What should I log?

shammathews

I know this is asked a lot, but what should I log as activity level? I am a bank teller, on my feet off and on, but then have three kids and a house to run so I go nonstop til they are in bed at night. I work out 6 days a week. Do I log that I am active and then not enter calories burned from exercise? Or sedentary and then log exercise calories? I'm close to my goal weight so I really dont have much more to "lose" just maintain really. TIA.

StaciMarie1974

Personally Id be clueless on this also, except that I use a Fitbit activity tracker. It communicates my steps w/ MFP and once I'm active enough based on my "Lightly Active" status on MFP then they give me extra exercise calories. I enabled 'negative' calories so until I reach that breakeven point, I can also see how far I am behind.

You don't have to buy anything expensive - but could invest in a simple pedometer. It seems that logging 10,000 steps a day is a reasonable level for 'lightly active'.

WendyTerry420

If it were me, I've start with moderately active for lifestyle, then log your workouts separately. After about a month, you will be able to look at your results and make any adjustments. I have a desk job, so I marked myself sedentary at first, but since I do cook dinner at night, as well as laundry and such, lightly active is more accurate.

MinnieInMaine

If it were me, I've start with moderately active for lifestyle, then log your workouts separately. After about a month, you will be able to look at your results and make any adjustments. I have a desk job, so I marked myself sedentary at first, but since I do cook dinner at night, as well as laundry and such, lightly active is more accurate.

Agreed. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find the right calorie balance.

ottermotorcycle

Since you're close to maintaining, you're going to have to do some guess and check. Even people who have been on here for months losing weight have to guess and check a little bit when they switch to maintenance.

A lot of people use TDEE but of course you still have to pick an activity level. I think it gives you more of a range if you do the math yourself though. You get your BMR, then multiply it by your activity. 1.2 is sedentary, 1.4 is lightly active and 1.6 is moderately active. You can do something like 1.3 plus workout calories or 1.5 without them. I know most people don't like math but I find if you run these numbers you'll get a better idea of what kind of range you should be in rather than plugging stuff into MFP and just getting the one number.

shammathews

Thanks for all the help! I guess I will just start playing around with the numbers.