We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Working with children

pearlyyy92
pearlyyy92 Posts: 47
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So, I'm a youth worker and I run around after 8-12 year olds for about five hours every Friday. Its exhausting, I have put my activity levels as lightly active as I work every day and stuff but I don't know if running around after the children could be counted as exercise? Ive put down a couple of hours of walking at the moment, but wanted to know if anyone else does this/ has the same job? :D

Replies

  • PaleoRDH
    PaleoRDH Posts: 266
    well i'm on the other end of the age group.......... i work in a hospital taking care of disabled elderly people, hooked up to oxygen and catheters and in wheelchairs... i'm running all day long too. i also listed my activity level as "light" because it says...... "like a nurse".... which i was shocked to see because not many people bust their booties like nurses!
  • pearlyyy92
    pearlyyy92 Posts: 47
    Exactly! I put it as 2 hours of walking at 3mph, but i did a lot more than that! Im so confused about what to put haha!
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    when i saw 'like a nurse' I laughed, I used to work as an LNA and my nurses were lazy *****es. I know they're not all like that, but these ones were something else. Turned me off from the nursing field BIG TIME. Anyway, I put my diary as sedentary, so then it doesn't count any activity. I would do that, if you wanted to count your job or whatever as exercise. I count cleaning and even walking in the grocery store.
  • pearlyyy92
    pearlyyy92 Posts: 47
    Hm, that's a good idea, thanks! Haha still,they need an exercise option for this kind of stuff!
  • sperky1975
    sperky1975 Posts: 1 Member
    Hi, I am a nanny and like you spend my day running around after little ones. I only log my exercise if i do something a little out of the ordinary - go for a long walk with them, go swimming etc as I kind of think otherwise it is just like my normal day when I have my son or like most mummies days who are at home. I do also wear a pedometer though as I seem to walk miles when at work and this also logs calories burnt. x x x
  • DiLoTray
    DiLoTray Posts: 1
    I teach during the school year and find that wearing a pedometer helps me keep track.
  • pearlyyy92
    pearlyyy92 Posts: 47
    I'll have to get a heart rate monitor and report back fly findings! I don't want to think I've done loads of exercise and then eat more and slow my weight loss down. Thanks for the replays! :D xxx
  • 6mimi
    6mimi Posts: 1,432 Member
    I have a home daycare caring for 6 children ages 4 and under. I go go go go all day long! :tongue: I put mine as lightly active because I would rather caution on that side of error. I usually just log whatever exercise I do before/after work or if I take the children for a walk, yoga in the park.. that kind of thing. A week or so ago I did buy a fitbit which I really like. It lets me know how many steps I have taken all day so I have a better idea of what activity I had while working. As long as I am getting in at least 10,000 steps a day I feel good about my activity while working.
  • DisneyAddictRW
    DisneyAddictRW Posts: 800 Member
    I wear a body bugg. I have a home day are of 12 kids. I burn average 3000 calories a day without working out. I only log my workouts if it's out of my normal day. Trips to the gym, runs, or walks.
  • Pepper2185
    Pepper2185 Posts: 994 Member
    I'm also a youth worker. We are busy gals :)

    I have my settings as "lightly active." I don't log anything work-related as extra calories. I figure, if I'm actually burning some extra calories, that's good, but I'm not going to log it.
  • pearlyyy92
    pearlyyy92 Posts: 47
    YEah my fiancé is always like, well you know you've burned a few more calories so you don't have to be so strict at dinner time, Or something like that! All that coffee and green tea probably helps as well :p
  • HartJames
    HartJames Posts: 789 Member
    I also work with kids. I feel like it is normal activity, not like it's much more than walking and playing. I definitely sit down too. So I only count if we go for a walk or if I sneak a playground workout in (HRM on me!). I also set my goals manually and subtracted 25% off my TDEE between light/sedentary. I then eat back exercise cals (subtract my BMR before entering).
  • RealWomenLovePitbulls
    RealWomenLovePitbulls Posts: 729 Member
    you don't count your work as exercise. you have to add more to your normal daily routine, or how do you expect to seee changes??
  • PaleoRDH
    PaleoRDH Posts: 266
    when i saw 'like a nurse' I laughed, I used to work as an LNA and my nurses were lazy *****es. I know they're not all like that, but these ones were something else. Turned me off from the nursing field BIG TIME. Anyway, I put my diary as sedentary, so then it doesn't count any activity. I would do that, if you wanted to count your job or whatever as exercise. I count cleaning and even walking in the grocery store.


    Good Lord not these days with the nursing shortage. You're lucky if you have time to pee. My S-I-L is an OR nurse and works 14 hour days sometimes, on her feet and never resting. I'm a dental hygienist, but I work in a hospital on 100% disabled veterans, never a dull moment, I run around like ca-raaaa-zey.... and none of the nurses in the hospital have it easy @ all. But like you said.... it just depends. :wink:
This discussion has been closed.

Categories