Activity Level?

Ashleyr91

I've always put my activity level as sedentary, but I'm wondering if maybe I should go for lightly active? The reason I'm not sure is because I'm working retail right now and I'm not a cashier, I'm on the door to floor team and we're the ones who deal with the signs and the truck, so we're constantly moving through our entire shift, lifting heavy boxes, rushing to get things done on time, and I'll walk rounds and rounds through the store on any given shift, some days more than others. But it's only 6 hours a day most days, 4 - 6 days a week. Other days it's longer, and I get to stay over. I get 30 - 40 hours a week every week. But the rest of the time when I'm at home (apart from when I work out) I'm not really doing much of anything. Should I raise the level, or keep it sedentary to account for my "laying on my butt relaxing" time?

Side question -- would potassium pills (or something else?) help with the dull ache I have in my legs after a day of running around, and around, and around...? Sometimes my legs twitch when I'm trying to sleep.

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this. Wasn't sure.

DanaDark

Light activity sounds about right with your work load.

Potassium pills to counter dull leg pain from work? I... never heard of such a thing. Ever. At all. So, can't say... I honestly do not see why they would work given the purpose of potassium... but iono, not a doctor in that field!

kikityme

I'd do lightly active as well. As far as the leg pain, haven't heard of potassium, although it can help with joint pain. Epsom salts in your bath before bed and a GOOD pair of shoes, especially if they're steel toe.
When I worked retail we had to wear steel toe shoes, and I was in crying pain before I went out and bought a properly fitted running shoe style.

fromaquasar09

I would say your activity levels are definitely at least lightly active.

The tricky thing with MFP is that it counts your exercise calories on top of everything, so many definitions that classify your activity levels by amount of exercise you do each week become redundant.

But a true sedentary lifestyle is like me, I get up go to work, sit for 8 - 10 hours at a computer, come home, maybe see friends (sit and drink wine) or watch tv or play on the computer (gawd my life sounds boring!) but you see literally 10 - 15 hours I am awake I am sitting. Very. Sedentary.

Then I log exercise (Running, Yoga, Weights) on top of that.

If I wanted to I could do a TDEE calculation where you included your exercise into your lifestyle ranking that would make me moderately active, but then I wouldn't log exercise as additional to that (as it's already factored in).

If you are on your feet for most of the day at your job, especially lifting things, or walking around you are definitely at least lightly active, and should set that as your base, and then add exercise cals on top.


With the leg pain - Magnesium can be good to relieve muscles if they are cramping or sore from use. Maybe try that.

cwolfman13

at least light active...that's what those little descriptions are for.

conqueringsquidlette

I've heard of potassium for muscle cramps. My mom always told me to go eat a banana when I got a leg cramp. I always thought it was an old wives cure sort of thing..... I don't know if it works or not.

Is your dull pain in the muscle or does it feel more like sore joints?

Ashleyr91

Thanks for the replies, I'll have to change it. I wasn't sure because it's not always full time and I'm not always really active off work. As for the potassium -- my mom always told me that too, and said that it would help with leg cramps and such. Honestly, it's kind of both. My knees and calves get the brunt of it. I'll have to try the Magnesium too! (: Thanks!