Am I moderately active?

fausonk
fausonk Posts: 41
in Health and Weight Loss
This TDEE thing is killing me. I don't have a desk job, and I'm not a waitress, or a construction worker, so I'm having a hard time determining what activity level to choose. I work out 7 days a week, 1-2 hours each day. My activities range from lifting (3x/week), walking on the treadmill, swimming, rowing machine, stationary bike. But everything I do is within a moderate effort (I don't do much HIIT training, so my heart rate is always in a middling range). After working out, though, I spend quite a bit of time sitting. So it's not like I'm running around all day doing stuff. Since other than working out I'm fairly sedentary, should I choose moderate activity?

Replies

  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    Try this calculator
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    I recommend choosing sedentary and then logging your exercise
  • samanthachen
    samanthachen Posts: 360 Member
    I would say moderately active!

    I set mine to sedentary with full plans to eat back my exercise calories just to make it easy on myself, but I really wasn't sure. I don't have a desk job, but I am in front of one a lot. Once I come home at noon, I am on my feet the entire time. I work out, chase my 2 year old around, and stand up any other time. I was really unsure too!! I hope this helps.

    I think a lot of people set it low just in case. In my opinion, though, you sound moderately active, easy. You could even be more.
  • samanthachen
    samanthachen Posts: 360 Member
    Try this calculator
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    I just used this site and it was very comprehensive!! Great suggestion! Better evaluation than just saying you are sedentary by having a desk job or moderate is nursing. So much grey area.
  • fausonk
    fausonk Posts: 41
    Thank you for that site! That came up with my TDEE as 2600. It feels like being able to put in all the different activities and their duration in a day is much more effective in determining activity level. Thank you very much. I hope this website gets publicized more!
  • nuemmedigg
    nuemmedigg Posts: 220 Member
    I recommend choosing sedentary and then logging your exercise
    Agree with this. The tdee calculator puts my calorie needs way too high for my metabolism.
  • ICarla
    ICarla Posts: 200 Member
    Try this calculator
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    Thanks for this!
  • fruitloop2
    fruitloop2 Posts: 437 Member
    Try this calculator
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    Interesting, that calculator is about a 400 calorie difference from most other sites. I wonder how accurate it is.

    I think you would be listed as moderate.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    Try this calculator
    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/

    Interesting, that calculator is about a 400 calorie difference from most other sites. I wonder how accurate it is.

    I think you would be listed as moderate.

    Really? When I used this calculator and compared it to others I got pretty much the exact same numbers.
  • fruitloop2
    fruitloop2 Posts: 437 Member
    Maybe the difference is that it asks you for everything you do in day where the others only ask you about exercise. I exercise 3 - 5 days/week but my job also has me walking around and being lightly active. I don't know but it was interesting to see a 400 calorie jump.
  • dfonte
    dfonte Posts: 263 Member
    Triple agreed.

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