do you track small amounts of exercise

thinbride0004

So quick info on me:
Starting weight 192
Goal Weight 155
Height 5 10
Current weight 188

Is it correct to log in exercise that does not get your heart rate up? For example I walk my dogs everyday at least once for a minimum of 15 minutes around our neighborhood or the park (most often it is 20-25 minutes,usually not longer due to the fact that it is freezing outside!!!). Should I log this in for extra calories if it is part of my everyday schedule?

Currently I only log occasional walks that are over 45 minutes because I feel like that actually gets my heart rate up. Is this correct?

Thanks!

koosdel

No.

kbeller88

Most definately!!! Its just the fact your getting up and moving...if you don't move fast enough to break a sweat its okay just log it in as Walking 2.0 but if you start sweating log it in at 3.0 and honestly even if you dont' feel your heart rate go up it doesn't mean that its not...

watergirl626

If you set your activity level at sedentary you should log it all.

MrsCon40

Yes - you're better off only logging things that elevate your heart rate. Unless you are morbidly obese and 15 minute walks are new exercise to you.

naseak

If you check the exercise area it gives you options for walking speed (even mentions walking the dog) I think it is good to log everything to get a good picture of what you are really doing.

lorac321

You said it was part of your everyday schedule. No, I wouldn't include it.

DenisePenland

I log everything! If i clean for 10 minutes i log it, it all counts!

IvoryParchment

I set my activity for sedentary and log all exercise. It's a nice way to be motivated to exercise. Instead of failing if I don't meet exercise goals, I'm instantly rewarded with more calories to eat what I like. I've never been so faithful at using the treadmill in my life

kennethmgreen

If you set your activity level at sedentary you should log it all.

This. What you should track depends on what you set your activity level to. If you are set to sedentary, then most exercise outside your "norm" (which should be little activity - you know, sedentary) should be logged.

CakeFit21

I log everything! If i clean for 10 minutes i log it, it all counts!

:huh:

kennethmgreen

I log everything! If i clean for 10 minutes i log it, it all counts!

This probably makes sense if your starting point calories for the day is at a level that your body requires to lie on the floor. So almost any activity at all is a change from that calorie requirement.

aippolito1

I wouldn't because it's part of your lifestyle. You walk your dogs because you have dogs. Especially if you did it before you were trying to lose weight. I typically think of "small" amounts of exercise as a bonus. Such as ... say I spend four hours cleaning. It didn't get my heart rate up, so it's just extra. I don't log it. Unless I'm really breathing heavy, I'll wear my HRM and log it.

yummy♥

I log everything! If i clean for 10 minutes i log it, it all counts!

but does this strategy help you with your Steve Perry?

it's important to be realistic about your calorie expenditures during routine activity, overestimating can derail your plan.

Justjoshin

If you set your activity level at sedentary you should log it all.

I disagree. Sedentary would assume that MOST of your day is sedentary, not all.
By your logic, I should log walking from my house to the car, from the car to the store, etc.

Log your EXERCISE, not the daily activities that your life requires.

thinbride0004

Thanks guys!

a_stronger_steph

My activity level is set to sedentary, so I log my walk to/from work every day. It's about a 15-20 minute walk each way, and my natural pace is 3.5 mph, but I log it as 15 minutes each way (30 total) at 2.5 mph so as not to overestimate the calories. I've been doing that since I started on MFP, and it gives me ~100 calories more per day to work with (I eat my exercise calories back). I don't log my walk to/from the coffee shop at work, walking around the building, etc., but I do allow myself that half hour commute walk... because it's a departure from sedentary activity. If my activity level were set to "lightly active," I wouldn't log it.

Di3012

So quick info on me:
Starting weight 192
Goal Weight 155
Height 5 10
Current weight 188

Is it correct to log in exercise that does not get your heart rate up? For example I walk my dogs everyday at least once for a minimum of 15 minutes around our neighborhood or the park (most often it is 20-25 minutes,usually not longer due to the fact that it is freezing outside!!!). Should I log this in for extra calories if it is part of my everyday schedule?

Currently I only log occasional walks that are over 45 minutes because I feel like that actually gets my heart rate up. Is this correct?

Thanks!

I only log specific training sessions. All other stuff, I don't bother with.

CalJur

No.

not sure why no. walking is definitely an exercise regardless of how high your rate is?

stormieweather

Your body becomes accustomed to your routine and doesn't burn as much as someone new to that activity. If something is part of your lifestyle and not done specifically for fitness purposes, then I would NOT log it. You aren't doing yourself any favors by logging something that really didn't give you extra calories.

getfit618

I log any excercise which was intended to be....well excercise. Any activities of daily life such as cleaning, walking a dog, playing with kids, walking around town i do not think should be logged as exercise calories. This is your life- you will be doing that everyday no matter if you were working towards a healthier lifestyle or not. Excercise should be when you move around with the INTENTION of excercising. Not dong things that are normal for your lifestyle.