Exercise points
 

How do all of you calculate your exercise points? I know the formula, etc., but at the WW meeting yesterday (and the one last week, too) the leader talked about using a pedometer and earning points for all your daily activites. I have only been calculating for my actual exercise, like my nightly walk, or when I get on DH's elliptical. I thought I was doing pretty good, but now actually calculating those, I realize that I'm only earning about 21 points per week, not the recommended 28 points. Oh, and I don't use any of them, I bank them....I'm under the impression that if you use them, then they don't count towards the weekly 28. Do I have this right?

Oh, yeah, like today for example...we walked around the zoo for about 3 hours, but to me that's just everyday stuff, not exercise, so I didn't count it. Should I?

I do not count everyday stuff. I only count INTENTIONAL exercise. Kelly has more information about using the AP's, but you should use them. I know WW says you can count stuff like raking leaves, gardening, heavy cleaning. But I do not.

Every AP counts towards the recommended guideline of 28 AP's a week if you use them or not. When you exercise you need more fuel. Even if you use them you will lose. A point is around 50 cals or so. BUT it takes burning a 100 cals or so to earn and AP. So you still have to burn more than you eat even if you eat your AP's. So calories in is still less than calories out and that will result in a weight loss.

The 28 is a guideline not a set you HAVE to get. If 21 works for youa nd that is what you can do then that is GREAT!!! maybe you can work up to 28 eventually.

I don't count my everyday activities towards earning points .. but i do keep track of them more for an accomplishment thing but i keep my exercise points seperate if that makes sense .. also everyday points i count half of what they would say on their lil chart thing. also only time i let myself use additional points is if i am absolutely starving because of the added exercise on the treadmill or the gym ..but even then i try not to use extra points at all.
As far as the zoo for 3 hours .. i would add it .. there is the adjustment scale depending on the intensity of your activities .. and it is something additional to every day activity such as doing laundry, vacuuming, cleaning kinda stuff. Anything i do that is not in my normal daily activity .. extra stuff .. i write down .. just so i can see how much more active i have become and to encourage myself to keep it up

Thanks MistySeptember and Owira for the input. I guess I'm still a little confused by some of this stuff, but I'm getting the hang of it!

OK im lost when i added up the AP from a post on the WW in general and she said to do some math well when i did at my weight and hight excer for an hour and i earn only 1 point ( and thats high energy ) ?? so now im lost I never count my AP cause im still lost on how to? any help please it's only week 3 for me

Michelle, you take the intensity it was for you (low, mod or high) and your current weight and the time it too you to do it and use the PointsCalculator.

Not sure how 'simplier' (?) I can explain it.

Did you get the AP slider at your meeting? It has you put in level of intensity and duration of activity (whatever it was--walk, aerobics class, jogging, jump rope, etc.) and your weight (within a range). That will give you the total points for the activity. The more intensity you did, the less time you have to exercise to burn a certain number of points.

I always use my APs the day I earn them. That way, I don't have to dig into my 35 flex points until much later in the week.

For myself, I would count long walks--like the one you did at the zoo.

a AP slider.... LOL no i never got one maybe thats why i've been lost LOL

Thanks again for the info! I've never used the activity points, and have used very few flex points in the last 6 weeks. I tend to be satisfied with the 28 daily points I have. Now, when that number goes down, that could be a different story! I do understand that using them will help my maintenance numbers later on, I'm just having trouble getting past the eating if I'm not hungry. I feel like that was one of the links in the chain that got me here to begin with. I know it's a mental block thing, but how do you all do it? Do you go ahead and eat just because, or are you hungry every time you eat? All input is much appreciated!!

I only take APs if I do actual exercise. My everyday stuff I don't. I'm sure everyone's different though.

What week are you in? You don't get the Activity Information until week 3 weighin.

I'm doing it at home no meetings because of $$ right now but im on my 3rd week right now

Does anyone know where to get a activity slider (other then a meeting) ???
thank you

707Goddess, If you e-mail me your snail mail address I'll be happen to send you one of my extra ones.

GREAT thank you so much but one thing I dont have your e-mail.........LOL

I was sitting on my couch just now (7:17 pm) and realized that this site doesn't show the e-mail addy.

[email protected] is my e-mail.

Ten years ago....
 

I had been on ww ten years ago and we counted every 15 min of exersize as a plus point.

Now on the first week back, there is no information!!!!

I count only what I can do at the gym, on bike rides with the kids, power house cleaning (with a timer and breaking a sweat).

My goal is to work out for an hour 4 times a week for an hour each time, either classes at the local HS, Classes at the gym, using the eliptical (burns 500+ calories per hr= sweet!) or tread mill walking the hills in town and using tapes.

I am reallly lucky, I just sold my business and have the $$ for a gym (no spa, nothing fancy).
Before that it was walking the hills in the neigborhood with a good friend, using tapes and jumping rope.

If anyone can share information, kindly do! :dizzy: It would help a great deal.

Bitzy, I have been on W/W points since 1998 and never remember anything other than the 20 minutes increments but that doesn't mean that I am 100% correct.

However now it is based on intensity/time done/current weight in a formula. If you joined online there is a Activity Points Caculator that calculates it for you and if you go to meetings it is given at the 3rd weighin (for week 4) and it is in the form of a 'slider.'

As for activity I recommend not only the cardio you have mentioned but some weight training. You don't even need to buy weights ---- use some soup or veggie cans.

Another thing is DVD/Video workouts such as Walk Away The Pounds (inhome walking) which combines cardio with some strength training.

WW online
 

I signed up for the monthly pass and with it comes the web site support.
I put in my weight, length and intensity of work out and it gave me more points than expected!
170 lbs, 60 min, high intensity I got a read out of +8 points.
moderate is +3 and low is +2.
I was only giving myself +3 or +4 for the high intensity.
Being that I am in my second week, no one at meeting will tell me the magic equasion.
(the class leader is a 0 body fat demon pixie who just doesn't stop!!! and on the eliptical that reads one hour wo is burning 600 + calories; so I could negate my whole day with a two hour go on the machine??? )


Has anyone else used the web site to figure excercise points?:dizzy:

2 hours on the eliptical? I can barely make myself push 25 minutes out on that thing!
My best advice to you for best calorie burn is to lift some weights, toning your muscle actually helps you burn more calories in the long run (because they're constantly needing replenishment) and do shorter, yet more intense cardio work outs.
Best of luck to you!

I can't go beyond 20 min!
:carrot:

I feel like walking in the rain today!

Hoping everybody finds the beauty in their body!