Am I cheating?

BigDougie1211
BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I work on the 5th floor.
There are 3 flights between floors.
There are 10 steps per flight.
I walk up 15 flights to get to my office.
I do this every day to start work, every day after my break and every day after lunch - and sometimes if I've a bit of downtime or need to take my eyes off the screen, I do the stairs,
It burns 15 cals every time I do this ( HRM checked )
Am I cheating by including this in my exercise?
I think it's allowed as I've not always done this and there is an elevator/lift, so this represents an extra conscious effort.
But I just want other opinions....
Have at it...
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Replies

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    If it's part of your daily routine, I would include it in your activity level settings rather than logging it as exercise.
  • Gunsentry
    Gunsentry Posts: 121 Member
    Any exercise that burns cals counts.
  • Runs4CupCakes
    Runs4CupCakes Posts: 132
    i think not bc like you said you could be like the rest and take the elevator...
  • BigDougie1211
    BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
    If it's part of your daily routine, I would include it in your activity level settings rather than logging it as exercise.

    But exercise is also part of my daily routine?
  • jesisley
    jesisley Posts: 1 Member
    If by including it, you do it consciously and more regularly, then include it.

    If by not including it, you would be more inclined to take the elevator every now and again, then include it and take the stairs.

    The point is to stay motivated and stay moving.
  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    dude, who cares how you log it? It just rules that you're doing it..........
  • monjacq1964
    monjacq1964 Posts: 291 Member
    I just read an article (and can't find it back arrgh) where a guy who incorporated routine walking into his day (he moved to a place where he had to walk 1.5k to get his mail every day) lost four pounds in a month, not changing his routine in any other way. So, just because its part of your routine doesn't mean its not exercise.
  • laserturkey
    laserturkey Posts: 1,680 Member
    I know I would log that, but I have my activity level set at sedentary to begin with.
  • cubbies77
    cubbies77 Posts: 607 Member
    If it's part of your daily routine, I would include it in your activity level settings rather than logging it as exercise.

    Ditto. I would change to "lightly active" if you're set to "sedentary" right now. Or bump it up to "moderately" if you're at "light".
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    As long as your activity level is sedentary, I would log it as exercise.
  • mamamc03
    mamamc03 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I know I would log that, but I have my activity level set at sedentary to begin with.

    ditto!
  • chignon47
    chignon47 Posts: 1
    No way. Good for you!
  • legnarevocrednu
    legnarevocrednu Posts: 467 Member
    If you do it INTENTIONALLY, I would log it. If you don't have a choice, don't.
  • Eaglesfanintn
    Eaglesfanintn Posts: 813 Member
    Personally, I would probably log half of it. I take my dogs for two long walks each day, but I only count one of them. Kind of chalk the other walk up to "I don't trust the calorie burned calculation".
    I also run every day and I log that - so I don't necessarily agree with not logging it just because you do it every day.
  • eyeshuh
    eyeshuh Posts: 333
    If it's part of your daily routine, I would include it in your activity level settings rather than logging it as exercise.

    Ditto. I would change to "lightly active" if you're set to "sedentary" right now. Or bump it up to "moderately" if you're at "light".

    Ditto to this as well! My activity is set to lightly active since I am on my feet (though just standing around) and I never take the elevator. The only time I log stairs is when I occasionally jog up and down them for an extended period of time during my breaks, since that is not part of my regular routine.
  • rdcraner
    rdcraner Posts: 11
    My thoughts are, if it is out of the norm for your work day, i.e. part of your job duties do not include marching up and down the stairs, then log it.

    I am in IT, my job involves sitting at my desk for 90% of the day. If during breaks I decide to go out and walk around the office complex, I log that as exercise, even if I do it every day.

