lifestyle question

They have those "lifestyle categories" on some fitness websites (sedentary,
light, moderate, etc.), but they do not really explain them much, and I'm
wondering where I fit in-- whether it's sedentary or lightly active-- if I walk
briskly for 30-60 minutes a day. It's usually around 30 minutes, as I'm usually
going to class and back (IT'S WAY TOO FREEZING HERE), but it hovers around 60
minutes for 2-3 times per week, especially when the temperature reaches the
late 20s or early 30s. I'm getting a fairly good workout, *I* think, but I'm
still not sure because I'm not running/jogging. What is my category?

Thanks...

Sara

Sarandipidy wrote:

They have those "lifestyle categories" on some fitness websites (sedentary,
light, moderate, etc.), but they do not really explain them much, and I'm
wondering where I fit in-- whether it's sedentary or lightly active-- if I walk
briskly for 30-60 minutes a day. It's usually around 30 minutes, as I'm usually
going to class and back (IT'S WAY TOO FREEZING HERE), but it hovers around 60
minutes for 2-3 times per week, especially when the temperature reaches the
late 20s or early 30s. I'm getting a fairly good workout, *I* think, but I'm
still not sure because I'm not running/jogging. What is my category?

Thanks...

Sara

I'd say walking 15 minutes each way to class counts as "light" exercise.
I don't really count it as moderate until you break a sweat.

(Please don't ask me to categorize swimming though. It whips my butt
even though I detect no sweat.)

Delenn

"Sarandipidy" wrote in message
...
They have those "lifestyle categories" on some fitness websites
(sedentary,
light, moderate, etc.), but they do not really explain them much, and I'm
wondering where I fit in-- whether it's sedentary or lightly active-- if I
walk
briskly for 30-60 minutes a day. It's usually around 30 minutes, as I'm
usually
going to class and back (IT'S WAY TOO FREEZING HERE), but it hovers around
60
minutes for 2-3 times per week, especially when the temperature reaches
the
late 20s or early 30s. I'm getting a fairly good workout, *I* think, but
I'm
still not sure because I'm not running/jogging. What is my category?

Thanks...

Sara

It sounds like you're referring to the categories used by the
"Harris-Benedict" formula. That formula uses your age, sex, and weight to
estimate your "basal metabolic rate" (i.e., the rate of calories you'd burn
if you didn't move much at all). Then, it applies an "Activity Factor" to
estimate your normal daily caloric requirements.

Here are the definitions I found when researching this for my WeightWare
program:

Sedentary = little or no exercise
Lightly Active = light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active = moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week
Very Active = hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/week
Extra Active = very hard daily exercise + physical job, or 2X daily training

Hope this helps.

--
GG
http://www.WeightWare.com
Your Weight and Health Diary

"Delenn" wrote in message
...

(Please don't ask me to categorize swimming though. It whips my butt even
though I detect no sweat.)

Delenn

Do you think that lack of sweat might be because you're in the water?

Jenn

"GaryG" wrote in message

Sedentary = little or no exercise
Lightly Active = light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active = moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week
Very Active = hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/week
Extra Active = very hard daily exercise + physical job, or 2X
daily training

What happens with people who do no formal exercise but all their own
housework and yardwork?
All physical activity counts.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother

"Moira de Swardt" wrote in message
...

"GaryG" wrote in message

Sedentary = little or no exercise
Lightly Active = light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active = moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week
Very Active = hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/week
Extra Active = very hard daily exercise + physical job, or 2X
daily training

What happens with people who do no formal exercise but all their own
housework and yardwork?
All physical activity counts.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother



Sure...and that's the difficulty with these formulas. Typically they first
estimate your metabolic rate, and then modify that based on activity level.
Even the "Sedentary" category includes an allowance for activity
(specifically, the Harris-Benedict formula calculates "Basal Metabolic
Rate", and adds 20% for the "Sedentary" lifestyle category).

For folks who do "no formal exercise", one would probably use the "Lightly
Active" category, unless you have a very active job/lifestyle.

FWIW, most "household activities" don't burn a whole lot of calories per
hour, when compared to something like cycling, running, or even brisk
walking. Of course, if you're on your feet for 10 hours per day, you'll
burn quite a few calories even though you're never exercising with
intensity.

