Activity Level??

grover0ca

I am not sure what to set my activity level at.

I work a desk job..but I am up & down from my chair all day long.
I spend 75 mins at taekwondo 4x a week (but only 3x a week during july/aug).
I get out and walk 3kms' at least a couple times a week, sometimes more.
I do a home video work out (anywhere from 30 mins to 1 hour depending on which video) like 30DS, Taebo, Cardio max usually once or twice a week.

I feel like I should be sedentary due to my desk job..but maybe once you add in all the activity it should be one level up from that? I just don't know how to figure this out!

lilybug13

Stay at sedentary, but log every time you exercise and it will make up for the extra calories burned.

erickirb

Stay at sedentary, but log every time you exercise and it will make up for the extra calories burned.

This

KimertRuns13_1

I have mine set to sedentary based on the fact that I have a desk job. I do get up multiple times a day and walk around. I am very active as far as regular exercise (I run 4-5 times a week, cross train 2-3 days a week and weight train, among other things like walking the dog, playing with the kids, and other classes at the gym) but MFP threw my daily caloric need way too high when I selected something other than sedentary.

Kolohe71

Stay at sedentary, but log every time you exercise and it will make up for the extra calories burned.

^^^ What they said!

TeaBea

Either up your activity level OR count your exercise - just don't do both. You "earn" extra calories for exercise. This is because naturally active people require more calories for everday bodily functions than sedentary people do.


This system is designed for "net" calories. Calories eaten LESS calories burned.

Think of the extra calories as "fuel" for your workouts. Example: Sedentary female is set to 1200 calories a day to lose weight. Workout = 300 calories. This person can eat 1500 (1200 + 300) calories for that day.

corymomma

I would put sedentary, and then you can count all the other as exercise It's what I've done, and even if you don't count all of it then you aren't over counting your exercise vs your calories if that makes any sense...

rpearce519

that activity level is for the calories you burn just living everyday, no exercise...we burn calories just chewing our food...so still keep it where it is and add your exercise daily:)

Rae6503

I have mine at lightly active even though I sit at a desk for work. I only count workouts. I do not count walks, playing with my kids, cleaning, etc. It works for me.

baisleac

You have to find your own balance. I have a sedentary job but am set at lightly active (and losing) simply due to the fact that I am so active after work. I do log my exercise and I do eat back my exercise calories.

Suggested reading: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/291071-activity-level-and-logging-exercise

Pam3

Stay at sedentary, but log every time you exercise and it will make up for the extra calories burned.

agreed:flowerforyou:

grover0ca

thanks for the info! :bigsmile: