Question about HRM, Pedometers and GDA

valandario
valandario Posts: 30 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I was hoping someone could clarify this for me please. I asked originally in my friend feed and it has led to more confusion so i'm hoping that approaching a wider audience might get a definitive answer. Please correct me where I am wrong.

From my understanding the minimum GDA (1200 cal) is what we need to basically live and lose weight (Obviously I'm aware that it can be any figure under the recommended GDA), the standard GDA being what we need each day to live a normal healthy life and maintain weight. I'm presuming with this that normal everyday activities like walking around the house or work are taken into account, the same with light common activities such as housework, shopping, gardening, etc. So, with that in mind, would it be reasonable to presume that using a pedometer or heart rate monitor for anything other than designated exercise would be pointless and just kidding myself that I have done more than I actually have?

I've noticed that quite a few people wear a HRM or pedometer all day and go on the result at the end of the day, this is what has led me to wonder about this. I can see how this can be beneficial as a motivational tool to try and do morse each day and i'm all for that, BUT I don't want to fall into a trap of kidding myself into thinking I have done more towards my ultimate goal than I have, thus resulting in eating calories that I haven't actually earned, and so on. So, can anyone tell me exactly how this works please?

One reply I got basically said that GDA's are inaccurate and using a HRM all day is more accurate, but if that is the case then what is the point of even having GDA and how on earth can we gauge things? Or could this mean that I would need to use a HRM for a week doing nothing but my "normal" day, with 0 exercise in order to work out my average daily calorie burn from movement, but then how do I gauge the calorie burn that isn't covered by a HRM? I was confused to start with but after that reply even more confused.

Please could someone inject some sanity into this for me?

Replies

  • bunnybutler29
    bunnybutler29 Posts: 291
    Some people are very sedentary and do absolutely nothing, but sit all day. So getting started with a fit bit, pedometer, whatever helps them to see their progress. They can start by knowing their lowest and then work on upping it every chance they get to get out of the sedentary lifestyle. Yes you are burning calories all day long just by living and for those who are following their cal intake they try to take into account every or just about every cal that they burn. The exercise cals and the cals they burn all day by working, gardening, cleaning. Every little bit all adds up. Personally I say if what ever you were doing before didn't help you lose the weight( cleaning the house, gardening) then don't count those as cals burned throughout the day to determine your daily cal allowance. Unless you are really going to put in more effort and turn it into a workout of sorts to burn those cals.
  • valandario
    valandario Posts: 30 Member
    i'm still unsure of what you are saying with that... are everyday activities already accounted for in the GDA or not?
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    I had to look up GDA - by that, you mean Guideline Daily Amounts, correct?
    GDA's are based on an average so they're not going to be exact but yes, they do include activites. 2000 cal per day for women and 2500 cal per day for men assumes the average person has an average activity level. Not sure exactly what that means but I would assume a moderate activity level, meaning you get at least 30 minutes of activity most days or 3-5 hours per week.

    HRMs are not used for all day calorie estimates, they should only be used for steady state cardio calorie estimates, such as walking, running, elliptical, etc. Not for all day use, not great for strength training calories either. Products like a FitBit, BodyBugg, Up, etc are probably what you mean but I wanted to point out the difference as it can be confusing.

    Additioanlly, pedometers are not intended to be used to calculate calories burned, they are just a tool to show you how many steps you've taken in a day. I suppose in certain circumstances this could equate to some sort of calorie burn but it'll be generic and not as accurate as folks might think. By that I mean, everyone walks at a different pace and are of different size, gender, fitness level so saying "x # of steps = y # of calories" won't be spot on for all.

    Sedentary activity levels include things like minor chores (cooking, doing up dishes, etc) so taking calorie credit for these would likely be cheating yourself. The exception would be a good deep clean where you're up and moving for a few hours at a time like spending half the day painting or window washing - but even then it's probably nowhere near the calories MFP gives you as those tend to be overestimated by 50-75%

    Hopefully some of that was helpful for you.. Are you trying to figure out a more accurate calorie goal for yourself or is this just a curiosity? If the former, search for "in place of a road map" as that may help.
  • valandario
    valandario Posts: 30 Member
    It was really just to monitor what I was burning each day aside from "normal" stuff. I'd noticed a few people using the HRM's all day and then it occurred to me that this seemed an odd thing to do. I didn't want to presume that what I thought I knew was correct. But there again I also didn't want to use one all day and con myself into thinking i had extra calories to spend that I don't, and vice versa.

    Luckily I won't be starting the diet proper for another week. Just expelling this incase anyone looks at my daily calories and feels like telling me how bad it is! I know, believe me I do. I have gluten intolerance and have recently glutened myself quite badly so am flushing it from thee system, added to that I have awful toothache and can barely close my mouth let alone chew... those two things really restrict the daily intake! (not that I'm paranoid after reading another thread or anything!)

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