Venting a little read at your own risk!! lol

I read this post for what it is...a suggestion for some nothing more. I agree to a point, I wore my HRM today for 12 hours just to see how any calories I would burn. Look at my profile pic and you will see the total 900 of them were from just doing what I do everyday at work, the other 1700+ came from Running on an incline of 2.0 @ 5.5 MPH for 30 minutes, Walking on the treadmill at 10.0 incline for 30 minutes and P90X Shoulders, Biceps, Triceps.

This will be the only day that I count anything other than real "work outs" because in a way I agree with him. I to am tired of seeing, cleaning the house or walking for 10 minutes, if you are serious you will make a serious effort. I am 50 years old and I do not make excuses.

Why do you care what other people do? Focus on your own fitness and stop judging other people.

Agreed...what's the point of saying "people need to get out and walk" and then state that mowing the grass isn't exercise? Sure, a riding mower shouldn't count, but if I'm pushing a mower isn't that walking AND pushing? Cutting my yard and the yard for the foreclosed house next door on a 90 degree day logged over 1000 calories on my HRM.

I wonder how many calories our poster used pontificating? Don't forget to log them!!!

This post makes me a little sad. I hope no one who struggles to do exercise read this and got discouraged, thinking they aren't doing exercise the "right way."

I get what you're trying to say to some extent. I think some people would be surprised what they can accomplish if they really push themselves. But you don't know the specifics of anyone's situation, like in some of the replies you've received here. If you put yourself in any of these people's shoes, I bet you wouldn't have posted this. A day after gallbladder surgery two years ago (when I was still obese), I was using a motorized cart at WalMart, and I got all sorts of nasty looks from people. I almost lifted my shirt and showed one scowling lady the healing incisions but decided to write it off as ignorance. I hope that's what the *cleaners* and *lawnmowers* and *WII boxers* of MFP did if they read this post!

I don't recognize this person as some celebrity trainer/motivator on tv.
His rant is invalid to me.

I don't worry about the fact that you can't spell, so please don't worry about how I log my activity.

Eurodriver says:

"now yeah thats a tuff workout lol i use push mower too... but not enough turf to put in as exercise and thats what i meant if people can do more.. and readying from their dairies they can should do more ... if i mowed a lawn that size i would consider it as a good workout too!"

"lmao i went to wild wings yesterday got 10 buffalo and asked to make sure they are cooked well so they are hot as last time i order wings were cold... it was take out n once i started eating they were damn SUICIDE WINGS!!! i sweated like i ran a marathon lol must have burned atleast like 2000cals just off eating that "

"but for those that have had surgical problems, have medical issues etc yeah a 10min walk is excellent!!!! You would be exception but those of you also have to understand that there is people that will abuse those phrases..."


Backpedaling much? Too late, dear. You can't unring a bell.

I don't worry about the fact that you can't spell, so please don't worry about how I log my activity.

you must be in my head! lol!

I'm fortunate enough to have a body bugg that monitors the number of calories I burn doing everyday activities, so I know by experience that they burn more calories than some people would think. I will continue to log these activities in MFP regardless of what anyone says. I'm a single mom with a full-time job, so if I do house work, yard work, etc. and don't have time for a "real workout," no one can tell me I'm "fooling" myself. The 46 pounds I've lost so far tells me I'm living in reality.

21 year old thinks he knows it all... what's new? :bigsmile:

I'll cut you some slack. You're obviously very young with limited views and experience - Your reference to an Old Man who is 68 at your gym!

Many people and myself included were couch potatoes for their entire lives. I had never exercised for the sake of exercise except for a few weeks at a time until I turned 49 and weighed 205 pounds and only then realized the value of a strong body. You may not realize what that means. Then as others have said, add medical issues and 50, 75, 100 pounds and see what kind of problems you have to deal with besides the fact that you are starting at square one. I'm sorry but a skinny kid like you doesn't have the same point of view as for instance I do.

