Help with activity level

Hey Guys,

I would really appreciate some help with choosing what my activity level is. I am 20 years old, 5'3" and 149lbs. I just had back surgery so I am not able to do strenous physical activity. I walk 2-3 times a day for about 30-45 minutes each time. I usually walk in hilly areas. Other than that I'm pretty much inactive...lying in bed, icing my back or reading, etc. I feel like I'm in the middle of sedentary and light activity. 

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance :)

Not knowing how fast you walk, my best guess is that you are sedentary with light activity.  Walking is a wonderful way to exercise and also good for you in particular because of the back surgery.

Hope you are feeling up to par soon!

So you're walking between 60-135 minutes a day? I'd say that definitely qualifies as light activity, or on days it's closer to 2 hours of walking that's probably moderate. You are definitely not sedentary.

One quick way to check is to search for walking or walking hills under activities and see how much you're burning. Usually it's around 300 calories for each activity level (so if you're burning 300 calories walking, that's light; 600 would be moderate). Also, I've heard that CC slightly underestimates the burn from walking, so keep that in mind. Regardless you are not sedentary so at least set the activity meter to light.

Thanks so much! I will definitely change it to light activity. 

Take care.

no harm identifying your activity level as sedentary starting off, then adjusting upwards if you are losing weight quicker then expected. 

the CC activity levels are used only as a way of determining a recommendation how many calories your body is expected to burn naturally.  Its better to underestimate this number rather than overestimate.

if the theory of losing one pound per week by consuming 500 kcals less per day than your estimated burn (naturally + excercise) holds true, you can use the results of your program  to make final determination on your activity level.