do you count walking?

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17746991
17746991 Posts: 35
in Fitness and Exercise
hi
I was wondering if I should count walking in my exercise for the day
I walk about an hour a day to and from uni and I log this
yet I don't count the 8hrs I spend walking around at work other days
i think i log the hour because it is purposeful and the walking at work is just incidental to the job
so which should i count if any? or do you not count walking at all
and i do other exercise too.
thanks
«1

Replies

  • Shelgirl001
    Shelgirl001 Posts: 476 Member
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    Do you wear a heart rate monitor? It will let you know what you burn for calories, then you can be more aware of what you do that helps you to burn calories. I have worn one at work and when I am walking otherwise, also. It is a more accurate representation of your own personal journey.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,598 Member
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    If it's not "everyday" walking like at work or at home. Intentional walking for exercise should be counted.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
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    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,841 Member
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    If you set your caloric intake based on sedentary, walking extra like that could be counted. If you set it as active it is already accounted for.

    I only count things that raise my heart rate and that I do for more than 30 minute continuously. Others do it differently.
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
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    i have my base set at sedentary so yes I log my walks to and from work. When I first started one of my biggest forms of exercise was walking. You will have to decide what makes sense for you.
  • 2essie
    2essie Posts: 2,864 Member
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    I count walking if it is as you say 'purposeful'.

    I have two dogs that I have to walk each day but I don't log that because it is all stop and start with them sniffing. I know you can log an exercise that says '3 miles per hour walking dog'. Some dogs may walk at 3 miles per hour but mine don't. I just count the miles I walk on my own and then eat about half back. Seems to work for me.


    url=http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker]25436425.png[/url]
  • mustgetmuscles1
    mustgetmuscles1 Posts: 3,346 Member
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    I agree with ninerbuff.

    You could count it in your activity level if it is something you do everyday though. Wont make a huge difference unless you stop doing it or only do it a few times per week.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    You spend 8 hrs walking at work other days?

    Then if you selected Sedentary as your non-exercise daily activity, doesn't sound right.

    Select Lightly Active, then don't count the walking at Uni, because that'll perhaps get close to the walking at work other 8 hr days.

    You can either include the normal regular stuff in your daily activity level, or add it in later - same result.
    You burn more each day than sedentary, and acknowledge that fact by your option.
  • ingehooper
    ingehooper Posts: 37 Member
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    Iv chosen lightly active for myself. Im a stay at home mum to two boy 3 and 2 yrs old and am quite active during the day. I only log workouts though but days I walk alot more then usual I will eat a little more if I need to. If you are quite active during the day go with lightly active as a level x
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,472 Member
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    HELL YES,,, race walking is WONDERFUL!
  • elliej
    elliej Posts: 466 Member
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    My rule is that I only count stuff that I didn't do while I was fatter.

    Did I walk around the supermarket? Yes, I don't count it. Did I go on 3 hour walks in the countryside? No, so I'll count that. Nothing under an hour though.
  • WelshPhil1975
    WelshPhil1975 Posts: 138 Member
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    I wear my fitbit 24/7 and that counts the steps & gives a calorie adjustment. The only drawback is that it obviously counts "normal" walking that could be, say, from bed to bathroom, etc, but overall I do 4-5 miles per day so I just erly on it to give me the overall count/calories. I try to eat as little calores back though, I just use them as a buffer.
  • astronomicals
    astronomicals Posts: 1,537 Member
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    log consistently; adjust accordingly

  • silburnl
    silburnl Posts: 2 Member
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    I suggest that you use a pedometer to figure out how much 'non-purposeful' walking around you do as part of your everyday routine and use that figure to set your activity level in MyFitnessPal - then record any 'purposeful' walking you do beyond that as exercise.

    The mapping between steps-per-day and activity level is:

    <5000 = sedentary
    5000-7500 = low active
    7500-10000 = somewhat active
    10000-12500 = active
    >12500 = highly active

    Regards
    Luke
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
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    I count it because of 3 reasons

    #1) I do at least 6 miles a day - except on days that are really bad where I only do 3. But since I tend to do about 9 on Saturday, I don't sweat it too much.

    #2) It lends itself to my training. I need to maintain steady state cardio and build my muscular endurance, so I go for an hour and a half - it's a bit different than logging a 10 minute clip around my block or something.

    #3) 10K a day means I need more fuel than if I ignored that burn. So I log it to remind myself that I did expend an extra few hundred calories and should therefore, eat them all.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
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    lol i wonder if I got a pedometer if it would quit when it found out i dont have a car.
  • stonegirldancing42
    stonegirldancing42 Posts: 76 Member
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    I also eat half back from my walks. I also walk 3mph, but log 2mph. But, I also know my heart rate doesn't go up that high because I'm so used to walking.
  • berz82
    berz82 Posts: 100 Member
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    i wouldnt count walking,youre always walking that should be part of your lifestyle.
  • shadowofender
    shadowofender Posts: 786 Member
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    I work a desk job, and I walk across the street to CVS sometimes. If it's a walk to that building, or around my job, or at home, no because that's normal activity level.

    If I decide on one of my breaks to walk the mile loop around my building, I count it because it's not part of my norm.
  • 50sFit
    50sFit Posts: 712 Member
    edited October 2014
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    Kate17746991 wrote: »
    hi
    I was wondering if I should count walking in my exercise for the day
    Yes for sustained walking, but call it "hiking"... :)
    That just has a better ring to it. As for daily activity, either use a pedometer, or just set your MFP activity level: sedentary - low active - somewhat active - active - highly active
    - It's here:
    - http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_guided
    Good Luck!
    <3
  • k8blujay2
    k8blujay2 Posts: 4,941 Member
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    My fitbit counts my walking for me.

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