I am very proud of myself at the age of 54 for getting a dog for the purpose of inspiring myself to walk a good 45 minutes twice a day at a good clip "for an old lady". I do strength training videos for 30 minutes 4-5 days a week and ride my bike with the dog while he runs along side me sometimes instead of the second walk. Sorry, but being a small business owner means I "work" 24/7. I consider myself dang lucky to be able to find the time to exercise for a good hour and a half to 2 hours a day AND keep track of everything I eat, journal, etc. I also prepare all of my own food for my husband and myself. I cook everything from scratch. Try that and see how long that takes. I am not talking lean cuisine or hamburger helper depending upon your point of view. Nothing wrong with people who want to eat like that, but I choose not to. I get up at 6am every day and work through until 9pm taking breaks for myself through out the day for eating, exercising, etc.

Drop us a line when you get to be an "old man" of 68 and let us know how you are doing. I hope you can achieve the physique you are looking for and can gain some perspective in the mean time. You are welcome to look at my diaries and criticize me to your heart's content. I'll just consider the source.

Your profile is blocked for "friends" to view unlike many others here who are open to suggestions. Your only hint is that you are tired of being called "too skinny" and you just want to look better - as in not skinny. Some times beauty can be found on the inside.

If you were in my area, I would challenge you to strap another 150 lbs on your body then come push mow my lawn and tell me it's not a workout. Or do my 35 minute neighborhood walk in 95 degree heat. Or do 20 minutes of step aerobics on the wii. I don't care what age you are... all the extra pounds make these things a challenge. Washing the car, to you, may mean just a rinse with a garden hose. Some of us are out there with rags, a bucket, and a scrub brush and it IS a work out for your arms.

Just because our actions have a practical purpose along with exercise doesn't make them less worthy of caloric replacement.

35min walk is great!!! And i bet things are harder to do when you got extra 150lbs on you... but as you stated... you still push yourself for a 35min walk and a 20min aerobics, instead of some that are logging a 10min walk for the day and thats it...

Seems some don't have common sense; YEAH of cores if you are in a wheel chair then yes its an accomplishment to even walk for 10min. But some of you are more than capable of doing more than just cleaning a house... <----Those are the people that this is pointed towards.

Just seems that its regular everyday thing for every person, work, walk, clean, and burn calories through out the day naturally.. damn our bodies burn 30% of calories that we intake just to digest them, if we put in every couple calories we burn and keep our daily routine the same then whats the point... we need to add things that we don't usually do to burn those extra calories...

If all of us wore the HRM n counted every calorie we burned... damn some of us would be packing on weight like theres no tomorrow because of the calories we are burning and eating back...

as for the spelling teachers here... its a forum don't have time to spell check every word for you that i write and i think my English is pretty damn good considering its my 4th language...

I want to mention here that, while I of course encourage exercise (of any kind) for all manner of health and wellness benefits, MFP is designed to help people lose weight WITH or WITHOUT exercise.

Exercise is NOT required for weight loss. You can easily lose weight without exercise, if you control intake.

MFP was designed with the idea that many people can't exercise regularly, or at all, due to physical limitations or time or any number of reasons. They also recognized that most people set up an exercise plan with great intentions; but, as we all know, that's not necessarily what actually happens every day. So they built the site to allow for weight loss with or without exercise.

MFP is different than many calorie counters/weight loss programs, or the way that many trainers set up a plan. These other plans take your “intended exercise” and use that to create a deficit, keeping your daily cal goal static. Therefore, with other plans, you would not replace calories you burn through exercise. MFP is different and you CANNOT compare them, unless you’re prepared to do some calculations to get apples vs. apples and not apples vs. oranges. MFP creates a BUILT IN CALORIE DEFICIT, based on your loss per week goal, regardless of exercise. So when you log exercise, cals are added back in to keep that deficit stable. And what activity/exercise should be logged is entirely dependent on the person's activity level setting and overall fitness level. For some people, that means logging a 10 minute walk. For others, that's not appropriate. Calories burned need to be accounted for as accurately as possible in some manner, just as intake is. For many people who lead a largely sedentary lifestyle (whether by necessity for a job or by preference), that means logging simple activities as "exercise".

