Activity Level Question

Lobsters25

Okay, so we know we're all scared to look at what we actually do, and to overestimate our activity level.  But 'smarter' calculators are now breaking down activity level by how many times you exercise a week, not how much of the day you're moving.  Does anyone here use 'lightly active' or 'moderately active' or even something more than that?

In my case, I put lightly active into the equation (not on MFP, but on the TDEE calculator where you can actually break your day down into minutes) even though that says exercising 1-3 days a week.  Moderately active is 3-5 days of exercise.  I do six days a week, but am weary to overestimate the intensity of the workout to which 'moderately active' might mean.  Plus, with my gastro issues, I am still worried about upping my intake too much.

I think I have done all of this in reference to you guys.  I would put FTL in a level above 'moderately,' because she is an awesome gym fiend, and put the marathon trainers into somewhere between 'moderately' and the level above it.  But I really have no clue.

So, what do you ladies do, and what do you think we all (or most or us) are doing wrong, if anything?

entropicbeauty

I would say most of the regulars on here are moderately active...but I would be terrified to put that because what if I'm lazy for 3 days in a row?

Sorry, I am totally no help, but this is why I'm so interested to see how this works for you. 

I do think you're safe putting moderately active though!

bwils35

We actually had a presentation about this from a well known exercise physiologist at the start of the year. If you are still in a sedentary job/sit at a desk all day etc, you aren't moderately active even if you workout 5-6 days a week for an hour. You are still sedentary for at minimum usually 7-8 hours a day. I'll see if I can find the scientific citations but its one thing to take into account. It was cited and he was in high impact journals. I'l get back to you guys.

Lobsters25

Thanks, Brittany!  What do you think about lightly active, as opposed to sedentary for those of us with decently tough workouts but also desk jobs?

bwils35

I would think so - but I'm not 100% sure. I can't imagine with the amount you work out you'd still be considered sedentary. UGH. I wish I didn't have exams and could scour pubmed for this thing.

Lobsters25

Agreed on the listening to your body part, for sure, but I also believe that our bodies can easily play tricks on us during major events, stressful times, and seasonal changes, which is why I like to find balance between my body and calorie counting.

KW-I don't think that you adjust your cals for workout days with TDEE, unless you're doing a killer workout that's extensively more than your day to day.  It has me between 1600-1700, after doing all of the body fat measurements and everything, at a 'lightly active' level. 
I think this is already what I like more about it than the MFP cal counter - I pretty much zeroed out the cal burn for all of my workouts, but even if I skip something or do more, I don't have to go run to find 200 more cals or worry about where I can cut back just bc MFP tells me I need them.

Lobsters25

haha, don't be sorry!  it got me to go confirm I read everything right, which is always a good thing.

ptrose13

This whole thing confuses the heck out of me.  I have myself set to moderately active on MFP per their description, but then again I only spend about 1-2 total hours sitting at work during the day.  I am constantly asking myself if I need to up my cals since I also work out 5 days a week, or am I underestimating what I am burning at work in a day, or am I doing what I should or what?  (not so much questions to you all, just more my constant inner dialogue)  If anybody figures out any good answers, please share!