Do I Count This?

heathermaxine

I just have a quick question, and I know that it's probably a very easy question to answer and I should know it...but I just want to check to make sure. Better safe than sorry.

I work a five day work week and I'm on my feet moving, walking, lifting, and cleaning (varying from light to vigorous movements) with no breaks for 7 to 8 hours each of these days. Since starting work I changed my activity level on MFP to fit the change, but I still have a question about how to count my work and whether to not to count it at all.
I've been told that my body will eventually get used to all this activity and so not to count it as exercise, but that doesn't really make sense to me. I may be wrong, but I feel that I must be doing some sort of exercise going by how exhausted and sore I am at the end of the day.

Anywho, if you could answer my (probably completely obvious) question...I would really appreciate it. Please and thank you!

jamantha

As far as I know, if you set your activity level to high, MFP automatically counts that exercise when setting your calorie allowance. So don't it on as specific exercise, as you've already been given the calories for it.

Pandorian

From the labels where you're updating your diet/ fitness profile

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)

So between waitress / nurse / carpenter.. yeah most of that "movement over your day" is covered in the extra "multiplier" that that puts on your BMR to give you your daily calories.

JesterMFP

Your body "counts" it, whether you do or not. When it's part of your everyday lifestyle, it's much easier (I think) to count it as part of your activity level, as you say you have done, rather than logging it as exercise. But yes, I would definitely count it somewhere. Some people say your body gets "used to" certain exercises, and you need to change things to "confuse" your muscles etc. It certainly doesn't hurt to change your exercise routine sometimes, but you still burn calories even if your body is used to those exercises. It will become more efficient at performing tasks that it is used to, but you'll still be burning far more calories than if you're sedentary.

kinmad4it

If you've set your activity level correctly then you shouldn't have any need to log anything work related.
I'm a postman and never log any of my work "exercise" I walk probably 5 miles a day but having done it for over 15 years my body is very accustomed to it and I never break a sweat or get out of breath.
I also personally think that only continuous exercise should be counted. Something you specifically do for the sole purpose of burning calories/getting stronger/improving fitness.

JesterMFP

If you've set your activity level correctly then you shouldn't have any need to log anything work related.
I'm a postman and never log any of my work "exercise" I walk probably 5 miles a day but having done it for over 15 years my body is very accustomed to it and I never break a sweat or get out of breath.
I also personally think that only continuous exercise should be counted. Something you specifically do for the sole purpose of burning calories/getting stronger/improving fitness.

But, you are actually counting your work activity - just as part of your activity level, not as additional logged exercise, right?

kinmad4it

Yeah. My job is quite phyical but I'm used to it. I'll only count exercise outside from work.

nphect

the calorie counting is an average game. Just make sure your in an average of deficit. You probably burn 200-400 calories working each day. If you exercise every day, i wouldn't bother with adding it. If you don't exercise and you just work and are trying to cut calories, if it were me i would round down to be safe, so like 200-250 i would count.