I'm having trouble with my activity level

If you have selected a fast rate of loss it can make you hit the minimum calories level for women - 1200 cals.
Suggest you adjust that setting and also remember you are supposed to be eating back purposeful exercise calories as that energy expenditure isn't accounted for in your activity setting.

When you job becomes more active (shovelling, carrying etc.) bump up your activity level again.

Or simply start adjusting your daily goal manually to achieve a reasonabe rate of loss without making the whole process far harder than it has to be.

I’d say you need to adjust your activity level to active.

(MFP definition) Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. food server, postal carrier)

(Mayo Clinic definition) Active: Include at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week, or 20 minutes of vigorous activity at least three days a week.

Based on that and “average” stats I put in (5’4” f 150lbs) I got 2100 calories for maintenance. If you eat at 1600 calories a day, you’re still going to lose weight at around 1lb a week and feel way better! I’d even venture to guess you may see more weight come off as your job gets more physical, because that will likely fall in the “very active” category. Feeling dizzy during your return to work is a good indicator you’re under eating.
Side note: I couldn’t maintain 1200 calories while sedentary!!! 31yo f, 5’4” sw jan 11- 159, cw 149... I eat between 1300-1800 calories, most days are 1500-1600. I cut nothing from my “diet” still have alcohol, chocolate, etc. I have had at least 5-7 days that I ate 2000+ calories... I still lost 10lbs in 5 weeks! Don’t make things too hard on yourself!
Add some calories and you’ll feel better and have better success with the proper fuel in your system! Good luck!!

goal06082021 wrote: »

Mayo Clinic's definition sounds like it comes from a BMR/TDEE calculator - MFP's methodology is different. MFP calculates your calorie budget based on your NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis), so it's based on how active you are outside of deliberate exercise. You're expected to log deliberate exercise and eat those calories back. If you work out every morning but are chained to a desk for 8 hours a day for your job, you're Sedentary; if you don't work out at all but you have a job as a waitress, you're Active.

I understand the difference between TDEE and NEAT. I follow MFP’s NEAT calculation for myself as I want to keep things simple. I wanted to include both, because to me she is being more active at work (shoveling, hauling bags, standing all day, etc.) than someone who is doing an intentional 30 minute moderate workout most days of the week (to me that means a 5 day work week to a 5 day/wk moderate workout routine). From the work she described I’d say she falls in the active category by either standard which is what I was trying to point out. I don’t want to confuse anyone with the definitions or where they come from, but it seemed relevant to the OP as I think she’s put herself at a lower activity level than she really is and is struggling because she isn’t getting enough calories to accommodate her activity level.