    Someone else said that they have their activity level set to sedentary. I do the same and log basically all extra-curricular physical activity. As an example, my wife and I went on a road trip and spent an entire day walking around a city. I logged this for that particular day.
  • Martucha123
    Martucha123 Posts: 1,089 Member
    Sedentary does include some walking (for me it's about 5000 steps by my pedometer)
    I wouldn't include it as an exercise
  • mmddwechanged
    mmddwechanged Posts: 1,687 Member
    If its working for you and feels good to log do it! Way 2 go btw.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    If you are set at sedentary, then I would count it if it were me.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I know I would log that, but I have my activity level set at sedentary to begin with.

    ditto!

    this!
  • TeachTheGirl
    TeachTheGirl Posts: 2,091 Member
    My FitBit would log it as exercise. I disagree with changing your activity level. If it's only twice a day and the rest of it is spent sitting at a desk, it would be inaccurate overall.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    If it's part of your daily routine, I would include it in your activity level settings rather than logging it as exercise.

    Agree.
  • cskalaj
    cskalaj Posts: 94 Member
    I think you're over thinking it. I've found that trying to log every single step I take and every single bite I take tends to make me not want to log at all as it is so time consuming. (As somewhat of a perfectionist, I have a hard time beginning projects if I can't do it AND DO IT RIGHT to completion...which sometimes hinders me from beginning things.) You're looking at, what, MAYBE 100 calories per day from taking the stairs? I'd say if you're that hungry for an extra 100 calories by the end of the day, then eat it, but don't log it so you don't feel like you have to eat it....and really try not to sweat every 15 calories. It takes 3,500 to make a pound, so even if you're over or under 100 each day, you're only looking at a pound over the course of a month! I've learned to allow myself 100 to "play with" so as to not be too overwhelmed to log :)
  • brendaj39
    brendaj39 Posts: 375 Member
    dude, who cares how you log it? It just rules that you're doing it..........



    very true! good job on doing it...:smile:
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    It depends. It should be figured into your calorie count but there are two ways to do it. If this is part of your activity level (eg, if it's part of your otherwise 'lightly active' lifestyle) then don't worry about logging it. But if you list yourself as 'sedentary' then I would definitely log it.

    Accounting for it is not cheating, it's accuracy! It's just down to how you account for it. And good on you walking up the stairs! Way to go!
  • mfpcopine
    mfpcopine Posts: 3,093 Member
    I would factor it into my general activity level. It's great you're doing it. I do similar things, for example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

    The reason there is an "exercise" category is because people seriously trying to lose or maintain need structured, vigorous, consistent exercise.
  • BigDougie1211
    BigDougie1211 Posts: 3,531 Member
    Thanks for all the replies folks, loving that people are engaging and also explaining their reasons. Really apprciate that.
    I do have my activity level at Sedentary because from 9 - 5, I sit at a desk.
    I tend to go for a walk at lunch ( which I don't count. ) but that's it during the day.
    The only time I tend to include a walk etc is if I'm using it to "cool down" after training/working out. Like I'd maybe do a HARD hour or so then go out for a leisurely walk to relax before showering etc. I'd include that because my heart rate would still be somewhat elevated and I'd still sweat.
    So it's NOT a case of monitoring every step.
    I tend to operate on the theory that if it makes me sweat or breath harder - it's exercise.
    And as depressing as it might be, taking the stairs still leaves me sounding like Christian Bale in Batman.
  • cubbies77
    cubbies77 Posts: 607 Member
    The problem with MFP's "sedentary" setting is that it assumes you're going to log shopping, cleaning, and all that other daily stuff. Their sedentary means truly sitting on your butt all day.

    If you don't want to log the stairs, walking around, shopping, cleaning, playing with kids/pets, and all that other stuff you do, set it to "lightly active". I started losing weight again as soon as I fixed my setting.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    get a fitbit and it will personalize your daily calorie burn based on what you have averaged in the past. I use my HRM during my actual workouts and i log that in MFP, then it feeds over into fitbit. If i burn more throughout the day than average after taking my workouts into account, it gives me a fitbit calorie adjustment on MFP. Plus then that tracks the steps you take, the floors your climb and miles you walk. Amazing little device that Fitbit is.
  • hevhoyda
    hevhoyda Posts: 146 Member
    Why not log it?...I mean in reality you are going out of your way to get in some extra exercise so I'd include it...keep up the hard work!

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