Proper Activity Level

spookiekabuki
spookiekabuki Posts: 48 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have selected the lowest activity level because I have a desk job, so I spend a lot of time sitting. However, I am above average in muscle mass and I am very active in terms of exercise. Because I log my workouts, I figured it was best to set my base calories low, but 1340/day is REALLY low.

Does anyone have any advise on that? I don't want to have to log short walks to just account for a need in food. I can't tell if my hunger is an issue of discipline, or that I am really under-eating.

Replies

  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,291 MFP Moderator
    I used to do that, but I made sure to log all of my exercise in MFP. When you log the exercise, you get more calories. your 1340 IS pretty low - are you trying to lose 2 lbs a week? Unless you're obese, that might be a bit too much too fast.

    MFP gives you the amount of calories you can eat and still lose at the activity levels you set. Be sure to eat back at least half of your exercise calories.

    Also, check out this link, and read the links in the first page. They are stuffed full of incredibly useful information. :)

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1069275-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

    ETA: If you're hungry, you probably need to eat more. (healthy foods, obviously)
  • dsb188
    dsb188 Posts: 121 Member
    I work at a desk job and even worst work from home.I excercise 4 days a week but put sedentary because i don't have to walk around an office or walk out to get lunch etc. So I just did sedentary just to be safe. I don't log walks I take to the store or when I go shopping I figure that is the least I can do since I've been home all day. i log my cardio, kickboxing excercises.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    You log exercise after the fact with MFP and "eat back" those calories, they are not included in your activity level. If you want to include exercise in your activity level use a TDEE calculator, it will be more accurate.
  • spookiekabuki
    spookiekabuki Posts: 48 Member
    I dont want to have to log walking on days that i dont work out. Plus, strength training doesnt allow you to log calories.
  • DrJenO
    DrJenO Posts: 404 Member
    Try getting an activity tracker, such as a fitbit. It will "log" walking that accumulates over the entire day but isn't necessarily a work out. If you link it to MFP, it will give you some exercise calories back to eat.

    If I get my 10K steps per day, it will generally give me an extra 200-300 calories or more, depending on whether they were active steps or just regular walking around steps (taking the stairs, parking at the far end of the parking lot, etc).

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