Would you classify me as "sendentary" or "lightly active"?

starkid120

When I initially input my numbers, I put myself down as sedentary, but given that I take about 1 hr walks 5 days a week...should I bump it up to "Lightly Active"?

I haven't been losing weight lately, and I'm wondering if maybe my numbers have been set too low. With the way I have it set up right now, MFP gives me 1200 cals/day...

Any info/input/help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

withchaco

I'd choose sedentary and log the walks as exercises.

andreacord

Sedentry, because your activity that they're basing it on is activity BEFORE exercise. Which means your walks should be logged as exercise.

WifeMomDVM

Try upping your calories to 1400-1500. Then, I suspect, in about 3 weeks or less you will see the scale go down again. You have to eat to lose.

I keep mine on sedentary though, I don't want the computer to overestimate what I might be burning every day.

aippolito1

No. Count the walk as exercise.

wanderingwest

I am fairly active. But put in that I was sedentary. I log my exercise and eat back some (but not all) of the exercise calories.

withchaco

And remember, exercise outside of your regular activity level gives you extra calories to eat

barbiex3

if you take an hour walk 5 days a week, then you probably need about 200 calories more for everyday you walk, so 200 x 5= 1000 extra calories a week, so you could maybe zig zag your calories like this

Monday: 1200
Tuesday: 1400
Wednesday: 1300
Thursday: 1600
Friday: 1200
Saturday: 1500
Sunday: 1300

adding about 1000 calories per week. Zig zagging confuses the body, so it does not get used to a set number per day. Perhaps have friday or saturday your higher days =P more fun! lol but yes up those calories girl!!

Peep_chic

sedentary or lightly active is more about the rest of your day. If you're home all day like me I would put sedentary and log exercise for calories. If you work say in walmart walking around or anything like that then your job makes you move so you'd be lightly active.

juliapurpletoes

Yeah - sedentary and log all legitimate exercise. Not sure how much you are wanting to lose, but 1200 is really low. Alot of us have done better and faster weight loss at around 1400.

Unless you have 50 or more to lose then create a smaller deficit, give yourself a few more calories. You'll have more energy to exercise and muscle tone.

Reserach this site for "guide to calorie deficits and really read it thoroughly - great info!

Lolyballs

this is good to know. I've been thinking that the calories listed for me are too high. I'm thinking maybe I should change my activity to sedentary. I have been sedentary for 10 yrs anyway... I just started exercising a month ago.

pauljsolie

And remember, exercise outside of your regular activity level gives you extra calories to eat

This is possibly the best thing I've learned on MFP. Exercise no longer is a burden, it's a ticket to being able to eat more. Why didn't I learn this years ago in school? Oh wait, I guess I did.

starkid120

Awesome!! Thanks for all the replies you guys!!

I guess I'm not doing this wrong like I thought! I'll take your advice too and up my calories to btw 1200-1500.

Thanks so much!!

Larius

And remember, exercise outside of your regular activity level gives you extra calories to eat

This is possibly the best thing I've learned on MFP. Exercise no longer is a burden, it's a ticket to being able to eat more. Why didn't I learn this years ago in school? Oh wait, I guess I did.

We learned the theory in school, but we did not learn the application.