Myfitnesspal users - activity level vs exercise

[interro]

Stepping on the scale last week was a rude wake-up and now I'm trying to get back on the wagon, so to speak. I've really just been eating indiscriminately and cancelling out any exercise I've done, ew.

Anyway, I'm using Myfitnesspal and my activity level is "sedentary" based on working full time in an office. However, I'm also working part time (15 hrs/week or less) at a retail store where I am on my feet 100% of the time and moving around about 80% of the time, maybe more.

Because it's so few days a week I've been putting in the retail hours as exercise instead of changing my activity level. I'm estimating low and putting in "slow walking" for 50% of the total minutes I'm there.

Does this sound reasonable or should I just up my activity level? I'm reasonably active outside of work, chasing a toddler all weekend, doing yoga a couple times a week, but I don't know that it warrants a boost in my activity level.

I'm thinking about getting a FitBit when I can afford one to better keep track of this stuff but for now MFP is all I've got to work with! Thanks for any advice

[hjohnson050711]

since i don't use myfitnesspal to track my exercise so i use a "high" activity level just to get a guesstimate of how many calories i should eat.

i usually stick to this workout routine to justify that "high" rating

run 3x per wk (sometimes 4)
ballet 1x per week
yoga 1x per week
weights 1x per week

hope that helps!

[darkling_glory]

You could add up the cals you're burning while working retail and the compare them to what MFP gives you if you choose a more active day. That's what I'd do to check.

But, I'd probably keep it at sedentary for me and do like you're doing by adding in the walking.

[SallyJ]

I don't like MFP settings for activity, and since I've increased my exercise routine the way the program is set up is confusing to me. Instead I calculated my TDEE & BMR. I set my calorie intake goal to be 10% less than TDEE (I'm close to goal weight...the more weight you have to lose you can go up to a 20% cut from TDEE). I enter my exercise and make sure I net my BMR. I used this calculator:

scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

[ebeth]

I do what you are doing. or maybe just change your activity level to light instead of sedentary.

[malibu]

interro! You're on MFP and you aren't my friend? WTF!?! LOL

I think what you're doing is likely working and would be fairly accurate. I doubt you'd be too high on calories, if anything, maybe too low on what you're reporting?