Hi there! i am new-do you count your shift as exercise?

I'm a nursing student who always follows the nurses around, and in addition I exercise on my own. However, I spend a TON of time studying and it's taking a toll on my body. Your question is a great question, and I'm looking forward to the answer!

its great that you have a "mobile" job-but if it is normal daily activity I would not include it as "exercise"

that should be included in your life style (when you got you calories set)

and anywhoo
my thinking is, only intetional exercise counts

I am a night shift RN, work in the ICU. I wear a pedometer too while on my night shifts. I walk anywhere between 3.5 and 5 miles a shift and since I am on sedentary I do count it. Why not? I run my butt off!

It depends on your MFP settings. When you set your goal, you chose an activity level. Generally, this activity level should include what you do day-to-day - so in your case, your career. As a nurse, you probably should have chosen at least "moderately active" (I believe it actually lists nursing as an example). If that's what you did, don't log it as exercise - MFP is already adding in those extra calories.

However, if you set your activity level to "sedentary" or even "lightly active," then yes count it as extra exercise.

I was under the impression that when you register with myfitnesspal you list your daily activity level. The site estimates your daily calorie burn according to your listing. For example, I am a firefighter and listed my daily level as "active". I think they then take that into account as they assign your calorie level. I only enter my scheduled workouts in the exercise.

One big lesson I learned is to eat back your calories burned. Always try to finish the day very close to your assigned calorie intake level. If I don't, I don't lose!!

i would set your activity level to moderately active and not count it as exercise. all of your regular daily routine stuff should fall into your activity level, and then extra exercise counted in.

Agreed - although you might be better at "active" than "moderately active". This way your daily calorie allowance is calculated to include the fact that you are on your feet every day. Then you only need to add extra exercise like going to the gym.

You can adjust your daily calorie goal to fit your activity level in your profile. "Nurse" is described as "lightly active." this calculates a higher calorie bank for the day. Another idea is to wear a heart rate monitor. You can see how many calories you are really burning and if it is more than you would regularly living your life. If you really want to lose weight, try not to count shifts as exercise.

I would say just change your activity level and not count it. I'm a waitress on top of being in school full time and I know on a typical friday/saturday night I walk 5+ miles but I don't count it because I don't feel that my heart rate is ever getting high or that I've exerted a lot of physical energy after a shift. I don't count mine, but thats because I just figured if it does actually do anything it can just be bonus workout and calories burned. Although on the days I do work, I tend to not count my beers if I have one or two after work! But I would say set your activity level to moderate (I have mine on light since I do spend majority of my time in a classroom or studying) and then it should adjust your calories burned by daily activity appropriately.

Personally, I do not count anything (work duties, carrying groceries out of the car, cleaning or washing, etc.) unless it is proper and intended exercise... because you would do it anyway... it's lifestyle physical activity. It's up to you, but I think adding it is a bit of a cop out... what do you have to lose if you don't count it and then you do more on top of the usual, you will be burning more and losing more.

I am a primary school teacher with 5 & 6 year olds & they keep me on my feet all day!!! Somedays I wonder if I ever sat down! But I don't count this as exercise --- it's not. It's my job. I go home then I go to the gym or go for a jog and only count that as it was intended exercise. You know what I mean? But it's up to you. All I know is that without my intended exercise and changing my eating habits, still 'working' and doing my usual lifestyle physical activity (that everyone does) I put on weight.

Count your steps still... because we should be reaching 10 000 steps per day minimum and then do other exercise when you get home... I started with minimum 3 days per week and now I do 5 or 6 days of minimum 40 minutes of activity, but I usually do 60-90mins.

Good luck xx

When you first signed up and entered your data you were prompted to select a lifestyle type. One of the options was "partially sedentary" and listed nursing an an example of that type of lifestyle. If that is what you selected, then, no, I would not count that as exercise. The profile questionaire uses your responses to determine how many calories you should be eating each day.

Well I wear the Fitbit when I work. And I'm a Pastry Chef who is on her feet all day and lifting heavy bags of flour, Sugar #50 Lbs. and pails of Icing. And I usually end up walking all day also. about 10K and I am tracking it. The good thing about the FitBit is the sensors are so slight that they are picking up the Lifting and other strenous work and incorporating that into my Calories used column. I see it when I go to the site and it shows up. So, Yes definately I think you should count your steps while at work. and think about the times when you are just walking around vs. Walking around and lifting and pulling heavy things or patients. It does count.
Kiki

i would set your activity level to moderately active and not count it as exercise. all of your regular daily routine stuff should fall into your activity level, and then extra exercise counted in.

This

I am also an nurse who works in a rural hospital in NW Ohio, ER nurse and shift supervisor. I do work 12 hour shifts. I generaly do not count my shifts as exercise. I usually only exercise on my days off.

hey guys, i am nurse who walks pretty much the entire 8 hours of my shift, i wear a pedometer from the time i leave home and take it off when i return home, i usually hit well over the 10K step daily goal. should i count that as part of my daily exercise? i haven't started doing additional workouts beyond my shifts but i am certainly planning to. my husband and i are going to start exercising in the evenings together, i am sick of the treadmill/walking so i am looking currently to buy a recumbent bike.

anyhoo, a little bit about me. i am mid thirties, a psych nurse, live in the cleveland area, married for 10 years, became engaged 12 years ago today in fact. i have 2 children 4 and 5, i sell avon, i am an avid couponer and run an online prayer group and an online facebook group for moms who want to swap and/or sell items. And yes, in addition to this, i am going to attempt to lose weight. HA!!!! i need to be committed to my own floor.

anyway, would love to hear from some other local nurses.

take care!~

It's factored in as your activity level~