But, these are still just ballpark estimates that only address one half of
the energy equation (calories out). They're a good starting point for
setting dietary goals, but they're not gospel, and should be reviewed
periodically based on actual changes in body weight.

--
GG
http://www.WeightWare.com
Your Weight and Health Diary

On Thu, 3 Feb 2005 17:03:16 +0200, "Moira de Swardt"
wrote:


"GaryG" wrote in message

Sedentary = little or no exercise
Lightly Active = light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active = moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week
Very Active = hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/week
Extra Active = very hard daily exercise + physical job, or 2X
daily training

What happens with people who do no formal exercise but all their own
housework and yardwork?
All physical activity counts.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother


Definitely. I just read something about a study of Amish women that
said that, though they eat a heavy diet high in fats and carbs, very
few are obese compared to the general American population. In this
study, they were given pedometers to wear, and they averaged over
14,000 steps per day (about 7 miles). Other lifestyle data was also
gathered; basically they do physical work all day long.

Chris
262/134/(130-140)
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 14:38:47 -0800, "GaryG"
wrote:

"Moira de Swardt" wrote in message
...

"GaryG" wrote in message

Sedentary = little or no exercise
Lightly Active = light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active = moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week
Very Active = hard exercise/sports 6-7 days/week
Extra Active = very hard daily exercise + physical job, or 2X
daily training

What happens with people who do no formal exercise but all their own
housework and yardwork?
All physical activity counts.

Moira, the Faerie Godmother



Sure...and that's the difficulty with these formulas. Typically they first
estimate your metabolic rate, and then modify that based on activity level.
Even the "Sedentary" category includes an allowance for activity
(specifically, the Harris-Benedict formula calculates "Basal Metabolic
Rate", and adds 20% for the "Sedentary" lifestyle category).

For folks who do "no formal exercise", one would probably use the "Lightly
Active" category, unless you have a very active job/lifestyle.

FWIW, most "household activities" don't burn a whole lot of calories per
hour, when compared to something like cycling, running, or even brisk
walking. Of course, if you're on your feet for 10 hours per day, you'll
burn quite a few calories even though you're never exercising with
intensity.

But, these are still just ballpark estimates that only address one half of
the energy equation (calories out). They're a good starting point for
setting dietary goals, but they're not gospel, and should be reviewed
periodically based on actual changes in body weight.

I managed to lose all my excess weight without paying any attention to
these formulas or ever computing calories burned when I exercise. I
just experimented a bit to find a level of caloric intake that would
have the desired result. It's not that hard.

This is interesting stuff scientifically, but isn't necessary to
figure out how to lose weight.

Chris
262/134/(130-140)
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

Chris Braun wrote:
I managed to lose all my excess weight without paying any attention to
these formulas or ever computing calories burned when I exercise. I
just experimented a bit to find a level of caloric intake that would
have the desired result. It's not that hard.

Absolutely. Eat a bit less, and exercise a bit more. If you don't lose
weight, eat a bit less, and exercise a bit more. Repeat until you start
losing weight. That's about the only scientific formula you really need ;-)

All the rest, I found, is psychological work. "Exercise a bit more" can
expand into a two-year search for some form of exercise that doesn't bore the
hell out of you[1]. "Eat a bit less" can expand into "completely change your
eating habits, and learn to cook, too."

But the basics really are that simple.

M

250/182/168

[1] Karate, in my case. If someone had told me five years ago that I'd now be
a green belt in karate, I'm pretty sure I'd have laughed in their face *grin*

--
"It's the small gaps between the rain that count,
and learning how to live amongst them."
-- Jeff Noon

Matt Gibson wrote:
Chris Braun wrote:

I managed to lose all my excess weight without paying any attention to
these formulas or ever computing calories burned when I exercise. I
just experimented a bit to find a level of caloric intake that would
have the desired result. It's not that hard.

Absolutely. Eat a bit less, and exercise a bit more. If you don't lose
weight, eat a bit less, and exercise a bit more. Repeat until you start
losing weight. That's about the only scientific formula you really need ;-)

It's not that easy. Food is an addiction. Fat/sugar/salt activate the
dopamine reward network just like cocaine does. The more you have had
the more addicted you are. The difference is you have to have eat.

I think many people underestimate how committed the body is to
eating calorically dense foods to survive.