Question- daily activity setting

CALake · July 2011

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I couldn't find what I was looking for when I searched.

I have been logging my exercise and calories on this site for a month now. Initially I set up my daily activity level as "sedentary" because I sit at a desk all day long.

But... I do work out for an hour at least 5 days a week. So despite the fact that I sit at a desk during the day, should I change my settings to "active" instead?

I know this will bump up my allowable calories a day. As it is I'm working out just so I can eat a "normal" amount of food a day- 1200 makes me feel like I'm starving!

Any suggestions?

KatyE213 · July 2011

I have a desk job and so have my activity level set at sedentary. When I go to the gym or do any kind of exercise, I log it as exercise. If you have already accounted for it in your activity level setting, you would kind of be duplicating it if you then recorded it as exercise. If that makes sense? I would leave it at sedentary if you have a desk job tbh.

RMinVA · July 2011

I have a desk job and so have my activity level set at sedentary. When I go to the gym or do any kind of exercise, I log it as exercise. If you have already accounted for it in your activity level setting, you would kind of be duplicating it if you then recorded it as exercise. If that makes sense? I would leave it at sedentary if you have a desk job tbh.

Agree!

TTops76 · July 2011

I have a very active job but still leave mine at sedentary and only log my workouts with my HRM. That way no matter what I know that I am not eating back all my burned calories. Plus if you're just using the calorie counters off this site they are WAY off! Just to forewarn you. Good luck

TavistockToad · July 2011

I have a desk job and so have my activity level set at sedentary. When I go to the gym or do any kind of exercise, I log it as exercise. If you have already accounted for it in your activity level setting, you would kind of be duplicating it if you then recorded it as exercise. If that makes sense? I would leave it at sedentary if you have a desk job tbh.

i agree

you might need to look at what you eat for your 1200 cals. when i first started i was on that, and i was a bit hungry for the first week untill i considered my choices a bit more carefully. look at getting loads of protien each meal to fill u up.

AHealthierRhonda · July 2011

I would either up the activity level OR track your exercise calories. Personally I track the calories because I feel that is more accurate. Somedays I exercise harder than others too. An hour of Zumba is far different from an hour of yoga.

abbie017 · July 2011

The activity level is based on what you do on a daily basis. Sedentary means you aren't working out on a daily basis. If you do work out, you would add those exercise calories. If you set to an active setting, which means working out 4-5 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time, those calories are calculated in.

Personally, I have a desk job where I sit 9 hours a day. I exercise 6 times a week. I am set on sedentary and use a HRM to calculate exercise calories, and eat back at least half of my exercise calories each day.

jagh09 · July 2011

I'm not sure if you're doing it, but you should also make sure you eat back some of your exercise calories that you earned. That will help with the hunger. Be sure to include lean proteins and healthy fats in your diet, for more food satisfaction.

The lifestyle means your average day, before you go work out. So if you're sedentary all day long, outside the gym, that's what you should keep.

Good luck!

LorinaLynn · July 2011

I know this will bump up my allowable calories a day. As it is I'm working out just so I can eat a "normal" amount of food a day- 1200 makes me feel like I'm starving!

Any suggestions?

You only have 11 pounds to lose? Change your settings to a half pound a week. That should give you more calories, and will be a more sustainable way to lose those pounds.

CALake · July 2011

I'm not sure if you're doing it, but you should also make sure you eat back some of your exercise calories that you earned. That will help with the hunger. Be sure to include lean proteins and healthy fats in your diet, for more food satisfaction.

I definitely eat back my calories!! I am happy on about 1500 calories a day, so I always make sure I workout enough to eat that. It's the days I don't workout at all and I'm stuck with the 1200 that kill me

kylies1219 · July 2011

I have a desk job and so have my activity level set at sedentary. When I go to the gym or do any kind of exercise, I log it as exercise. If you have already accounted for it in your activity level setting, you would kind of be duplicating it if you then recorded it as exercise. If that makes sense? I would leave it at sedentary if you have a desk job tbh.

i agree

you might need to look at what you eat for your 1200 cals. when i first started i was on that, and i was a bit hungry for the first week untill i considered my choices a bit more carefully. look at getting loads of protien each meal to fill u up.

Agree, I tweaked my diet to include a lot more salad (which I used to hate and now love) but now my problem is I can't figure out how to eat 1200 calories. I log my food in the am and reach about 8 or 900 calories and then I have to figure things to add here and there which is actually really hard bc I'm not even hungry. I come in short here and there but I do try to hit 1200, it's just hard now that I'm full off of whole foods instead of ice cream and cookies

valbygrace · July 2011

I know from personal experience eating enough is as important if not more important than eating too many. I exercise 5 days a week an hour or more. Just yesterday my fitness coach increased my daily calorie goal by 200! From 1200 to 1400 and really would like me to increase it even more!

I feel like I eat all day now adding 200 more I may never get anything done but eating. :-)

Make sure you are getting enough of all you nutrients too, the focus our society has on low fat and fat free is taking us all in the wrong direction. We really DO need fat in our diets as well as protein and Carbs.

MayMaydoesntrun · July 2011

I'm currently a SAHM, definitely not a sedentary job, but that is what I put my activity level on. Reason being, I'm not totally convinced that the settings MFP uses are accurate, i.e. the calories burned tool is way high vs my HRM, soooo whatever activity I do during the day is a bonus burn that I just don't log. I do log my runs but I use my hrm to go by. Just play around with it until you find what works for you. Nothing here is set in stone. I struggle with hunger issues at 1200 too so I changed my loss goal to 1 lb a week. Good luck with your journey!

melsinct · July 2011

I don't trust MFP calorie burn numbers. I work a desk job but have my activity set on active to compensate for the exercise I do. This also allows me to stay away from the whole exercise calorie thing that people get hung up on since my activity level covers me.

RMinVA · July 2011

I don't really trust any burn #'s. I found an on line calculator that had me burning 3000 calories a day....seriously? Maybe on a day when I am in the heart of a half marathon training plan or doing a ridiculously long bike ride with my hubby. I eat fairly healthy and I know for a fact if I start going over 2000 cals a day on a regular basis, the scale starts going in the WRONG direction. There is a lot of trial and error involved in figuring out the # that is right for you.

I also agree to take a look at what you are eating: veggies and lean protein allow you to stay fuller longer from the fiber and protein. And healthy fats are great at keeping hunger at bay as well: avocado, nuts, etc. And don't forget to drink lots of water too.

Question- daily activity setting

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