Stay-at-home-moms: what is your activity level?

I put sedentary because I'm the only one home during the day. I don't have small children to chase or clean up after. My house stays fairly clean without too much effort. If I had a little one, I'd probably put lightly active.

I started out with mine at sedentary, but just recently moved it up to light activity. I wear a bodymedia fit and it said that I had started burning more calories everyday because of all the exercise. So I bet light activity would work better for you then sedentary.

Lightly active....I stay at home and I'm very rarely sitting with 2 little ones to clean up and chase after all day!

I also put sedentary. I sit most of the day. I log my exercise, but don't log any cleaning, even if it is deep cleaning. I suppose if I washed the floor on my hands and knees, I might want to count that. But for now, I am too lazy for that. LOL.

I don't worry about feeling too hungry if I do some deep cleaning. If I am still hungry(and not just munchies) I will eat a bit more, and not worry about my journal being over. Just keeping track of my food and exercise is what is important to me. I need to see what I ate, and the calories. It keeps me from eating mindlessly.

I have a 4yr old and a 3 yr old. I'm always on my feet but I have a small house and I don't think I walk long distances. I put myself light active but I ended up gaining weight so now I'm sedentary. If I clean or exercise I log it in and it gives me the burned calories. That works best for me.

I feel the same way you do. I have mine set as sedentary as well. There are days when I'm constantly running around after my 2 year old but then there are days when I don't feel like I'm doing much moving around at all.

I also set my level at sedentary. I stay home with my two boys (ages 2 and 1 yr) and I didn't want to over estimate my calories burned. I also do daycare for typically 3 other yound children during the day so its hard to say what I actually burn. I have been counting light housework like laundry, dishes, and vacuuming for like 15 min per day and I also use 'food preperation' for about 10-20min depending on the day. There is also a category called 'walking, carrying infant or 15lb load'. I usually credit myself 10-15min for that one since it isn't constant. I hope this helps you! These categories usually earn me about 150-200 calories so it gives me some breathing room Good luck to you. I think you are doing the right thing estimating on the low side, you can always change it later

:flowerforyou:

Penny

I'm sending you a friend request!

SEDENTARY. Even though my actual routine is far from that... between the kids and attending school, I think it keeps me safe!

What I've learned throughout my journey is that overestimating calories consumed and underestimating activity level gives results. It creates a little safety net for yourself.

I put mine at light activity. I have a soon to be 1 year old. and I do alot of sitting on the floor playing but I am up and down the stairs alot and walking back and forth from the kitchen with him. I dont log any cleaning only my exercise workouts. I looked at the sedentary and light activity and my calories really didnt change both said for me to net 1200.

Heniko Hey, excited to meet another bodyrocker! How many calories do you put in as burned
after a workout. There seems to be no standard on this one and I'm still trying to figure that out. BTW I replied
on my husband's account (jogui) didn't notice until too late so please disregard the message from him.

Right now mine is set to lightly active. I usually move around a lot, have kids and homeschool so I'm constantly cleaning, running up and down the stairs and all. I also live out in the country and have horses so there's always lots to do outside. The weather has been cold and dreary so I haven't done as much outside lately but when it warms up and I start working outside I'll change it to active.

OT, but your arms are AMAZING!

I am not a SAHM for the long haul but I am during my maternity leave I set mine as sedentary in anticipation of when I go back to work (I am a software engineer so I really do sit on my butt most of the time!) However...I think that what some of the PP's said is a good idea, to log some of the daily activities as exercise but to be careful not to overestimate them. I have two sets of stairs in my house and I am CONSTANTLY running up and down them! Especially since I have an infant and a 5 1/2 year old who are always needing something and usually we are down in the basement.