Sedentary

williamshl10

I know similar questions get posted everyday, but... I have a desk job (40 hr/week) After work I pick up my children and we go to the park or go home and make dinner and I usually am doing laundry or dishes. Then they (2 & 4yo) take a bath, they get dressed. We play until bedtime. Then I go to bed as well, if the house is clean. I go to physical therapy 3 times a week where I do a lot of core strengthening exercises and I work out for an hour, then they rub my back and do some " heat and stem" thing for 45 minutes, then I go to work. I guess I want to know, since I have the desk job, would I be sedentary? And I am dirt broke right now, so I guess just an opinion from everyone because I can't get a fitbit or even a dollar tree pedometer. Any help would be great. I used to have it on sedentary with 2lbs/week and now my goals are changed to 1.5lb/week, but I have been feeling so hungry lately that I thought I might pass for lightly active. I know I ramble, sorry

yarwell

I guess I want to know, since I have the desk job, would I be sedentary?

Yes. If you were a lansdcape gardener or dashing around a warehouse it would be different.

Log exercise, eat back some or all of calories if you think you're getting too big a deficit.

editorgrrl

Lower your goal to 1 lb. per week. Slow & steady will win the race.

Log everything you eat & drink accurately & honestly. Weigh your food. Eat back half your exercise calories.

Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

WBB55

Sedentary is you literally don't do anything except maybe walk 25 feet to your car and you use a hoveround when you go shopping. Like, under 2500 steps per day. It's very likely you're lightly active. That being said, do you know your TDEE? If on average you're eating at a caloric deficit of greater than 1000 calories, then it's fairly common to be hungry.

There's also no reason you shouldn't change your settings to "lose 1 lb" per week. This isn't a race. If you're hungry, eat a little more. You'll lose slower, but you'll be happier. And for me, a happier me is a healthier more committed me.

Jenn842512

I have a "desk job" that makes me run around a 10K sq ft building regulary and I still set my normal activity level to "sedentary". This gives me a minimum baseline calorie requirement. I like a little cushion (in my data, NOT in my body, haha). I'm pretty lax about the loggin food cause I know I burn off pretty much anything I want to eat, but when I was newer to this whole thing, the low estimate really helped me drop weight FAST.

To each their own.

Phrick

Well you have a 40 hour a week job that is sedentary - but you have a 168 hour a week LIFE. I am going to grossly assume that you spend 40 hours a week sleeping, plus the 40 hours at work - this leaves you with 88 hours a week that you're surely doing something besides sitting - as you noted, childcare and etc. I would go with lightly active. I mean you could stick with what you're at now but think of it this way: If you CAN start at 1700 calories and still lose, why not do it? Because when eventually you lose enough weight that a stall comes along, then at least you'll have a ton of room to adjust down to a new deficit and start losing again. But if you START at the lowest safe intake level, then when the stall eventually comes what are you going to do? You have nowhere to safely adjust down, you're already in the basement.

Branstin

You are not sedentary. The issue is you are trying to lose too much too soon. When you enter sedentary, MFP calculates a lower calorie amount because it assumes that you will not do any exercise. Leave you setting to "Lightly Active" then change your goal to 1 or 1.5 lbs per week. You would then have more calories to eat.

Secondly, pay close attention to your macros (carbs, protein, & fat). Try increasing your protein and eat plenty of fruits and veggies. Don't forget your water either.

williamshl10

Thank You for all the help. I wasn't sure where to go with it I think I will keep it at lightly active and goal set to 1.5. Thanks again

Greenrun99

You still have a bunch to lose it looks like.. so I would say if your losing 1-2 lbs a week currently.. Don't change anything... Lifestyle is just more or less calories.. its all an experiment, but if something is currently working.. dont mess with it.