Just want to know what activity modifier to use...please!

AuntieKT

I am going to preface this post with saying that I am totally asking seriously. I know that there has been a bunch of funny bogus posts going on lately, but this one is for real. I know that I exercise a lot, but I am enjoying it and it makes me feel good. I am at a pretty good place with my weight right now, but I don't think I'll be totally satisfied if I don't lose a little more body fat. In general I try to eat pretty good as a whole allowing some treats here and there from time to time, but I just started a 30 day eating challenge that 100% cuts out all the crap. I have been watching the scale pretty diligently and for the past two months I pretty much haven't lost anything. I know that scales lie and I know that I am losing body fat because I get measured and calipered every month or so at my local fitness center, but I just think for the amount of exercise I'm doing and how clean I'm eating, the scale should be going down some. I think I might finally be ready to give the Road Map suggestions a try. The only thing is that I am a very nervous person that worries about everything and I just would feel a lot better if I knew that the activitiy modifier that I'm picking is going to be the correct one. I know I shouldn't need the reassurance of others, but it's a vice of mine...indulge me...please. Sunday I usually lift heavy for an hour or two with friends. Monday through Friday, I get up before work and do at least an hour of some kind of exercise video that generally burns about 500 calories (when my Heart Rate Monitor is working properly!). After work I try to either lift heavy for one to two hours and then do a half an hour of cardio (usually treadmill at the highest incline which burns a little over 200 calories, or I just do the cardio alone if it isn't a lifting day. Sometimes I do longer or more intense cardio, sometimes I do a little less, and every once in a while if I'm feeling tired, I don't do anything after work. On Saturdays sometimes I take a rest day and sometimes I do some cardio, but it really varies how much. Now, if reading all of that didn't make you cross eyed...what activity modifier should I use when doing the Road Map calculations? I just want to be sure that I'm not picking too high of a modifier. I would much rather error on the side of caution. I am already pretty nervous about adding calories to my day, I want to make sure that it isn't too many. What do you think? And sorry if you think I'm crazy...most people do!

ryry_

What has your daily calorie level been at on average and how many pounds have you been losing per week?

Sounds like moderate activity to me (I'm assuming your job is sedentary) but if you have a couple months of data you can probably figure out your activity level

jacksonpt

I didn't read your post, so sorry if I'm missing the point.

But to the question in your subject line... it doesn't matter too much. Make a reasonable guess, if you're unsure error on the side of less active. Some trial and error is part of getting all this figured out, so you make reasonable estimates, log for a few weeks as honestly and as consistently as you can, then tweak as necessary until you find your sweet spot.

mkcolombia

I didn't read your post, so sorry if I'm missing the point.

But to the question in your subject line... it doesn't matter too much. Make a reasonable guess, if you're unsure error on the side of less active. Some trial and error is part of getting all this figured out, so you make reasonable estimates, log for a few weeks as honestly and as consistently as you can, then tweak as necessary until you find your sweet spot.

ditto, too long a post to read

kcrxgirl

http://www.iifym.com/tdee-calculator

Try this calculator in your "road map" It really makes you think about your activity. When I was filling it out I realized that there are at least 2-3 hours per day that I couldn't account for (didn't really have a good grasp of my activity level).

AuntieKT

What has your daily calorie level been at on average and how many pounds have you been losing per week?

Sounds like moderate activity to me (I'm assuming your job is sedentary) but if you have a couple months of data you can probably figure out your activity level

I have been eating between 1400 and 1600 calories a day and I haven't been losing ANYTHING, hence the desperation to try something new. Thanks though for actually giving me an answer to my question. I will do the calculations for moderate and see if that sounds reasonable.

eric_sg61

What has your daily calorie level been at on average and how many pounds have you been losing per week?

Sounds like moderate activity to me (I'm assuming your job is sedentary) but if you have a couple months of data you can probably figure out your activity level

I am working out pretty intensely twice a day with an average of at least two hours total. I have been eating between 1400 and 1600 calories a day

Sound like your calories are too low if your working out twice a day for 2 hours.

AuntieKT

I tried to edit my original post, but for some reason it wouldn't let me... Long story short, I am working out pretty intensely twice a day for a total of at least two hours between the two workouts (sometimes more). I have a moderately active job though I'm not running around crazy every second. Does anybody else have any suggestions about what I should put for my activity modifier in the Road Map calculations?

AuntieKT

What has your daily calorie level been at on average and how many pounds have you been losing per week?

Sounds like moderate activity to me (I'm assuming your job is sedentary) but if you have a couple months of data you can probably figure out your activity level

I am working out pretty intensely twice a day with an average of at least two hours total. I have been eating between 1400 and 1600 calories a day

Sound like your calories are too low if your working out twice a day for 2 hours.

Yes, that is why I am trying to change things and follow the Road Map. I was looking for suggestions on what to use for the activity modifier in the calculations... Just to be clear just in case you are misunderstanding me, I am not working out two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. It is at least two hours TOTAL for the day.

jacksonpt

it doesn't matter too much. Make a reasonable guess, if you're unsure between 2 settings, error on the side of less active. Some trial and error is part of getting all this figured out, so you make reasonable estimates, log for a few weeks as honestly and as consistently as you can, then tweak as necessary until you find your sweet spot.

this.

AuntieKT

http://www.iifym.com/tdee-calculator

Try this calculator in your "road map" It really makes you think about your activity. When I was filling it out I realized that there are at least 2-3 hours per day that I couldn't account for (didn't really have a good grasp of my activity level).

Thank you! This was VERY helpful! And you are right, there were a couple of hours in there where I wasn't sure what I was doing, LOL! To be super active, I should actually log my activity for a day and see what it really is!