LIGHTLY ACTIVE OE ACTIVE???!!

SheAintGivinqUp160 · March 2015

first and foremost thanks for taking your time to read and reply !!

I ALWAYS have this problem in choosing my activity level and thought it would be good to hear other opinions ..

I currently work as a freight associate, I lift boxes (for an hour), put out merchandise etc. some days are strenuous and other days are pretty light (I work 5-6 hours 4-5 days a week)

I attend golds gym and I run 2 miles on the treadmill (22mins) & walk for 10min then hit the weights for 15-20mins (will increase as I go) and I take bodycombat classes 2-3 x a week

I usually workout for an hour 5-6x a week

now that im writing it out it seems pretty clear I have a ACTIVE lifestyle ..

BUT when Im home I do light cleaning, read, cook & watch tv
Im not really active at home that's what throws me off !!!

im 5'9 currently 199 (coming from 240) . MFP says to eat 1700 cals (when I choose ACTIVE)
MFP says to eat 1400 (when I choose LIGHTLY ACTIVE) I feel like 1700 is too much for me !

not every week Im consistent with my plan but I try my best ..

so my question is what activity should I choose lol .. lightly active (1400) and just manually bump it up to 1550 (the medium of the 2)? when my day is really active I eat 1700 nd when my day is lightly active I eat 1400 ...

its hard coming to a decision when im arguing with myself lol ... its nice to have some sort of guidance/confirmation/other opinions ..

janejellyroll · March 2015

If you are using MFP's method, your exercise is irrelevant. You log that separately. You should only consider your daily, non-exercise, activities.

I personally don't think you should over think it. Choose either one, give it a couple weeks and if you are losing at the right rate, you got it. If too fast or slow, adjust accordingly.

4legsRbetterthan2 · March 2015

A few thoughts:
1. If you are following the MFP plan your intended exercise (going to the gym, running, whatever) gets logged every day and you eat those calories back, therefore you do not include them in activity level because they would get double counted. MFP tends to over estimate calories burned so alot of people only eat back 50-75% of what they recommend.
2. Your daily movement (at work and at home) are what you should consider your activity level. From your description I would put it on lightly active.
3. Remember all of this is just estimations, there is really no way to get perfectly accurate calculations. Set a goal, stick to it for about 6 weeks, track your progress. If you are not losing fast enough cut your calories back a little bit. If you are losing too fast or not feeling like your best you maybe you need to increase your intake.

stacyjh1979 · March 2015

IMO err on the side of caution and use lightly active so that if you have a week you are not as active it won't hinder your weight loss. That's a fairly big difference in the calories it suggests between the two and if you are more active you can eat back part of your exercise calories.

Timorous_Beastie · March 2015

I'd go with lightly active. If you lose significantly more than expected over several weeks, or if you generally feel weak and hungry, bump it up to active.

SheAintGivinqUp160 · March 2015

thank you guys so much I really appreciate it !

Sued0nim · March 2015

Lightly active based on your job / home life

then log your purposeful exercise - cutting the MFP / Machine burn calorie allowances in half

Simple

paradi3s · March 2015

Go for lightly active, log in your exercise (eat around 50% of what you burn). Check your weight after a few weeks. If you're losing, increase by 100-200 or whatever works for you. If you're still at the same weight, then that's your maintenance :-)

LIGHTLY ACTIVE OE ACTIVE???!!

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