What kind of exercise would you log shopping at the mall for

anonymousthin

You don't have to go to the gym to get exercise, at least in my opinion. Usually I'd log it as the whole "walking - 2.5 mph, leisurely" thing since of course I stop and look through things, but I am mostly walking the whole time, or at least searching through things which, whether you'd like to accept or not, takes at least some minimal effort. And though I wish it was, shopping is not one of my "every day activities", so it is burning calories I otherwise would not burn off by daily exertion. But anyway, what should I log it as?

All comments are appreciated.

KaleidoscopeEyes1056

I logged walking at the mall sometimes because I would be there for a while. I would say 2.5, definitely.

slinkymalinki

I log is as 2.5 leisurely pace too. I always add less time than how long I've actually been out though, as I don't want to think that I've burned off more calories than I actually have.(:

CaptainGordo

I wouldn't.

havingitall

I don't log things that are part of every day ....like shopping, housework, laundry.

That is just part of living. If I am walking at a brisk pace for exercise, I would log that.

oeys

I spent 3 hours walking(very slowly) around shops yesterday and wore a heart rate monitor just to see... when I calculated calories last night I was surprised to find out I'd worked up over 800 cals!! Goes to show shopping is good for you! :happy:

Dave198lbs

I don't log things that are part of every day ....like shopping, housework, laundry.

That is just part of living. If I am walking at a brisk pace for exercise, I would log that.

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ChitownFoodie

Thats exactly how I log it, but only at 1/2 the time as I actually was shopping since most of the time I am just standing there.

bcattoes

I wouldn't log shopping as exercise unless it was some type of blowout sale where I was racing to get the last 'whatever' and/or fighting off other shoppers trying to steal the last 'whatever' from my cart.

kristilovescake

I think it depends on what you have your "activity level" set at. Sometimes I log shopping (I'm set at "sedentary") if I'm walking around for an hour, I'll log 30 minutes at 2.0 or 2.5 mph to make sure I'm not overestimating and eating too many calories (I eat back my exercise cals). For non-exercising "exercising" I'll usually log only half the time (cleaning, shopping, etc.).

Figure out what works for you, but just make sure you're not overestimating your calorie burn and eating too many calories.

CaptainGordo

I spent 3 hours walking(very slowly) around shops yesterday and wore a heart rate monitor just to see... when I calculated calories last night I was surprised to find out I'd worked up over 800 cals!! Goes to show shopping is good for you! :happy:

I would suggest wearing your monitor over a 3 hour period of regular daily activity, seeing how many calories are burned, and then subtracting it from the 800 to see what the actual difference was.

Logging regular activity as above and beyond what MFP is already assuming for you will skew your calorie goals.

staceyseeger

I don't log things that are part of every day ....like shopping, housework, laundry.

That is just part of living. If I am walking at a brisk pace for exercise, I would log that.

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me, too!

0PhAtDaDdY

You don't have to go to the gym to get exercise, at least in my opinion. Usually I'd log it as the whole "walking - 2.5 mph, leisurely" thing since of course I stop and look through things, but I am mostly walking the whole time, or at least searching through things which, whether you'd like to accept or not, takes at least some minimal effort. And though I wish it was, shopping is not one of my "every day activities", so it is burning calories I otherwise would not burn off by daily exertion. But anyway, what should I log it as?

All comments are appreciated.

Well just an old man's point of view.. If that's you in the picture I don't think it really matters if you log anything r not. hahahahah...

carrie_eggo

The ONLY time I ever logged shopping was when I went shopping for 14 hours before Christmas. I logged about 120 minutes of walking 2.0mph.....I think I was entitled to log it then. But normally, I don't recommend logging things like that unless it is excessive.

CaptainGordo

Well just an old man's point of view.. If that's you in the picture I don't think it really matters if you log anything r not. hahahahah...

No -- that's a "thinspiration" pic.

Hat tip to Google image search.

grrrlface

I used to log it when I didn't used to do much in the way of exercise, now I don't because I'm more active and it doesn't feel like a workout. I logged it as 2.5 also

CuteAndCurvy83

I'd log it as walking. I don't go to the mall or shopping all that often so for me that 2hrs walking around even slowly is extra. I usually log anything that isn't part of my "normal" activities as an exercise because it really is.

