anyone else with this problem?

Tysonlovesweights

Hey all , I'll just get right to it, I am a fairly new member of MFP, and filling out the "lifestyle" portion is something i was hesitant about. I am in construction, and am a crew leader. The difficulty it creates for me is this: most days my activity level is reasonably high, but some days I am doing a lot of thinking/planning and not a lot of nail and hammer type stuff. My schedule over the summer months also fluctuates wildly from time to time, with deadlines an whatnot, so i sometimes find myself working 13-14 hour days with heavy physical activity but the next day may be ultra light. how am I supposed to pick an activity level that i can use all the time? i am looking to lose some extra weight right now, so it won't hurt me too much to be using a lower level for now, but when I am closer to my goal weight or wanting to maintain at a weight/size, how would I account for the differences in daily expenditure......log it as some sort of exercise maybe? I dunno thoughts please!

oh just as an aside, my suggested daily intake at a 1 lb a week deficit is 2600cals, and on days i train, I eat close to 3000. I am 6'4 and 250 lbs as of this morning

CCusedtodance

Yes, I have that problem too. I set mine at what I do the most of. If my week is going to be more strenuous, I go in and adjust the activity level. I do this according to my week, for it is to much of a pain to do it daily. I have had to make minor adjustments; however it has been working for me. Another alternative is to use a HRM (heart rate monitor) that calculates calories burned, to give you a more accurate count.

Tysonlovesweights

i have been thinking about getting a fitbit, or something like that, my wife has one and loves it, i am just not sure how well they work for things like that. some days i spend the whole day carrying and cutting lumber, not sure how those devices would track that sort of thing> i am trying to avoid going in and changing my settings too much, but i may have to

holothuroidea

Set your activity level at light activity (I doubt you are actually sedentary on your lighter days). Figure out your calories for a heavy activity day to figure out how many extra calories you need on those days. Then make a custom entry to the exercise database for something like, "Hammer and nail day." On your heavy days at work, add in those calories as exercise.

Tysonlovesweights

Set your activity level at light activity (I doubt you are actually sedentary on your lighter days). Figure out your calories for a heavy activity day to figure out how many extra calories you need on those days. Then make a custom entry to the exercise database for something like, "Hammer and nail day." On your heavy days at work, add in those calories as exercise.

figuring out my calories ona day when i spend 8-10 hours building and standing walls is easier said than done. i should just get a fitbit and be done with it!

holothuroidea

Set your activity level at light activity (I doubt you are actually sedentary on your lighter days). Figure out your calories for a heavy activity day to figure out how many extra calories you need on those days. Then make a custom entry to the exercise database for something like, "Hammer and nail day." On your heavy days at work, add in those calories as exercise.

figuring out my calories ona day when i spend 8-10 hours building and standing walls is easier said than done. i should just get a fitbit and be done with it!

I guess I didn't explain clearly! I meant to take your TDEE for heavy activity minus TDEE for light activity and use the difference as the calories you'd add for exercise.

I think a fitbit is a great idea, though!