All my ducks in a row, just one more question!

amills1152 · January 2013

Ok so I did all my calculating for my TDEE and BMR and how many calories I should be eating according to my activity level - HOWEVER - activity level... that's the last thing that has tripped me up. On so calculators, I see the activity levels described as what people do throughout the day, such as if they have a job where they are on their feet a lot or if they are chained to a desk all day... and then there are OTHER calculators that describe activity level based on how many times they work out a week. The one I used described activity level as how many times a week you work out, so even though I am striving to work out all 7 days, at the very least 6, I chose the activity level that said "Exercise 5 days a week."

However, my question is this. As far as day-long activity, I work from home on the internet all day everyday, and so in THAT way, I am quite sedentary as I lounge around on the couch, at the dining table, in the office, always either sitting (and in my lazier moments, laying....eesh!) BUT.... I DO workout the amount that the one calculator said, but I'm wondering if I should have put a lower activity level to give me a lower TDEE and therefore give me a lower caloric intake in order to lose weight. Like most newbs, I fear the whole eating more to lose weight thing, and while I'm very willing to be patient and let my body adjust before expecting results, I just wanted to get you guys' input as far as activity level.

I'm behind a computer all day - but I DO exercise at least 6 days a week. What should my activity level be set at? Thanks in advanced!

LuckyLeprechaun · January 2013

You just need to account for the activity. You have a choice:

call yourself "sedentary", then log all the exercises you do, and earn back calories for those exercises. Eat all the calories MFP gives you.

OR

include all the workouts in your decision and call yourself "active", then don't log workouts, because they have already been accounted for. Eat all the calories MFP gives you.

either way will work.

I chose the first way.

Hope that helps!

Mokey41 · January 2013

I put myself as sedentary because I sit at a desk all day. I use that as my calorie budget. Then I add any exercise by logging it on here and I rarely eat that back but I can see the actual calories I've earned if I did want to eat them. It's also motivation to do exercise but I see it! If you calculate it into your activity level it's assumed that you did it even if you didn't.

taso42 · January 2013

It'll take a little trial and error. By the numbers, I generally fall somewhere between "moderate" and "heavy exercise". I lift intensely 4x/week and do cardio 0-2x/week; Other than that, I'm sedentary. Moral of the story: don't sell your metabolism short

kuntry_navy · January 2013

keep it at sedentary. all your days won't be the same. if you keep it at the lowest, those days where you really aren't active you won't be over allowing yourself calories

amills1152 · January 2013

Thanks you guys ^_^ VERY good info there! God I love this site!

Chief_Rocka · January 2013

Now I want some duck

krisiepoo · January 2013

don't put in lower than what you're actually doing

Low calories does not automatically equal weight loss. I'm eating over 2000/day and losing. I know it's a head trip, but be honest what you put in and watch the results happen

These calculators weren't pulled out of someones *kitten*, they're based on science

EstiloPanama · January 2013

I put sedentary and only count exercise as anything that gets my heart going over 120 beats per minute for an extended period of time...

ninerbuff · January 2013

I'd put in sedentary, then count my exercise calories. There will be some days that you may not get to exercise because of XYZ reason, but your work lifestyle will more than likely remain constant.

Also go by how you feel and how your body looks, feels. Not everything with weight loss can be measured by just the numbers alone.

Good luck.

I feel like some Peking Duck now.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

hastinbe · January 2013

You might get a better idea with this TDEE calculator, it is a little more customizable

http://www.health-calc.com/diet/energy-expenditure-advanced

cleanjerksnatch · January 2013

For the long run, invest into a stand height table, here is a google search of some.

http://www.google.com/search?q=adjustable+table&oq=adjustable+table&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=stand+height+table&hl=en&tbo=u&source=univ&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=q8r5UOzuDqW22gW10YHYAg&ved=0CFgQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c7e682ab8bcf7c59&biw=1280&bih=923

Your metabolism slows down if you are inactive/sitting for too long. If you stand all day and take sitting breaks and you workout 6 days a week as you say you do, with a simple balanced diet you will be fine.

amills1152 · January 2013

For the long run, invest into a stand height table, here is a google search of some.

http://www.google.com/search?q=adjustable+table&oq=adjustable+table&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=stand+height+table&hl=en&tbo=u&source=univ&tbm=shop&sa=X&ei=q8r5UOzuDqW22gW10YHYAg&ved=0CFgQsxg&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=c7e682ab8bcf7c59&biw=1280&bih=923

Your metabolism slows down if you are inactive/sitting for too long. If you stand all day and take sitting breaks and you workout 6 days a week as you say you do, with a simple balanced diet you will be fine.

That is a REALLY good idea! Thanks!

All my ducks in a row, just one more question!

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