Light activity or Sedentary?
cksmummy
Posts: 34 Member
Hi guys, just coming back after a long absence and wanting to set my goals. In our diet/exercise profile it asks about normal activity. At the moment I'm not doing any regular exercise, but not sure if I should be classed as 'sedentary' or 'light activity'. I am a mom to two kids, including a very active toddler, so I do spend a lot of the day chasing/following him. I do the regular type of housework and spend a lot of time at my computer and some time each day driving. I probably do two x five minutes stints on a walking machine daily.
Where do you think I fit in the above profile?
Thanks!
Where do you think I fit in the above profile?
Thanks!
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Replies
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I would say sedentary until you start doing specific excersies i would do sedentary but you can always change it0
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I definitely think you should go for light activity, especially if you are thinking about exercising more in your near future0
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even most people with office jobs are not truly sedentary - based on your description I would suggest lightly active, but make sure you are weighing and measuring all of your food so you are not consuming more calories than you intend to.
some good reads for you: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think0 -
Just remember, if you consider yourself lightly active because you exercise, you then can't turn around and count that exercise in your diary. That would be counting it twice.
Most days I walk about 10,000 steps at work. I exercise 6-7 times a week. 60-90 minutes of cardio. I also do resistance bands 3-5 times a week. I count myself as slightly active because my work steps are slow and a lot of start/stop and once or twice a week I don't make 10,000. I count my exercise separately in my diary then. I figure, if anything, I figure low, but I'd rather do that than deceive myself and figure too high.0 -
Definitely lightly active.0
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Unless you are truly on your feet at least 6 hours a day - I'd say you should choose sedentary. It's always easier to eat a portion of your exercise calories (should you choose) if you have a very active day.
I generally do about 5-6,000 steps per day (5-6 miles) in addition to whatever exercise I do and I keep my selection at sedentary.
Hope this helps.0 -
Lightly active0
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Lightly active.0
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Lightly Active for sure. Unless you are laying on the couch all day eating bonbons, you are active.0
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You can also do some trial and error. I work in a distribution center and get 10,000 steps a day and have an active toddler. However, if I eat at the lightly active level I lose very slowly so for now I put myself as sedentary. Try it for a month and then adjust.0
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Lightly active. I'd be curious to see your pedometer results after a day of chasing the toddler around.0
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MFP is asking you how active you are in daily life not including purposeful exercise. If you are sitting down a good bit of the day, then I would say sedentary. If you are standing, walking, chasing kids, doing housework more than sitting, then lightly active.0
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Lightly active. Don't count your exercise in this section, that is to be added separately. They will add calories (be mindful its often overestimated) for each exercise you add.0
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Lightly active. Don't count your exercise in this section, that is to be added separately. They will add calories (be mindful its often overestimated) for each exercise you add.
With chasing after children, I would definitely not say you are sedentary.0 -
Yeah...don't count the exercise but chasing kids and housework isn't sedentary. I've babysat various friend's kids...it's intense. So technically lightly active.
Although, you could say sedentary and get a pedometer or something and count chasing the kids as exercise if you feel like your activity level varies. There is an option for housecleaning in the exercise section too. That way if one day the kids are more calm and there is less to clean then you won't be eating more than you need.
Does that make sense?0 -
I would say sedentary until you start doing specific excersies i would do sedentary but you can always change it
^^^ This0 -
Thanks heaps guys. Might try a week on each one and see how I go!
Really appreciate the responses!
Cheers!0 -
Based on your description I would say lightly active, for sure.
Chasing after toddlers and getting in housework doesn't sound very sedentary to me!
Make sure you log any exercise you do as well... so that walking and anything else beyond that would go as separate daily entries. I wouldn't even bother with trying that week at sedentary- just go for lightly active to begin with0
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