Does weight lifting count in activity level for TDEE?

sarahlove43

I'm talking specially about Scoobys calculator. I do about 3 hours of weight lifting a week, and then intense cardio 2-3 times a week. Since weight lifting doesn't burn off that much calories, should I just place myself as lightly active?

Noor13

You might not see that much of an actual burn during your weight lifting (unless you do legs probably), but you will have an increased afterburn, which a HRM will not pick up. If you wear a BMF you will probably notice that your burns will be increased on intense lifting days throughout after the lifting session.
So yes, it counts of course for your TDEE

sarahlove43

I understand that there is an afterburn when lifting weights, but can it really be compared to the amount of calories burned during cardio? Will someone who does 5 hours of cardio a week burning 800 calories each time have around the same TDEE as someone who only lifts weights 5 hrs a week?

sarahlove43

bump

HMVOL7409

Yes, it should be included. You need to eat properly while on a deficit to maintain LBM. You are not lightly active.

Liftnlove

I understand that there is an afterburn when lifting weights, but can it really be compared to the amount of calories burned during cardio? Will someone who does 5 hours of cardio a week burning 800 calories each time have around the same TDEE as someone who only lifts weights 5 hrs a week?

Depends on how intensely the person lifts...if they lift heavy weights with minimal rest, then my opinion would be yes....the TDEEs should be comparable.

Either way, I'd say you're probably "moderately active", not "lightly active"...unless you are fairly sedentary the rest of your day.