[waterski chick]

Does walking around the mall at a leisurely pace (for 2.5 hours) count toward activity points? ...Hoping that it counts at least a little bit. I know it's probably stretching it but thought it was worth asking...

thanks!

[kiramira]

I suppose you could count them as 2.5 hours of light activity -- I personally might just count 1 hours worth, but then, I tend not to eat my activity points!
Kira

[QuilterInVA]

No. You need to raise you heart rate and sustain it and strolling around the mall doesn't do that.

[kiramira]

I guess according to the book (week 2 momentum program) one needs to ask oneself the following questions to determine your intensity...
Can you talk? Can you sing? Is your breathing...? Are you sweating?
If you CAN talk, you CAN sing, your breathing is REGULAR, and you are NOT SWEATING, this is classified as low intensity level.
If you CAN talk, CAN'T sing, breathing is OFTEN AND DEEP, and you ARE SWEATING AFTER 10 MINUTES, this is classified as Moderate intensity level.
So it depends on your mall walk -- if you walk at a slow pace consistently for 2.5 hours, this might be classified as low intensity activity, especially if your mall walk is a walk specifically in a mall for weather/safety reasons.
If you are shopping in a mall and are on your feet for a few hours - ie strolling, stopping, browsing, sitting, strolling...then I wouldn't count this as activity.
It is up to you, really...you'll know what is going on if you count them as APs, then eat them, and the scales don't budge this week. If this happens, you may be overestimating your activity.
Kira

[Bumbleberry]

I count activity if it is above my normal daily routine. i.e., if I were, for instance, doing landscape work, I would count it as I do not normally landscape. I would not count, however, mopping and sweeping the floor, as I do that daily (well, mopping every couple of days) and it's not much of a workout for me.

But if I were heavier or less in shape perhaps I would count it.

Last year, walks for me were "moderate" activity, but now they are "low" because I am more fit.