BMR calculator - what is "moderately active" vs "lightly active"

ash2008

I have a question about those formulas where you work out how many calories you can eat a day in order to lose weight/maintain. They always ask what your current activity level is, e.g. - sedentary, lightly active, moderately active etc..

So sedentary would mean if you have a desk job, then go home and sit on the sofa for the evening. But, I always find it hard to tell the difference between lightly active vs moderately active. In my job, im on my feet a lot, walking between offices (I do desktop support), sometimes lifting computers. I try to exercise 4 times a week. So I think that would be moderate.
But if I was to compare myself to say a construction worker, I'd be doing a lot less, so perhaps im lightly active?
I just dont want to be over-generous with myself and say im moderate. Is there any clear guidelines on what these terms mean.

Thanks:)

Magenta

I've wondered this too. I am chained to my desk all day every day but I walk 25-30k a week and then gym and dance on top of that.

Mellor

It's entirely subjective, which is why those calculators are so vague.
Also most people aren't going exactly hit and activity factor of 1.2, 1.375 or 1.55, etc. And the actual BMR is somewhere between the two.
Which makes the really accurate weight, weight numbers pointless.

Doug Cartel

You can't accurately calculate how many calories you need, you can't accurately measure how many you consume, and you can't accurately measure how many you expend. They're just estimates.

Calculating your BMR is just a starting point to give you an idea of what you need to do. Don't worry too much about the accuracy, you're going to have to make adjustments later on anyway, depending on how well you progress towards your goals.

Blacktie.

Doug Cartel wrote: »

You can't accurately calculate how many calories you need, you can't accurately measure how many you consume, and you can't accurately measure how many you expend. They're just estimates.

This doesn't mean it's not worth doing however.

WeeBushy

Blacktie. wrote: »

This doesn't mean it's not worth doing however.

Thats not what he's saying. What he's saying is that it doesn't really matter too much if you go for light or moderate activity, because ultimately its really rough estimate of your bmr, it's only a starting guide. Within a few weeks you're going to have to have to adjust how much you eat anyway depending on your goals and how you've progressed.