Carrying 20+lb baby around house, should it count as exercis

jadaif

I have my baby, he's a little over 20lb, and I carry him throughout the day. But there are periods in the day where I carry him for long periods of maybe 20 mins or so, and sometimes I cook with him, bend down, walk, etc. So an average I would say I carry him+move around with him for about 40mins in the day. I read on the calorie counter website that burns about 200 for carrying him in an hour. Should I count that?

And also the days where I am more active with him and my toddler (playing, running around, bending over taking baths, etc.), I tend to be hungrier but I don't want to go over my calories. It's just hard to calculate how many calories you actually burn.

sarah44254

You can set your activity level a little higher! You are definitely not sedentary if you are actively walking/holding your child(ren) during the day.

mangos4music

count it! its a workout!

TashaP2011

I was wondering that myself as I carried my 30+ pound 4 yr old around the zoo today on my back. We forgot the wagon!

Meggie_pooh

iwould say it counts! just check under the exercise database for something that most resembles ur activities :bigsmile:

MissMandy1010

heck yeah, count it!! I count it when I go grocery shopping (for an hour/hour and a half) and carry my baby girl in the baby carrier! it wears me out, so its definitely worth counting. :-)

descooley

It is actually in the database - walking carrying infant or 15 lb load. I carry my little one up & down stairs several times a day and it all adds up. She is actually closer to 30 lbs so I know what you mean about it being a workout!

Pebble321

You should account for this - but there are two ways to do it.
One is to set your activity level at sedentary, then log carrying the baby, running and playing, cleaning the house etc.
The second (I think eaiser) is to change your daily activity level to a more active level which accounts for all this daily activity and compensates by giving you a higher daily calorie allowance.
It doesn't matter which you choose - personally I would go with the second option because it doesn't take so much time!

jessicajoy87

I don't count anything a workout unless I am actually "working out". Daily activities and cleaning I don't count. I would change your profile settings to a more active lifestyle because that is what thats for.

Shanzstar

you got one cute baby! also an adorable lil one too!

jadaif

Thanks guys! I wasn't sure so I didn't want to feel like I was cheating or something on my calories burned. There're days where I am just exhausted, so I will definitley start counting! Thanks

Tereztaylor07

I would also change your activity level (higher) and not count it. Something you have to do anyway doesn't seem to be exercise in my eyes. But that's just me.

funfitfoodie

You can set your activity level a little higher! You are definitely not sedentary if you are actively walking/holding your child(ren) during the day.

^ this. don't add it as a workout!

jadaif

Yes, I think I'll change the activity level best.

bloodbank

I don't count it as exercise (I've got a 32lb toddler) - carrying kids when you've got kids is part of your lifestyle. If you're set at 'sedentary', I'd bump it up to 'lightly active'. If you're at 'lightly active' or higher, it's already accounted for.

stanvoodoo

Not exercise, it is a daily activity. You can change your profile setting if necessary. Anything you do daily like this, work, cleaning, shopping and........are daily activities not exercise.

Only time dedicated to exercise can be counted as exercise otherwise you are not gonna get the results that could get. Also, if you decide to eat back your exercise calories as many do then you will be over eating.

Better to set up the profile correctly and only list exercise as exercise!

Of course, you are burning calories each time, so keep moving!

Best of Luck!

jadaif

I had it set at lightly active, but I decided to switch it up to Active, because I am mainly on my feet all day and moving around. I think it best fits my lifestyle. Thanks for the advice guys!