Lightly Active or Sedentary?

Transformer711
Transformer711 Posts: 55
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm really stuck on what I what I should set my activity level too. I'm a student and I'm on my feet quite a bit (apart from the time where I'm in class). I don't sit around all day. However, with my weight loss aim, I know that inaccurately setting your activity level could lead to a stagnation in weight loss.

When I set my activity to sedentary, MFP gave me 1200 calories a day. I've now set it to lightly active and I now have 1400 calories a day. Help?

Replies

  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Lightly active probably. Remember you have to eat back exercise calories too.
  • silmarilliane
    silmarilliane Posts: 133 Member
    sounds like you're more lightly active to me. i've seen people on here say that sedentary is for people who do absolute bare minimum. saying that i set mine to sedentary as i add my exercise in separately.

    it also depends on how much weight you have to lose and how quickly you want to lose it. if you're just starting out, set it to 1400, and see how you go (for a good few weeks). jumping straight in at 1200 isn't that fun!

    good luck :)
  • Transformer711
    Transformer711 Posts: 55
    I have about 52lbs left to lose. I hope to lose 30 or so pounds of that by July. I'm looking to lose that at a rate of 2lbs a week. :)
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I have about 52lbs left to lose. I hope to lose 30 or so pounds of that by July. I'm looking to lose that at a rate of 2lbs a week. :)

    2+ lbs a week is for people who have over 100lbs to lose.

    As for your lifestyle as a student even walking to and from class you are sitting in class most of the day.
  • Transformer711
    Transformer711 Posts: 55
    I have about 52lbs left to lose. I hope to lose 30 or so pounds of that by July. I'm looking to lose that at a rate of 2lbs a week. :)

    2+ lbs a week is for people who have over 100lbs to lose.

    As for your lifestyle as a student even walking to and from class you are sitting in class most of the day.

    So would that make me sedentary?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Lightly active with a 'lose 1lb a week' setting.
  • Swiftdogs
    Swiftdogs Posts: 328 Member
    Lightly active with a 'lose 1lb a week' setting.

    ^ This. MFP's sedentary setting is for people who walk around 4,000 steps a day, so you're probably well over that. I agree a pound a week is a good target for you with your amount to lose.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    I am a professor and also run around all day. But I also spend a lot of time sitting and reading and writing and playing with my computer.

    Try yourself at sedentary and see if you're losing too fast. If you are, up to lightly active. Or vice verse.

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