was like, "WTF"...and I was all, "I'm busting my *kitten* here, of course it's vigorous effort." To which he pointed out to me, "you're fat and out of shape....you are not busting your *kitten*...it only feels like you are."

It makes a lot more sense to me now as I've achieved a much higher level of fitness...I look back on those workouts and my old logs and they were hard at the time to be sure...I can pretty much do them in my sleep now.

If I was using a database or calculator I wouldn't personally go to anything beyond moderate.

aribugg

alright, based on what all of you have said i should stick with moderate, some days light. thanks!

FJDodd

Get a HRM - it will tell you how hard you are working.

dshalbert

An overweight, out of shape person is going to burn more calories walking/running/cycling as a fit person walking/running/cycling at the same pace. so maybe a HRM is the best wy to go.