Obviously, exercise is good for you. But if someone is making ANY effort to improve their health through getting to/maintaining a healthy weight, whether they exercise or not, then they are on the right path and should be commended and encouraged. Many people have no desire to "exercise" regularly, or to ever visit a gym, or ever go for a run. And that's ok. Because that's their choice. Your goals and lifestyle may not be the same as other people. But that doesn't make yours better or theirs any less valid. :flowerforyou:

Also, I want to add in a reminder here for everyone: Please follow forum rules at all times.

4) Do not attack/slam/insult other users. The forums are here so that members can help support one another. Attacks or insults against each other takes away from the supportive atmosphere and will not be tolerated. You can discuss the message or topic, but not the messenger - NO EXCEPTIONS. If you are attacked by another user, and you reciprocate, YOU will also be subject to the same consequences. Defending yourself, defending a friend, etc. are NOT excuses. Violations of this rule are taken very seriously and may result in being banned without warning! If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. If you feel a post is inappropriate, please use the Report Post link under the post and a moderator will look into it.

Debate, discussion and voicing opinions is great and encouraged. But there's no need for insults or name-calling. Please keep it respectful and on topic.

Thank you for your cooperation. :flowerforyou:
Ladyhawk00
MyFitnessPal Forum Moderator

Wow, touchy subject... The OP makes a small point but at the same time there are people here of various fitness levels. People that make excuses about exercising and consider a walk to the kitchen and back exercise... well that's no good. But for some people getting up and taking a 10 minute walk outside is a good start and at least better than nothing. It's like taking the stairs at work versus the elevator, it's not much but better than nothing. Different stroke for different folks.

Sorry i guess just saw couple people that were logging 10min walks that could walk 10miles instead...

but for those that have had surgical problems, have medical issues etc yeah a 10min walk is excellent!!!! You would be exception but those of you also have to understand that there is people that will abuse those phrases...

I have EXTREMLY strong lower back pain from a car accident when i was 16(2 years of therapy massage and chyropractor).. still have the pain.. doesnt stop me, i just make sure im careful with my back, stretch good, do hyper extensions and light lower back exercises and my backs getting better. Had strong left shoulder pain before too now its gone after lifting and training..

It's okay that for some its a "BIIIG" job to clean a house.. or rinse off a car... but its not something you have to logg in as exercise.. as it is not.

oh as previous poster said... theres alot of old people, i see a 70's lady who walks in the gym and lifts weights! and it looks likes shes struggling to get from one machine to another yet shes still there to keep her health up! Theres one old man i talk to hes 68 and the guy is about 5'10 and he can outlift me on almost everyting! he is a monster at his age.

Wait until you hit 50 and you will see the difference. I also have back problems and I never let it stop me when I was even 30.... I go as hard as I can when I work out... and do all the stretching blah blah.... Things hurt more at 50 then 20 come on.

And these older people that are fit I know a few..... deal with pain in there joints all the time just to do what they can do. Your whole life will change by the time you are 68 or 70..... geez even by 35

Really??

It felt more like a rant than a venting. Maybe you could've just said "It drives you nuts when folks complain about losing and they don't really watch what they eat or log enough excercise" Kind of your rant in a nutshell, but with much less unecessary opinion.

I'm one of those 340+ folks who works out and at first logged things like raking and digging in the garden and such, but as I lost weight and my stamina returned I changed my activity level and now only log my workouts. I have to say though that if you do a solid arm, shoulder or leg workout and then do the "trainer" Wii boxing for 20 mins you are going to be sweating and have a serious burn going on in your shoulders. It's a great workout and great way to slowly bring down your heart rate and cool down without just stopping. As for things like raking and such. My wife has MS and we are cleaning up our five acres which have gone unattended for the last three years and ya it's a workout. I don't log my yardwork, but could easily. This past weekend I carried 18 railroad ties about 150' to line our arena which butts up to our garden and at 200+lbs that was a workout. But then I'm pushing 50 these days and when I was 21 I was invincible and intolerant of others too. I am happy you are in such exceptional health and I hope it stays that way for you.

Honestly I am an atrocious speller, but I have to say, please don't tell me you speak four languages and can't spell "lose" or "course", or "says", or well, you get the point.