Not sure what to count as exercise....

PatientBear

So, I'm pretty new to this site and I have a question...

I sleep ALOT, but I'm also fairly active during the day. I forage for leaves and berries, chase other bears away from my favorite back-scratching tree and roll around with my mate and my cub. So, I put my daily activity as sedentary since I sleep most of the day. However, when I'm running, I'm pretty fast. I can run up to 35 mph for short spurts. Plus, I also stand by the stream and catch salmon...that's not as easy as it sounds.

So, here's my question: should I count my running and fishing as exercise or change my daily activity from sedentary to something else? Right now, I only log exercise when I'm running or swimming for the heck of it. If it's part of my hunting, fishing or foraging, I figure it's part of daily living. Please help me figure this out!!!

Lolyballs

someone told me if you're moving it's exercise... I put in cleaning, food prep, etc but I don't think I burn as many calories as the data base gives for these activities

TDGee

Which bear is best?

mrtentaclenun

Lmao I love this

jenannroberts

My theory is, if you sweat while doing it then you can count it as exercise.

CuteAndCurvy83

Mr.Bear anything above and beyond your typical daily activities and done with purpose is exercising. so you are on the right track.

futbolkt21

I only count what I do aside from the usual.

jenilla1

If you're really a bear, I hope you're using this site to pack on the pounds, not drop em. Summer won't last forever, you know. You really should be planning ahead...

onlyrobey1

I also put in cleaning, mowing the lawn etc. But other then actual time spent at the gym, walking the dogs, or doing an at home video, that's the only things I will log as exercise.

BethanyMasters

I am amused.

onlyrobey1

My theory is, if you sweat while doing it then you can count it as exercise.

Good theory.

vpsmith14

lol, did you take into account stuffing yourself with enough food so you can sleep for months at a time? I wonder how you would log that?

tricia

yeabby

If you usually spend all day moving (cleaning, etc) change your lifestyle from sedentary. In my opinion exercise is not the normal day to day activities. If it isn't intentionally done to burn calories or build muscle it isn't exercise.

sweetseraph7

My theory is, if you sweat while doing it then you can count it as exercise.

Good theory.

I agree!

noogie98

I am so sending you a friend request ~ gotta see where this goes! Thanks for the laugh ~ watching TMZ tonite on FOX 4 wasn't cutting it!!!!

sharidiane

The real question is whether or not you're going to eat the calories back, dear Bear. Because that could be a lot of *&^%ing berries.

OlenaS

When I have similar questions (whether to log smth as exercise or not), I think - have I been doing this pretty often and still gained weight (before starting on here I mean)? And if it is a yes, then I do not log it.... Normally I walk some during the day, I would say more than average person, but I have done so for a long time, and still gained weight, so now I only log extra walks, etc... For example, I walk my dog some every day... but I have always done it... so I do not log those walks, I only log special longer weekend walks, etc)

bunchesonothing

Best thread I've seen yet!

PatientBear

Thank you for all the compliments and advice and friend requests. You are nice people. I probably won't eat any of you as long as you don't scare my cub.

LadyOfOceanBreeze

um....what about water aerobics? this has to count and there is NO sweating involved:laugh:

best wishes to all:flowerforyou:

LadyOfOceanBreeze

would have to say I agree,,,,I NEVER "count" daily activities on MFP:glasses:

fastbelly

The best way is to select whatever lifestyle applies to you,

Sedentary
Lightly Active
Active

on your profile, then count only as exercise when you deliberately go out to do some exercise rather then counting every day tasks as exercise.

crisanderson27

someone told me if you're moving it's exercise... I put in cleaning, food prep, etc but I don't think I burn as many calories as the data base gives for these activities

If you did those things while you were gaining weight...chances are they aren't going to help you lose it.

I ONLY count exercise done with a purpose. I work out in my forge on weekends and some evenings (standing over a 2000* fire, swinging a 3lb hammer at a piece of orange hot steel repeatedly HAS to burn calories...), but since I did that while I was fat...and it didn't do a damn thing to help...I just count it as part of my normal activity.

Fattymcarthur

Hi everyone, I just started myfitnesspal yesterday so I am pretty new, seems relatively easy to use but I do have a question. Yesterday I logged my time on the elliptical machine and was given the exercise "credit" but today I logged my strength exercises and the program didn't recognize that I did any exercise today. Does anyone know why this is? Does it only count cardio exercises and not count strength training exercise?

rat70

Hi everyone, I just started myfitnesspal yesterday so I am pretty new, seems relatively easy to use but I do have a question. Yesterday I logged my time on the elliptical machine and was given the exercise "credit" but today I logged my strength exercises and the program didn't recognize that I did any exercise today. Does anyone know why this is? Does it only count cardio exercises and not count strength training exercise?

You can enter strength training under cardio too to gain exercise calories because obviously you do burn some strength training. I do not log strength training though because I'm not really sure how much I burn. I guess I just keep it in mind and eat back a higher percentage of my exercise cals that day. If I had a HRM it might be different.

rat70

And I only log as exercise when I do an exercise session intended to contribute to my fitness and weight loss goals or do something above and beyond normal daily activity like a weekend walk with the family. But LOVE the OP!! :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

kerriBB37

You are a silly goose! (silly bear?!)

SavCal71

:laugh:

PatientBear

You are a silly goose! (silly bear?!)

Mmmmm....goose.....