We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

What constitutes being 'Very Active' physically?

whatsername1970
whatsername1970 Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
What constitutes being 'Very Active' physically? Need to know so I can set my goals accurately.

Replies

  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    activity rate is what you do during the day excluding your purposeful exercise

    so if you have a desk job you're sedentary

    if you're a manual, hard-physical laborour you're active / very active

    it says on the settings doesn't it?

  • whatsername1970
    whatsername1970 Posts: 3 Member
    edited May 2015
    Couldn't find it - but maybe didn't look hard enough. Thanks!

    Update: found it much easier when I logged in on a computer vs. iPhone. :)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Here

    How would you describe your normal daily activities?
    Sedentary: Spend most of the day sitting (e.g. bank teller, desk job)
    Lightly Active: Spend a good part of the day on your feet (e.g. teacher, salesman)
    Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. waitress, mailman)
    Very Active: Spend most of the day doing heavy physical activity (e.g. bike messenger, carpenter)

    have to stress this is WITHOUT PURPOSEFUL EXERCISE - if you're down the gym every day for an hour it makes no difference - you log that separately
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,960 Member
    I am sedentary. I sit on my butt in an office most of the day, only getting out to walk a bit morning, lunch, after work, and sometimes between university and work. I also try to go for a longer walk in the evenings, and cycle a reasonable distance both days of the weekend.

    I log the walking and cycling separately.


    My husband is usually very active. He works in an orchard and is on his feet all day long walking, lifting and carrying, pruning, and doing a whole lot of work. Then he comes home and we go for longer walks in the evenings and we cycle reasonable distances both days of the weekend.

    If he were here, he'd probably list himself as active or very active ... and then log the walking and cycling separately.


    He dropped our Round-the-World trip weight very easily in no time. I'm having a bit more of a struggle with it.
  • mianineteen87
    mianineteen87 Posts: 112 Member
    Not parking right in front of the grocery store, and walking your cart back to the store because it's good for you not because it's a pain or chore hah not taking the escalator or elevator but the stairs, always moving. It's gotta be a mind set, lifestyle, way of living. I bike to work when I can. Yet I have ADHD so the very active part was given to me on a silver platter at birth. Good luck ☺️
  • whatsername1970
    whatsername1970 Posts: 3 Member
    Thanks all!

    I have a problem with calling myself 'sedentary' because of my desk job...I'm up and down a lot all day, I do purposeful exercise 5 days a week over my lunch hour in the company gym, plus regular 60 minute workouts at my other gym. I cycle, walk, play with the kids, etc...time at home is spent on my feet cooking and cleaning, gardening, etc. I even stand when I can at the office...

    I work with a guy who is a marathon runner - same type of desk job - sedentary? No way.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories