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How to log texting calories?

Mr_Knight
Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
edited February 8 in Health and Weight Loss
I do about 200 text messages a day - about 125 inbound, 75 outbound. Each one involves a distinct arm motion to get the phone out of and back into the inside pocket of my suit/blazer, that kind of looks like a bicep curl.

Now I get that a modern smartphone is fairly light, but it doesn't weigh *nothing*. And 200 reps of anything has to count for something, right? I'm thinking it's got to be worth a solid 50-75 calories a day, especially if I make a conscious choice to alternate left hand/right hand so I balance the "pump" in my arms.

And that's just getting the phone in and out of pocket, it doesn't even count the 100+ micro-motions needed to actually type each message. 75*100 is a huge number of finger exercises, that's got to be worth, like, 25 additional calories.

Am I completely off base here?
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Replies

  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Isometric calisthenics.

    Limit yourself to 3word replies only and send more actual texts that way, your knuckles will stay lean and toned. People who send 160 character messsages and fewer over all end up getting bulky, man knuckles.
  • xDawnsgrace
    xDawnsgrace Posts: 436
    no
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    Get a heart rate monitor to get an accurate measurement of daily calorie burn when engaging in everyday activities.
  • tehboxingkitteh
    tehboxingkitteh Posts: 1,574 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.

    We already discussed this. Just keep doing what I suggested.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.

    I was told that typing shorter messages faster would tone finger muscles better than typing longer messages at a more leisurely pace.
  • salsasally
    salsasally Posts: 38 Member
    Lolol. Thanks for making my morning

    If texting really did burn calories then why are our nations children so obese?
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.
    Use speech to text, you don't want to get bulky fingers.
  • AleciaG724
    AleciaG724 Posts: 705 Member
    Like you said, make sure you alternate which pocket you put your phone in, left, right, and even front & back to isolate those parts of both biceps. You wouldn't want to end up with one huge right gun and a puny underdeveloped left arm like a T-Rex... : P
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
    That's what an HRM is for.
  • wheird
    wheird Posts: 7,963 Member
    Lolol. Thanks for making my morning

    If texting really did burn calories then why are our nations children so obese?

    Genetics
  • dumb_blondes_rock
    dumb_blondes_rock Posts: 1,568 Member
    If you text too much, your fingers will get bulky. You are supposed to do light texting with more messages.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    Work Done = Force x Distance.
  • tehboxingkitteh
    tehboxingkitteh Posts: 1,574 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.
    Use speech to text, you don't want to get bulky fingers.
    My talk-to-text is pretty commical. I need a better option.
  • tehboxingkitteh
    tehboxingkitteh Posts: 1,574 Member
    Work Done = Force x Distance.
    Whoa. Science.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Do you guys think I'd burn more calories using a Blackberry style physical keyboard, or a "virtual" keyboard? I can see how pushing real buttons would take more energy, but from what I've seen people tend to over-develop their thumbs with those.

    I'm torn...

    Also, should I eat these calories back as carbs (for energy) or protein (for muscle development)?
  • pinkiemarie252
    pinkiemarie252 Posts: 222 Member
    You need to get a model with both a physical and virtual keyboard because your fingers need both kinds of exercise. You need to eat it back as protein so your muscles repair themselves. Also keep in mind that muscle burns more energy so in the long run you'll lose more finger weight.
  • AllonsYtotheTardis
    AllonsYtotheTardis Posts: 16,947 Member
    I think you log it as 'house cleaning' or 'shopping'
  • dorothytd
    dorothytd Posts: 1,138 Member
    The problem is that you won't burn much because it is a steady state cardio. You need to incorporate HIIT and dead lifts. Keep the phone on the ground instead of in your pocket. Do speed work for 5 out of every 30 texts.

    Don't worry about the numbers because you WILL see results.
  • JenniTheVeggie
    JenniTheVeggie Posts: 2,474 Member
    You must have very strong fingers with lots of endurance.

    How YOU doin'?
  • aubyshortcake
    aubyshortcake Posts: 796 Member
    Is there a way to text so I get longer muscles in my fingers? Because I like those long, lean muscles.

    that comes more with intense World of Warcraft sessions.
  • EvelynBfly78
    EvelynBfly78 Posts: 240 Member
    I'm still in the dark ages. I don't have a texting phone. Maybe I should get one. I could have more toned finger muscles. Just what I always wanted!
  • dumb_blondes_rock
    dumb_blondes_rock Posts: 1,568 Member
    If you are sexting, I'm sure there is more intensity added to texting, since most the time you have to angle your body right to take pics to go along with the convo, so you should log that in as jogging 5 mph.
  • sloth3toes
    sloth3toes Posts: 2,199 Member
    Lolol. Thanks for making my morning

    If texting really did burn calories then why are our nations children so obese?

    The soda they are drinking while texting. Of course. And how can 'texting' possibly not be in the spell-check database?
  • AmyZ46
    AmyZ46 Posts: 694 Member
    The problem is that you won't burn much because it is a steady state cardio. You need to incorporate HIIT and dead lifts. Keep the phone on the ground instead of in your pocket. Do speed work for 5 out of every 30 texts.

    Don't worry about the numbers because you WILL see results.

    Almost died laughing on this one...

    Great thread OP :drinker:
  • longtimeterp
    longtimeterp Posts: 614 Member
    Add think of the extra burn from multimedia messages...for example taking selfies...not just fingers but whole arms in use to hold up the phone...and doesn't it take like 100 muscles to smile? toned fingers and eliminating the double chin!

    edit...i wonder how many calories i burned replying to this thread...typing on a keyboard involves whole hand stretching!
  • Myhaloslipped
    Myhaloslipped Posts: 4,317 Member
    Hahaha I just want this in my news feed.
  • billsica
    billsica Posts: 4,741 Member
    Beast mode!

    beast_mode_on_iphone_5_case.jpg?height=225&width=225
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Make sure you're having a snack before you start and a protein shake afterwards for recovery.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I do about 200 text messages a day - about 125 inbound, 75 outbound. Each one involves a distinct arm motion to get the phone out of and back into the inside pocket of my suit/blazer, that kind of looks like a bicep curl.

    Now I get that a modern smartphone is fairly light, but it doesn't weigh *nothing*. And 200 reps of anything has to count for something, right? I'm thinking it's got to be worth a solid 50-75 calories a day, especially if I make a conscious choice to alternate left hand/right hand so I balance the "pump" in my arms.

    And that's just getting the phone in and out of pocket, it doesn't even count the 100+ micro-motions needed to actually type each message. 75*100 is a huge number of finger exercises, that's got to be worth, like, 25 additional calories.

    Am I completely off base here?

    You are too funny. Thanks for making me smile. :bigsmile:

    To anyone who might take this thread seriously....never mind.
This discussion has been closed.

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