We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Defining Sedentary

1992Leigh1992
Posts: 100 Member
So I'm trying to set my fitness goals but I'm having a bit of trouple deciding whether I am 'Sedentary' or 'Lightly Active.'
I do a 30-minute jog 2-3 times per week. But because that is a separate part of the calories setting goal, I am assuming that I should be indicating my day-to-day activity level regardless of work-outs.
I go to Uni two days per week. There's a bit of walking between bus stops and the Uni itself is on a massive hill. Normally a bit of a walk between each class. But on my breaks I'm straight to the nearest computer lab.
I work 2-3 days per weel (9-12 hours) in retail. Standing at a till, preparing food, re-filling stock, ect. On the days I don't run I try to do do sit-ups.
But in the evening I am pretty much in front of my computer.
Any thoughts on how to calculate this?
I do a 30-minute jog 2-3 times per week. But because that is a separate part of the calories setting goal, I am assuming that I should be indicating my day-to-day activity level regardless of work-outs.
I go to Uni two days per week. There's a bit of walking between bus stops and the Uni itself is on a massive hill. Normally a bit of a walk between each class. But on my breaks I'm straight to the nearest computer lab.
I work 2-3 days per weel (9-12 hours) in retail. Standing at a till, preparing food, re-filling stock, ect. On the days I don't run I try to do do sit-ups.
But in the evening I am pretty much in front of my computer.
Any thoughts on how to calculate this?
0
Replies
-
I would say lightly active for sure. I work at a desk job over night, I'm pretty much on my bumpkis all night long. If I'm awake I'm not really active at home either.0
-
I would call it lightly active.0
-
I'd say you are probably closer to Lightly Active.
If you have a smart phone, you can download a free pedometer app and see roughly how many steps you take in a day. It won't be as accurate as an actual pedometer, but it can give you a basic idea.
- Less than 5000 : Sedentary
- 5000-7499 : Low Active
- 7500-9999 : Somewhat Active
- 10000-12499: Active
- 12500+ : Highly Active
I'd say track your steps (excluding exercise) for a week and then average out the numbers.0 -
I would say lightly active based on your job.0
-
Retail would probably make you lightly active but the Uni days could be sedentary. I wear a FitBit synced with MFP and work in an office and walk both ways - but unless I've walked more than 2.5 miles in a day FB does not deem me as any more than sedentary.0
-
I'd say you are probably closer to Lightly Active.
If you have a smart phone, you can download a free pedometer app and see roughly how many steps you take in a day. It won't be as accurate as an actual pedometer, but it can give you a basic idea.
- Less than 5000 : Sedentary
- 5000-7499 : Low Active
- 7500-9999 : Somewhat Active
- 10000-12499: Active
- 12500+ : Highly Active
I'd say track your steps (excluding exercise) for a week and then average out the numbers.
Shadow2Soul - can you share where you got the steps/activity info? I like it because it calls me "Active" to "Highly Active" :laugh:0 -
I'd say you are probably closer to Lightly Active.
If you have a smart phone, you can download a free pedometer app and see roughly how many steps you take in a day. It won't be as accurate as an actual pedometer, but it can give you a basic idea.
- Less than 5000 : Sedentary
- 5000-7499 : Low Active
- 7500-9999 : Somewhat Active
- 10000-12499: Active
- 12500+ : Highly Active
I'd say track your steps (excluding exercise) for a week and then average out the numbers.
Shadow2Soul - can you share where you got the steps/activity info? I like it because it calls me "Active" to "Highly Active" :laugh:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14715035
I think this is the study they're using as a base.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.6K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4.1K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions