shopping as exercise? your thoughts appreciated!

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leecee18
leecee18 Posts: 20
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello! I was just out shopping and running errand for a good two hours today, but for some reason I hesitate to log this as exercise...does anyone log shopping (for clothing, groceries, x-mas gifts, etc.)? And if you do, what do you log it as? All thoughts on the matter appreciated :)

p.s. feel free to add me as a friend on here...I don't have any yet, though I am on almost every single day since May logging my calories! :)
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  • smpreston
    smpreston Posts: 262 Member
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    It's not exercise and just part of a daily routine. No reason to log it. Log only the stuff that is above and beyond your normal activities.
  • LovingMe19
    LovingMe19 Posts: 380 Member
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    It's not exercise and just part of a daily routine. No reason to log it. Log only the stuff that is above and beyond your normal activities.

    ^^^This.
  • CeeJourney
    CeeJourney Posts: 149 Member
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    WELL I PUT ON SNEAKERS ANY TIME I GO SHOPPING/RUN ALOT OF ERRANDS/ WALKING UP THESE HILLS TO GO TO CLASS... I USE THE STAIRS INSTEAD OF ELEVATORS AND I PUT AN EXTRA PEP IN MY STEP... IN OTHERWORDS YES I DO TRACK IT AS EXERCISE :wink:
  • trilikeagirl
    trilikeagirl Posts: 218
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    If your normal routine is sedentry and you just spent two hours walking I would add it.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
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    when i had my activity level as sedentary i would log when i shopped at costco... usually walked over a mile while there. but i recently upped my activity level to lightly active and only count actual exercise, and vigorous yard work
  • udallmom101
    udallmom101 Posts: 564 Member
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    the theory I have is, if I am not grunting, huffing and puffing it is not exercise. That is just the rule I live by. Shopping is fun, but I definitely don't get my heart rate up walking store to store.
  • YukonJoy
    YukonJoy Posts: 1,279 Member
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    the theory I have is, if I am not grunting, huffing and puffing it is not exercise. That is just the rule I live by. Shopping is fun, but I definitely don't get my heart rate up walking store to store.

    My heart rate definitely goes up when I am shopping.

    But only when I go into the shoe stores..
  • MissingMyOldSelf
    MissingMyOldSelf Posts: 689 Member
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    If your normal routine is sedentry and you just spent two hours walking I would add it.

    I agree. Especially, if you're in a multi-level store and you're taking the stairs instead of the escalators. I'd wear an HRM, or a pedometer, and at least log the steps you're taking.

    Plus..... ::looks around:: if I see a REALLY HOT, SMOKIN DEAL, my heart rate gets a little fluttery :) LOL
  • thirtyandthriving
    thirtyandthriving Posts: 613 Member
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    It's not exercise and just part of a daily routine. No reason to log it. Log only the stuff that is above and beyond your normal activities.

    ^^^This.

    ^^^^^This: you will be setting yourself up for failure if you do and eat back your "exercise" calories.
  • ShrinkingChelle
    ShrinkingChelle Posts: 187
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    I think it depends on what you set your normal daily activities, I think for most people shopping would be included in that but if you choose stationary maybe it is considered extra.
  • MissMollieK
    MissMollieK Posts: 316 Member
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    I totally think it can be especially if you are trying on clothes or lifting a lot! If you are doing a hardcore x-mas shopping day where you walk in the malls/stores for lots of hours straight- wear a hrm and just see how much you burn- it may surprise you...I always get sweating when trying stuff on- just a sidenote:)
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
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    ^^^^^This: you will be setting yourself up for failure if you do and eat back your "exercise" calories.

    not exactly true for everyone. i ate back my exercise calories when i logged my shopping, and i lost weight just fine.
  • jonzo21
    jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
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    in all honesty, I wouldn't log it no matter what activity level you put down. I only log whatever breaks a sweat, if its significant to my daily routine. That extra walking around is good for you, consider it a freebie
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
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    Once when I ran really fast paced errands at multiple places for about four hours I burned about as much as if I'd jogged a mile (which takes me about ten minutes). So no, I don't log errand running since I'm rarely speed walking while out and about for that long. A normal evening of errand running, a few stops for about 90 minutes, doesn't net me that many "extra" calories burned over what I burn at home or work.

    This is all based off of my actual caloric burn readouts from my BodyMedia Fit data.
  • leecee18
    leecee18 Posts: 20
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    That is all very helpful, though I am possibly more confused about what to do now than I was before ;) ...thanks though! Once again feel free to add me as a friend if anyone is jonesin' for more MFP's
  • morganadk2_deleted
    morganadk2_deleted Posts: 1,696 Member
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    If your normal routine is sedentry and you just spent two hours walking I would add it.

    This
  • mcb816
    mcb816 Posts: 24
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    Same here I'm a styling specialist at Guess Jeans and I'm literally running around the store for about 5 hours in heels! It has to count as something!!!
  • SarabellPlus3
    SarabellPlus3 Posts: 496 Member
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    I log and eat back my exercise calories, but no way do I count 'the little stuff." I take a short walk, walking the kids to and from school daily, walking around the grocery store, etc, but that's considered in part of your lifestyle. The base metabolic rate (I may be using the wrong term?), or the number MFP gives you as your daily caloric needs, doesn't assume you're comatose in a bed, surely you're moving around some.
    And if you happen to burn an extra 100 calories and not eat them back, it's just a bonus. It's not going to be enough to mess with your system.
  • mcb816
    mcb816 Posts: 24
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    I just googled it! if you are 150lbs then you are burning approx 156 cals/hr !!
  • TheBraveryLover
    TheBraveryLover Posts: 1,217 Member
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    When I go to the mall and shop (usually at least 3-4 hours; I love shopping!) I'll log half the time as walking 2.0 miles an hour (the leisurely walking option). It's usually only once a month or so. I don't log grocery shopping or something like that; only mall shopping. I'm weird like that. LOL

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