I've always used the "lightly active" setting on MyFitnessPal, but now that I think about it... I think I'm more than lightly active, especially since I started losing weight. I really don't "exercise" all that much -- I go to the gym whenever I need a boost of energy or I'm bored or I feel like it. But it's not like I'm sedentary otherwise -- my job requires a lot of me physically and I'm constantly on the go or doing something that goes beyond just standing at a register checking out customers -- sometimes I have whole shifts dedicated to reorganizing a department which takes a lot of work -- physically and mentally! And when I'm not working I do all kinds of other things, whatever suits my fancy. I may indeed go to the gym, but I also dance around my house, or go shopping or go off with friends -- anything beyond sitting on my butt.

So... do you think it's alright to change my settings to "active"? That put me at a 1430 calorie count which I think is more reasonable than the 1370 it had me on for being "lightly active" and losing between 1-1.5lbs a week; I was constantly going over, even if it's just by a little bit, it was enough to drive me nuts. I think I'm doing okay, but it's always nice to get a few extra opinions!

I think it really doens't matter. You're only talking about an extra 60 caloried per day, which amounts to less than 2 ounces difference in weight loss per week. So if you were losing a lb per week on the old calorie intake, you're now going to be losing 14 instead of 16 ounces - about .10 of a lb.

An extra 60 calories a day, just isn't gong to make an appreciable difference, so use whichever calculations you would like to, it just doesn't matter.

You don't even have to "tie" it to activity level, just give yourself the extra 60calories and be ok with it.

Remeber those online calclators aren't "written in stone" proclamations that are righ for everyone. They're a starting point, and it's your job to tweak it until it's right for you.

In my case, even when I underestimate my activity level (using the lowest setting available, even though I'm no longer that sedentary), the online calculator overestimate my calorie needs by at least 200 calories.

I have an impaired metabolism due to insulin resistance/iabetes, autoimune disease incuding borderline low thyroid, and probably from decades and decades of crash dieting. So I had to ignore what the online calculators say I can eat to lose weight, and had to determine it for myself with old-fasined trial and error.

That's important for you to remember too. I takes a 500 calorie per day deficit to make up one pound of loss per week. So 60 is only a little more than 1/10 of 500, which means a little more than 1/10 of a pound LESS loss than you were experiencing.

With or without the activity calculation, are you willing to lose 1/10 of a pound less than you were losing before? If so, then add the 60 calories. If you're willing to lose 1/5 of a pound less (3 ounces) less then you can add 100 calories.

Don't get hung up on any of the numbers, use trial and error to find the calorie level that allows you the best ratio of satisfaction to rate of weight loss. Being miserable to lose weight as fast as possible is a sacrifice you don't have to make. So find the "balancing point" at which you lose at a rate you're happy with, and the calorie level you're most comfortable at.

Because they're inversely related, it is a balancing act, but where YOU choose to balance is your own choice, not one that can be given to you by another person or an online calculator. You have to know whether you're willing to sacrifice 2 to 3 ounces of loss per week to get 50 to 100 calories per day.

At some point, you may not want to sacrifice those 3 ounces, and then you can re-evaluate your calorie level, but you don't need an online calculator to do it, just cut back on the daily calories at a level you're comfortable with, and watch the results.

Your results will tell you if you have to adjust your system, whatever it is.

Anything I say is just my opinion, of course, but it seems to me that even if all you do is stand at the register, that is more than light activity.

I sit at my job and that is all I do. I figured I needed to put that I was just one step away from bed-ridden as far as my activity goes.

They sure don't want you to eat much, do they.

I agree it doesn't matter what your activity level is. If you're consistently losing a pound or so per week, up your calories a bit and see what the adjusted rate of loss is. Then proceed there or decide it needs to go further up or down. Simple

The activity factors are only guidelines for a starting point, your own body's data and responses are much more valuable.

Well I think simply getting off my butt as far as activity is concerned has helped a lot; I used to be damn-near completely sedentary. I'd go to work or school and then come home and sit in front of the computer or tv for whatever free time I had. And I went from eating like gobs of food all the time to normal, healthy portions -- it really made a huge difference. I lose about a pound or so a week, or about 5lbs a month, and I take in anywhere from 1200 to at little over 1400 on a given day. So I guess you all are right -- it doesn't really matter as long as I'm seeing and am happy with the results!

sorry..i didn't bother reading the rest of the replies. ain't nobody got time for that.

i came across this TDEE calculator that makes you fill out some specifics using minutes of your day:

http://www.iifym.com/tdee-calculator