Analysis Tool / Activity Logging Question!

I have an Analysis Tool and activity level question - not sure if this is the best place to put my post, but things in the 'Calorie Count' tool forum seem to get ignored, and my question is mainly activity/fitness related.  I did search past posts but can't really find what I am looking for and am hoping someone can help.

I have been on CC for ages, and I always had my account settings set to "sedentary" and then would log exercise separately.  I am not even sure where I got that from, but its how I have always done it.

But lately my Analysis Graph would show a red bar almost every day, as I ate over 1700 cals (the # I get for sedentary activity).  My trainer wants me to eat 2033 cals/day based on my activity levels.  So in order to NOT see red bars for eating what I am supposed to eat, I changed my activity level under my account settings to 'Light Activity'.  Reason for light: when I use the Burn Meter Tool and set it to Light, it gives me the value of 1990 (pretty close to the 2033 I need).  If I were to set it to Moderate Activity, I get burn of 2250 which is higher than what the trainer wants me to eat. 

Stats: female, 33 yrs old, 5'9", current weight 150, current workout: heavy (for me) weights: 4 - 6x week, + 2 cardio session (although lately cardio has fallen by the wayside a bit, and its more like 1 - 5k run and 1 yoga workout and maybe walking here and there at lunch per week).  I am seeing a trainer who developed a custom plan for me, as well as advised me to eat 2033 cals with 200g carbs, 160g protein, 62g fats.  During the day I have an office/desk job with not a lot of activity.

So.... my question is do I still log my activity separately if my activity level is set to light?   ie: Today I will burn around 350 cals in my weigh training/stretching.  This puts my Burn Level at 2256 if I log activity, whereas when I had it set to sedentary it was showing my Burn Level as 2013 with activity.  Which is considered this accurate?  Do I NOT log activity now?  DO I still log activity?  I am confused....  I use a Polar FR60 HRM where I can input age/gender/weight/height/workout type, etc and I find it gives fairly accurate average HR/burn levels.  So I have been logging these #'s under custom activities each day.

You think after 6 years on CC I would get this, but I guess not! :)  Thanks in advance for your input on my question.

I am not sure I completely understand the question but will answer for the way I think you are saying.

You can go to the "logging" "account Settings" and at the bottom of that page it has a "target calorie" and you can plug in any number you want there so put the # of calories your pt recommended, this should get rid of that red line in the analysis for you.

As far as the bar graph being green or red will depend on your activities being logged to give you extra calories to burn.  I rarely have green bar - I tend to go over too much.

I have my rate set at sedentary and then just add in my exercise.

Thanks.  I did go to logging - account settings - and set my calorie target to 2033 a few weeks ago.  Since then, I get the same red bar that you do by "going over" too much.  But really I am not going over my burn when you factor in my activity level and I am eating the amount I am supposed to eat.  I guess just seeing a red bar for doing what I am supposed to started to annoy me.

By changing my activity level under Account Settings from sedentary to light, I get rid of this red-bar issue as it shows my daily burn level as 2000 cals (without added exercise).  Now I should only see a red bar if I eat more than the 2000 cals I am supposed to eat.

But my question is when my activity level is set to light, should I still log activities separately?

I do log all my activities separately but only purposeful exercise, not things like walking / grocery shopping and stuff like that, just the real exercise.

Makes sense, I also only log real exercise activities, like a run, yoga, weight lifting, walking for exercise (ie: 6k trail hike). 

But you say you have your activity level set to Sedentary.  I just changed mine to Light.  I am wondering if with level set above Sedentary, do I still log activities separately, or does the higher level account for this exercise?? 

I would still log my exercise time

I guess my question on logging exercise on top of the daily general activities is because if I leave my Activity Level at Sedentary, my daily burn without any added exercise is 1750.  If I put Activity Level to Light, its 1990.  So if I have it at Light (1990) and add in say 300 exercise cals, am I "double dipping" on energy expenditure? 

I get the feeling that I am not, that the increase in daily burn without activities is part of that whole speeding up metabolism thing.  Right now I am losing weight even when eating 2000+ calories, when factoring in my daily activity and exercise.  So I will continue to add exercise, leave activity level to Light, and just see what happens.  :) 

well from what i understand the calorie target provided via the categories 'light', 'sedentary ' and moderate  simply average out  your overall calorie output out for the week per day.if thats the case i don't think there's a need to log ur activities seperately unless for accuracy sake, which is minimal i think.

personally i set mine as light, but i've just recently started lool so only time will tell!