Confused about activity level versus exercise

rachmass1

Hi, I apologize if this has been posted before, but I wasn't seeing anything in a casual search:

What is the difference between the overall activity level during the day and actual exercise?

I have a treadmill desk and walk about half of my work day, very slowly (just under one mile per hour) and I don't know whether I should count this as exercise or just activity level and certainly don't want to double count it. I normally log between 3-5 hours per day, mostly right around 4 but I don't break a sweat or breathe hard at all. Other than the walking I am not currently doing any exercise other than weights.

Thoughts on how this should be counted? If it is activity level is it light or moderate?

Thanks!!!!

rachmass1

I am confused, if I look up my BMR at 1455 but as sedentary (173 LBS wanting to get to 135 LBS) it reads 1522. If I go to lighly active it goes to 1744 and moderately active 1965.

If I count myself sedentary and then add on the walking it adds 450 calorie burn in just over 3 hours but if I look at the BMR differences it is basically the equivalent of logging myself as moderately active since I walk close to 4 hours most days each week (over 500 calorie burn).

Do the BMR calculations then simply relate to your activity level based on what you exercise? If so, wouldn't walking at work be exercise?

I am soooo confused as to what I should be taking in (and MFP says only 1200 calories as sedentary at 1 LB a week).

DanielleRN8

You should always eat at least your BMR. That is what it takes for your body to function without any activity at all. Then I would calculate how much you burn based on your job/exercise.

sun33082

Think of it this way...with your job and normal daily activity, are you losing weight? If not, then don't count it as exercise.

rachmass1

I just started on MFP. I have been walking at work for 5 weeks and cut back on my food intake for 10 weeks total. I have lost a total of 8 pounds since I started, 7 of them since I started walking, so yes, the walking is making a huge difference (my pants are falling off me now).

What I am concerned about is making sure I am eating enough, without getting into eating too much. If the BMR without any activity level accounted for is 1455 then wouldn't using an activity level and counting your exercise simply double count what you can eat?

sun33082

You shouldn't count the walking as activity level AND exercise. It's one or the other.

rachmass1

Thanks, that is precisely what I was trying to find out. If I count it as exercise then I look at my BMR as that base 1455 and just add in how much I did that day (since it can vary from as little as 2 hours to as much as 5)?

BigDaddyBRC

MFP explains it in pretty simple terms.
Sedentary: Spend most of the day sitting (e.g. bank teller, desk job)
Lightly Active: Spend a good part of the day on your feet (e.g. nurse, salesman)
Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. waitress, mailman)
Very Active: Spend most of the day doing heavy physical activity (e.g. bike messenger, carpenter)

Leave out any forms of recreation. What do you do in your NORMAL day.