How would you log this?

dearmrsowl
dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
edited November 24 in Fitness and Exercise
So my activity level is set to sedentary since I'm sitting at my desk most of the time (college student working from home at the moment). However, I'm working irregularly where sometimes I'm walking almost non stop for five hours or more. What would be the best way to log this? Just put it in as walking? Gosh, I wish I had a fitbit to track my steps.

Replies

  • thingeringer
    thingeringer Posts: 241 Member
    Do you have a smart phone? There are many apps to track steps.
  • dearmrsowl
    dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
    thingeringer wrote: »
    Do you have a smart phone? There are many apps to track steps.
    Unfortunately I'm not allowed to have my phone on me when I'm working.

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Where are you walking for 5 hours? Are there (approximate) set routes? You could map them out.
  • dearmrsowl
    dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    Where are you walking for 5 hours? Are there (approximate) set routes? You could map them out.
    I'm a salesperson in a department store so on some days (like today) I'm running all through the store putting clothes away again after people tried them on.

  • renley
    renley Posts: 35 Member
    Try using a pedometer. They are great. Then log them by adding to the exercise data base by using steps in the minutes section and calories in the calories section. Tracks very nicely.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    How often are you working? If it's a majority of the days a week, I'd up your activity level setting.

    If it is not, I would up the activity level to figure out either the lightly active or active number and calculate the difference between that and sedentary. Then put the activity level back to sedentary and on the days you work, log the exercise using the calorie difference as the calorie burn.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    dearmrsowl wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    Where are you walking for 5 hours? Are there (approximate) set routes? You could map them out.
    I'm a salesperson in a department store so on some days (like today) I'm running all through the store putting clothes away again after people tried them on.

    Instead of trying to log steps as deliberate exercise (that may be inflated) ...... you could bump up your activity level. If you make the change to your MFP settings you can look at the difference between sedentary and let's say highly active. That gives you an idea as to how many calories you are looking to add.


    <5000 steps/day may be used as a sedentary lifestyle
    5000-7499 steps/day is typical of daily activity might be considered low active
    7500-9999 likely includes some volitional activities considered somewhat active
    10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as active
    >12500 steps/day are likely to be classified as highly active
  • dearmrsowl
    dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    How often are you working? If it's a majority of the days a week, I'd up your activity level setting.

    If it is not, I would up the activity level to figure out either the lightly active or active number and calculate the difference between that and sedentary. Then put the activity level back to sedentary and on the days you work, log the exercise using the calorie difference as the calorie burn.


    TeaBea wrote: »
    dearmrsowl wrote: »
    jemhh wrote: »
    Where are you walking for 5 hours? Are there (approximate) set routes? You could map them out.
    I'm a salesperson in a department store so on some days (like today) I'm running all through the store putting clothes away again after people tried them on.

    Instead of trying to log steps as deliberate exercise (that may be inflated) ...... you could bump up your activity level. If you make the change to your MFP settings you can look at the difference between sedentary and let's say highly active. That gives you an idea as to how many calories you are looking to add.


    <5000 steps/day may be used as a sedentary lifestyle
    5000-7499 steps/day is typical of daily activity might be considered low active
    7500-9999 likely includes some volitional activities considered somewhat active
    10,000 steps/day indicates the point that should be used to classify individuals as active
    >12500 steps/day are likely to be classified as highly active

    The calorie difference between sedentary and lightly active is 220. I guess I'll just log that on the days that I'm actually working (sometimes I'm working three full days a week, sometimes none at all). The idea of figuring out the calorie difference between the activity levels is so simple that I'm surprised I haven't thought of it myself haha. Thank you though!
  • dearmrsowl
    dearmrsowl Posts: 151 Member
    renley wrote: »
    Try using a pedometer. They are great. Then log them by adding to the exercise data base by using steps in the minutes section and calories in the calories section. Tracks very nicely.

    After getting some running clothes for the winter a pedometer will be next on my shopping list. I've wanted one for so long but never found an affordable one that actually seemed to be somewhat accurate.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    you could get a pedometer, they can be very reasonably priced.
    you could also look into a misfit flash, or link, moov now, jawbone up move, razer nabu x, up24, fitbit zip. these are all under 60 dollars

    also you could go on your day off and figure out roughly how big the store is and do your best estimate. or raise your activity level. lots of options

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