Waiting tables...exercise?

SenoraMacias
SenoraMacias Posts: 305 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Is waiting tables considered exercise? In a busy restaurant, you are on your feet for hours, carrying things, and sweating! Is that exercise? If so, how would you log it?

Replies

  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    I would not log it and just put that I had an "active" lifestyle.

    In fact, MFP has this etched out for you under the 'goals:'
    Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. waitress, mailman)
    -wtk
  • AHealthierRhonda
    AHealthierRhonda Posts: 881 Member
    If this is your daily job, I wouldn't log it I would put that in under your profile for daily activity level.
  • CuteAndCurvy83
    CuteAndCurvy83 Posts: 570 Member
    if thats your job, I wouldn't log it. Logging things we do every day seems counterproductive, if anything change your activity level in your fitness profile to active.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,077 Member
    Walking mail people walk everyday. Can't count your daily routine as exercise.
  • SenoraMacias
    SenoraMacias Posts: 305 Member
    It isn't my daily job- I have a desk job. My fiance owns a restaurant and I am filling in tonight.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,077 Member
    It isn't my daily job- I have a desk job. My fiance owns a restaurant and I am filling in tonight.
    Well, then I wouldn't say exercise since your not specifically trying to workout. Activity a yes though.
  • dragonbug300
    dragonbug300 Posts: 760 Member
    *le sigh*
    For people who have never waited tables: this stuff can be STRENUOUS as heck on the body. Being on your feet, rushing around a restaurant, carrying heavy items with virtually no break... yes, it's activity. If yoga and pilates are workouts, then so is waitressing.

    I would log it under 'cleaning-moderate effort'. If the calorie burn seems too high, divide the time you spent working in half (so if you worked 8 hours, enter 4 hours).
  • marquesajen
    marquesajen Posts: 641
    If it's not a regular activity for you then maybe. If you feel like it was a workout then maybe put it down as brisk walking.
  • stormieweather
    stormieweather Posts: 2,549 Member
    I recommend only counting "sweat-inducing, purposeful activities for fitness purposes" as exercise in MFP, if you plan to eat back the calories.

    I used to wait tables at a pizza place/italian restaurant.. Figured I'd lose all this baby weight easily doing all the zooming about. Yeah, not so much. I didn't lose anything. Might have been the pizza and the meatballs I snacked on :laugh:

    On the other hand, years ago I worked as a waitress at Bennigan's restaurant. After working full time day job in an office, I raced to Bennigans and closed it (2 am + cashing out time). Then up at 7 am and back to the office. Was too frantic to eat much other than a baked potato or salad and lost a TON of weight. Way too much. I was just under 100 pounds at 5'5" and looked sickly. Unhealthy. Eventually hurt my shoulder carrying trays of drinks and had to quit. /whew.

    Sorry for the hijack, continue on!
  • kaytedawg05
    kaytedawg05 Posts: 209
    don't log it. just be happy knowing ur under by a lil extra for the day :-)
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