"sendentary" or "light activity"

I'm a stay at home mom to 3 little kids.  I never sit down unless I'm on the computer updating CC.  I occasionally have time to watch a tv show early in the morning or after the kids go to bed.  So what I want to know is should I pick "sendentary" or "light activity"?

I wake up...make lunches, make breakfast, get the kids dressed, dress myself (sometimes), walk to the bus stop, drop other kid at preschool, do laundry, pick up toys, toys and more toys, do dishes, do grocery shopping/errands/park, pick kids up from various schools, make dinner, clean up from dinner, bathe kids, tidy up house, go to bed.  Then it all starts over again.  Plus I'm always in the middle of a "project" this week it's bringing down the summer clothes and packing up the winter ones and bringing them to the attic.

I also try to fit in a 40 minute walk 2 to 3 times a week. 

Technically I'm anything but sedentary but do I lead a lifestyle that warrants light activity?

I'm not a professional in any capacity related to this, but I would say that you'd fall under light activity even without the 40 minute walks. You're up and moving all day, which is really not sedentary. Just my opinion.

Yes, very definitely light activity. Depending on your kids' personalities it may be more than light. ;-)

I'm a definite tweener. My job has me sitting all day long, but I also take walks, usually with a backpack, twice a week or more, and work out with free weights and on the elliptical 3 nights a week. None of the options seem to fit for me.

I'd say use the light activity setting, and then log your walks in the activity log.  

Original Post by medveditsa:

I'd say use the light activity setting, and then log your walks in the activity log.

That's basically what I do and it works well for me.  I am sedentary during the day, only doing very little housecleaning and errands.  In the afternoon, I am a part-time nanny to a 4 and 6 year old for 4 hours a day.  Believe it or not, even playing with them I wouldn't even consider light activity.  However, I do work out at least 3 times a week on the treadmill and eliptical burning 500 calories in 1 hour.  So, for CC, I say that I'm sedentary instead of trying to decide if my workouts would make me light activity, medium activity, or whatever.  It gives me a 1,200 calories allowance if I want to lose 1 lb a week.  On the days I work out, I know I can eat that much more lol.

If on a "non-gym" day I go for a walk, I put that into the activity log as well.  As long as I'm -500 for the day I know I should be losing a lb a week.

Thanks, I thought I should opt for "Light" but I've been stuck for about 2 weeks at the same weight so I decided to look for reasons of why things slowed down.

Have you tried it with a heart rate monitor?  I'd definitely say you are a light activity, to moderate really.  Moderate activity is exercising at least 3-4 times a week, and if yo uhave stairs in your house you are def not just sedentary anyway!  If you kept track of everything on CC you'll find out that your activity level is very active!  I have twin 2 year olds and although i get breaks here and there, I still dont consider it sedentary!  You might have hit a plateau because now that you are exercising you need more calories.  WHen you take walks do you get your heart rate up?  do you break a sweat?  I know I break a sweat sometimes, just getting my kids dressed, but our bodys are different.  But check out your caloric intake versus your activity expenditure.