Lightly active vs. Active? Fitbit?

vvvalentines
vvvalentines Posts: 151
in Fitness and Exercise
I recently got a new job that has me on my feet, walking door-to-door, for about 6 hours per day, 5 days per week. I plan on being (relatively) sedentary on weekends.

Previously, because I was unemployed and taking classes mostly online, I had my activity level set to sedentary. There are a lot of sedentary vs. lightly active threads, but not many lightly active vs. active.

So: which would be a better estimate of my activity level? My other thought was to leave my activity level at sedentary, but use a fitbit (we have a spare that my fiance got as a work incentive prize and never used) so that I get adjustments on my working days. Would the sedentary+fitbit plan get me the right number of calories each day, or would I be better off setting it to lightly active or active and just leaving it at that?

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • nilbogger
    nilbogger Posts: 870 Member
    Either sedentary or lightly active with FitBit will get you to the right number. You can even have the FitBit provide negative calorie adjustments (lowering your calories if you haven't been active enough) so you can be sure you aren't overeating.
  • vvvalentines
    vvvalentines Posts: 151
    edit: whoops, pulled the trigger a lil too fast
  • ColeCake292012
    ColeCake292012 Posts: 247 Member
    I use the sedentary plus FitBit plan and it works great for me! Sedentary sets me at about 1270kcals/day...but hell no! I get 10,000 steps/day normally and that gives me another 500 kcals usually. And when I stick to everything like I'm supposed to, I lose consistently.
  • stef_monster
    stef_monster Posts: 205 Member
    I have both MFP and FitBit set to sedentary, with FitBit's negative adjustments turned on. You will start off with a terrifyingly low calorie allowance every morning, but it will go up as you move throughout the day. FitBit measures your TDEE- your total calories burned per day, and it will adjust your MFP allowance up or down according to how active you are.

    As long as you have MFP and FitBit synced and FitBit's negative adjustments turned on, it won't matter too much. If MFP gives you 1600 calories at 'lightly active' and 1800 at 'active' but FitBit only tracks you burning 1400 calories, it will give you a 200 calorie adjustment at 'lightly active' and a 400 calorie adjustment at 'active'.

    FitBit is a great tool because it tracks your every move all day long. I really only use MFP to log food. I go by the FitBit dashboard to see how many calories I can eat. I hope this helps!
  • jaz050465
    jaz050465 Posts: 3,508 Member
    I think its psychology. If you prefer to gain extra calories by exercising then set it to lightly active. If you want to make sure you exercise or else you will lose calories, then set it to active. As long as you enable negative calories though, you will end up with the same calories in the long run.

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