TWrecks1968

My opinion is that you shouldn't log it if you shop at the mall often, but you should log it if it is a rare occurrence, or, if you just ate that one cookie that put you over the edge. LOL.

Bentley2718

I have myself set as sedentary. I drink a lot of water, so I use the bathroom at least once an hour, at work this means walking down the hallway. How should I log these calories?

Yes, I'm being a bit of a troll.

killagb

I wouldn't log it myself. It's going to be a really minimal burn and if you don't count it, you can think of it as a bonus burn.

vs1023

I don't log things that are part of every day ....like shopping, housework, laundry.

That is just part of living. If I am walking at a brisk pace for exercise, I would log that.

Same for me. I figure i'm busy all day anyways and it's not formal exercise for me.

candisweet

When you first sign up on MFP, they ask you what your typical day would include (desk job, waitress, etc). So MFP is already taking into account how many calories your body burns doing typical activities. While shopping may not be typical in your day, I'm sure leisurely walking is, wether it be grocery shopping, walking up household stairs, or even walking from the couch to the fridge . Just my opinion, but I wouldn't log it at all and hope that any extra effort made in the day will show up on the scale during next week's weigh in. Good luck in your journey and hope you had a great day shopping!

ElizabethRoad

2.5 mph is WAY faster than most of the people I see at the mall.

killagb

I have myself set as sedentary. I drink a lot of water, so I use the bathroom at least once an hour, at work this means walking down the hallway. How should I log these calories?

Yes, I'm being a bit of a troll.

CaptainGordo

I have myself set as sedentary. I drink a lot of water, so I use the bathroom at least once an hour, at work this means walking down the hallway. How should I log these calories?

Yes, I'm being a bit of a troll.

Troll? No.

Making a relevant point? Yes.

Bentley2718

I have myself set as sedentary. I drink a lot of water, so I use the bathroom at least once an hour, at work this means walking down the hallway. How should I log these calories?

Yes, I'm being a bit of a troll.

Troll? No.

Making a relevant point? Yes.

But, but, I want to be a troll! They have cool hair.

In reality, I am set as sedentary, and I don't even count the mile a day I walk taking public transit to work, because I don't feel like those relatively short walks (apartment to bus stop, bus stop to office) do much for me. That's just me, I'm sure a lot depends on your weight and your overall activity level.

oeys

I spent 3 hours walking(very slowly) around shops yesterday and wore a heart rate monitor just to see... when I calculated calories last night I was surprised to find out I'd worked up over 800 cals!! Goes to show shopping is good for you! :happy:

I would suggest wearing your monitor over a 3 hour period of regular daily activity, seeing how many calories are burned, and then subtracting it from the 800 to see what the actual difference was.

Logging regular activity as above and beyond what MFP is already assuming for you will skew your calorie goals.

Great suggestion! Will try that!

ackeebee

so far i have only logged it once and it was entered as walking. i was out walking the highstreet and shopping for abt 3 hours.

andiechick

I do log it, but only because its not included in my profile, about once a week I go into town for a shop and spend a good few hours walking about, pushing a buggy or carrying heavy shopping bags, altho I cut down the length of time I'm out to account for stops - the work half of my week is sat at a desk, apart from running up the 3 flights of stairs to get to my office, which I don't log as I do this regularly (altho it used to be a slower walk!!)

dancingj2

I would log it as walking slow. I think I chose 2 mph.

Since I choose sedantary for my base amount of calories, I think it makes sense to log shopping. If I am out for a few hours I track just the amount of time I think I was walking which may may be only 30 minutes.

If I am going to log everyting I eat, I shoudl log all of my exercise

fteale

I don't log clothes shopping as you do more standing around than walking. I do log farmer's market shopping as that involves parking at least a mile from the market, walking there, walking around (which I do fast), then carrying 15kg of shopping back up the hill another mile to the car park. The whole thing takes about an hour, half of it carrying a heavy weight. Definitely raises a sweat!