Activity Level?

pjd1973
pjd1973 Posts: 37
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm not sure what I should set my activity level at. I had it set for sedetary. I have a sit down job, but exercise 6 days a week for 45-60 min. per day. I feel like my caloric intake is too low (fitness pal had me at 1310). It's been hard not to go over in calories. Not to mention I haven't lost weight in quite some time. Today I changed my activity level to light activity. Just want some opinions as to what my activity level should be set at.

Replies

  • Ritzbrit
    Ritzbrit Posts: 211 Member
    I'm the same. I sit at a desk all day M-F but then workout 5-6 days a week for at least an hr.

    Look at this post http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/912920-in-place-of-a-road-map-3-2013, very helpful and I've been following the TDEE - 25% for awhile now and steadily losing.

    It sounds like you aren't eating enough for your activity level.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Are you talking about MFP or TDEE? They're different. MFP is asking about your daily life. If you have a desk job and do your daily activities like housework, getting to and from work, personal care, some TV watching etc then you would be sedentary. MFP expects you to log intentional exercise separately and eat those calories back. If you are sedentary, don't exercise and feel the budget is too low that's probably because you've picked too aggressive of a goal. Instead of faking an activity level, choose an amount to lose that is less aggressive.

    If you are using a TDEE calculation then you would include intentional exercise in your calories and you don't log them separately to eat them back. If you are basically sedentary all day with a little exercise then you could choose lightly active and make your calorie deficit deduction from that.

    When MFP asks you to input your exercise plan it's only as a motivator, it doesn't add or subtract anything from your calorie budget.
  • pjd1973
    pjd1973 Posts: 37
    Thank you so much. That really helps! :happy:
  • lisab0864
    lisab0864 Posts: 154
    IMO it sounds like you should chose sedentary (because the majority of your day is spent doing that) and then log your exercise.
    I have my level set at Active (cuz 3 to 5 hours each day is spent feeding animals (cows), cleaning the barn (by hand/pitchfork), and other farm related duties) and log my (at least) 5 day a week exercise.

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