Lightly active or active?

Erisad
Erisad Posts: 1,580
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, I'm starting a new job tomorrow as a warehouse associate. It seems that I'll be loading packages on and off trucks all day. I'll be working 10 hour days 4 days a week so would that be lightly active or active? And since I'll be getting three days off each week, would I use a "sedentary calorie goal" for those days? Lightly active adds about 150 calories to my goal and active would add even more so I'm confused. Thoughts? >.<

Replies

  • now_or_never12
    now_or_never12 Posts: 849 Member
    I would go with active for that job.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Okay, I'm starting a new job tomorrow as a warehouse associate. It seems that I'll be loading packages on and off trucks all day. I'll be working 10 hour days 4 days a week so would that be lightly active or active? And since I'll be getting three days off each week, would I use a "sedentary calorie goal" for those days? Lightly active adds about 150 calories to my goal and active would add even more so I'm confused. Thoughts? >.<

    I would suggest getting a fitbit. You can set it and MFP to lightly active. The fitbit will keep track of your steps, and if you go over what it considers to be "lightly active" it will send an adjustment over to MFP when you sync it next. You can also kind of gauge how active you are being by looking at the fitbit--it shows you distance, steps and calories burned ( it takes your BMR into account, and *shows* BMR calories burned in real time--ie I get a little over a calorie per minute added to my "calories burned" even when I am sleeping)
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    I had to tweak this and find my zone through trial and error. There is no hard and fast rule. Experiment.
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    Okay, I'm starting a new job tomorrow as a warehouse associate. It seems that I'll be loading packages on and off trucks all day. I'll be working 10 hour days 4 days a week so would that be lightly active or active? And since I'll be getting three days off each week, would I use a "sedentary calorie goal" for those days? Lightly active adds about 150 calories to my goal and active would add even more so I'm confused. Thoughts? >.<

    I would suggest getting a fitbit. You can set it and MFP to lightly active. The fitbit will keep track of your steps, and if you go over what it considers to be "lightly active" it will send an adjustment over to MFP when you sync it next. You can also kind of gauge how active you are being by looking at the fitbit--it shows you distance, steps and calories burned ( it takes your BMR into account, and *shows* BMR calories burned in real time--ie I get a little over a calorie per minute added to my "calories burned" even when I am sleeping)

    Oooo...but for $99? Hmmm...my birthday is coming up next month. Maybe I can put it on my wishlist. And if no one buys it for me, I can buy it as a gift for meeee (I'll have a couple paychecks banked by then too, yaaay employment!). :P
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    I had to tweak this and find my zone through trial and error. There is no hard and fast rule. Experiment.

    I figured as much so I thought I'd ask and see what everybody else thought.

    Now_or_never1 - See? This is why I'm confused. I guess I'll gauge it by how tired I am when I get home, lol. XD
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    I would suggest active. Change it if that doesn't work for you, but that's a very physically demanding job. I see no reason to get a fitbit though.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Okay, I'm starting a new job tomorrow as a warehouse associate. It seems that I'll be loading packages on and off trucks all day. I'll be working 10 hour days 4 days a week so would that be lightly active or active? And since I'll be getting three days off each week, would I use a "sedentary calorie goal" for those days? Lightly active adds about 150 calories to my goal and active would add even more so I'm confused. Thoughts? >.<

    I would suggest getting a fitbit. You can set it and MFP to lightly active. The fitbit will keep track of your steps, and if you go over what it considers to be "lightly active" it will send an adjustment over to MFP when you sync it next. You can also kind of gauge how active you are being by looking at the fitbit--it shows you distance, steps and calories burned ( it takes your BMR into account, and *shows* BMR calories burned in real time--ie I get a little over a calorie per minute added to my "calories burned" even when I am sleeping)

    Oooo...but for $99? Hmmm...my birthday is coming up next month. Maybe I can put it on my wishlist. And if no one buys it for me, I can buy it as a gift for meeee (I'll have a couple paychecks banked by then too, yaaay employment!). :P

    totally worth it! I have had mine for a month now. I was just going by the suggested MFP calorie goals, and eating back my exercise calories for a net of 1200 calories. According to fitbit, I was under eating!! I now know how many calories I am burning whether I am having a sedentary day, or an active day--when I helped my mom move over the weekend, I was able to see that I climbed 36 flights of steps!!! I also walked 5 miles that day... I'm looking forward to wearing it this summer when I take the kids to the zoo--I'm dying to see how far we walk :D
  • Samstudent88
    Samstudent88 Posts: 135
    It IS a very active job, I've done it. You're going to be so sore, but it's a good paying job for what it is. I suggest drink plenty of water....but you really shouldn't need a Fitbit...thingy...

    I have more experience unloading them at the store, and there were like 2 two trucks on average and I lost weight doing that...and moving pallets of water with a hand jack..all over the store...it sucked but I loved it cause I ate whatever I wanted and still lost weight!!
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I would go with active. It sounds like you'll be on your feet the whole time at work.
  • toffee322
    toffee322 Posts: 186 Member
    hmm i would pick lightly active. you are on your feet most of the time, but it doesnt really pump your heart rate... i would be more conservative then overestimate :) good luck!
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    It IS a very active job, I've done it. You're going to be so sore, but it's a good paying job for what it is. I suggest drink plenty of water....but you really shouldn't need a Fitbit...thingy...

    I have more experience unloading them at the store, and there were like 2 two trucks on average and I lost weight doing that...and moving pallets of water with a hand jack..all over the store...it sucked but I loved it cause I ate whatever I wanted and still lost weight!!

    I will have lots of water. I'll be bringing my 22 oz water bottle and hopefully they'll have a water cooler or fountain for me to fill it back up once or twice. :D

    I'm not sure if they'll allow me to have a fitbit on me since it looks like a cell phone or could be distracting. I'll check to see how I do without it before spending the money. I'd hate to buy it and then they say I can't use it due to company policy. :P

    I'm also uncertain of whether I still need to do strength training days at the gym with this job or if I should only do cardio days. I'll ask my trainer tonight to see what he thinks. :)
  • Erisad
    Erisad Posts: 1,580
    I'll set it for lightly active for now and if I feel that it's more demanding than I think, then I'll switch it to "active." I'll need to pack a hearty lunch, lol. :P
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