Logging Yard Work/Cycling Commute

umfan85
umfan85 Posts: 113 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been trying to find an answer to this question, but everything I have found seems to contradict itself. I am having a question regarding what to log as exercise, and what not to log.

I currently have my activity level set to Sedentary. My two issues are yardwork I do for a neighbor, typically 3-4 times a week, and commuting by bike to work/running errands.

Yardwork: It somewhat varies, but I generally put in a good amount of effort and am quite exhausted by the end. It can range anywhere from pulling weeds, planting, to trimming low trees. Any thoughts?

Cycling: My daily commute is only 3.5 miles each way. Should I still record it as exercise? What about general short trips around town? I do record any cycling I do specifically for exercise, mainly 10+ miles.

I just want to make sure I am eating enough calories, yet not over emphasizing my exercise. Thanks for any input!

Replies

  • umfan85
    umfan85 Posts: 113 Member
    Anybody?
  • joanrobinson2012
    joanrobinson2012 Posts: 19
    I'd log both of those. I use my bike daily for usually multiple short trips and just total up my minutes at the end of a day and log it as light effort cycling. Likewise gardening.

    I generally aim to eat back about half of my exercise calories to counter the maybe over-optimism of the predicted calorie burn .
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I'd log the commute for sure, the shorter trips become a judgement call but I think as long as you're reflecting the accurate intensity of the ride it counts. (I tend not to log hings like a walking to pick up a couple of things at the store - I suspect MFPs calorie estimates are a bit on the high side so I try to be a little conservative). If you have a heart rate monitor use it on one of your rides to give MFP estimates a sanity check.

    The yard work - again a judgement call. Obviously you're expending more energy than you would sitting on the sofa but is it material?
  • Guines9
    Guines9 Posts: 137
    Likewise, I do yard work for a few hours a day or more. It includes mowing for two hours now and then, or, like you, pulling weeds, moving bolders, pulling tree stumps, pruning trees, tree topping, climbing trees, raing, shoveling, wheel barrow work, rock collecting and distributing, etc. I am clearing an old defuncted canal that was part of the ERIE. I am turning ugliness into beauty. Being part Irish, I love to see GREEN! LOL

    Tons of work to do by hand and it is both aerobic and anaerobic exercise you can't do on machines. For me, it is very pactical and more realistic doing this kind of exercise. I find machines very boring so i have to watch a video while exercising on them, but i much prefer the instant gratification and visual progress which is immediate. Exercising on machines, I do not see any immediate results. Exercising should be fun, like cycling.

    However to gauge and document what is the calory burn, you would have to ask an expert. All i know it, it is helping me out tremendously, both mentally and physically. I do not need to know what the calory burn count is. To me, again, yard work is practical and not an idiotic robotic action.

    I can not cycle because of an asthmatic condition. i do short intense spurts of work and rest, over and over again and at times, like mowing, it is considered aerobic.. It is very challenging for me but i decide it is well worth the pain and difficulty. If not, when will be be able to do this in my life? Never will i be able to breath freely; So might as well go for it now than later. In three months. i lost 10 lbs. It does not sound like much but i have not been able to do it for about ten years. I am glad i was informed about this site and learned the mistakes i have been making for ten years. If i hear or read anything about calory count for yard work. I willlet you know. Ad me to your friends list. Thanks
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