Calories burned from hard house/yard work (home renovations)
BridgetHarrington
Posts: 41 Member
Does anyone know how to calculate calories burned from hard house/yard work? I'm not talking vacuuming. This is home renovation stuff. Yesterday, I pulled up carpet, padding, staples and mounting strips off of 14 wood stairs and hauled them into the yard. The house is from the 20s and the carpet had been down for about 35 years. This took me about 3 hours. And, I belt sanded a bench, which took me half an hour.
I went to bed exhausted last night. I logged my food and didn't eat over 1200 calories. But how to calculate the exercise? I was drenched in sweat yesterday, I woke up starving and my back, arms and abs burn. Clearly, I did some work!
I'm 47, 5'7" and 178 pounds, if that helps.
I went to bed exhausted last night. I logged my food and didn't eat over 1200 calories. But how to calculate the exercise? I was drenched in sweat yesterday, I woke up starving and my back, arms and abs burn. Clearly, I did some work!
I'm 47, 5'7" and 178 pounds, if that helps.
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Replies
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what does it matter a day later? what is the obsession with logging every single calorie burned - you have plenty of extra fat to pull from. take it as a bonus.3
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@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.5 -
@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.
I just find that logging any incidental "exercise" is counter intuitive to losing weight and a healthy lifestyle. It seems people are more likely to log accidental exercises but not accidental bites.
Extra fat comment was not a cheap shot, simply a statement based off the OP's stats and deficit.3 -
It's always amazing. Question asked. One either has an answer or not. It wasn't a solicitation for opinion.2
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@dougii - Thanks for this! I likewise log the things that are not part of my everyday chores as well. My house is actually much older than that carpet - it's a 20s Craftsman that has had a few "remuddles" over the years that we're trying to make right. Think bad 70s carpet...crappy wallpaper. It has the potential to be gorgeous again once we fix things into the character of the house. I have several friends in construction and they are all ripped, so I was curious what I burned. If you're talking 250 calories for construction-type work, and I used serious muscle ripping out carpet and mounting strips and sanding a tough oak bench, well, that explains why I woke up hungry this morning. I wasn't trying to limit calories....I just ate when I was hungry, made good choices and was too busy to snack.
@Laz - I log everything. I think it's good to do that, so you are aware of the impact of what you do verses not. As a former runner (who had 17% body fat before she stopped logging and watching what I ate) I have been logging 4-6 hours of jog/walk time a week -- and I know what that activity is worth. I obviously don't care about vacuuming and doing laundry, but I do wonder what the remodel sweat is worth, because I don't do it every day, and it certainly is not "incidental." My boyfriend works nights, and he came home this morning shocked to see how much headway I made last night on those stairs. As far as "extra fat" - take a look at my profile pic. That was last summer, and only 10 pounds lighter than I am now. A size 8 as opposed to the 12 I am now (and my 12s are loose). Probably NOT what most people picture when they see my height and weight stats. I am not sure why MFP set my calorie limit at 1200...but I am burning at least 200 of those with just my regular exercise.1 -
BridgetHarrington wrote: »Does anyone know how to calculate calories burned from hard house/yard work?
Throw two D10
Multiply by the age of your dog, then divide by the age of said dogs best friend. Modify using a scaling factor based on wind speed and then add ambient temperature...
Essentially you've got no idea and no way of measuring. The approximations upthread will give you something to log.
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@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.
I just find that logging any incidental "exercise" is counter intuitive to losing weight and a healthy lifestyle. It seems people are more likely to log accidental exercises but not accidental bites.
Extra fat comment was not a cheap shot, simply a statement based off the OP's stats and deficit.
Ummm she's 5'7 and 178... She's very close to a healthy, advisable BMI. So...1 -
Maybe this will help OP. Looks like you will have to input it yourself as MFP doesn't have anything similar preloaded... http://calorielab.com/burned/?mo=se&gr=06&ti=home+repair&q=&wt=150&un=lb&kg=680
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@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.
I just find that logging any incidental "exercise" is counter intuitive to losing weight and a healthy lifestyle. It seems people are more likely to log accidental exercises but not accidental bites.
Extra fat comment was not a cheap shot, simply a statement based off the OP's stats and deficit.
Ummm she's 5'7 and 178... She's very close to a healthy, advisable BMI. So...
You are reading way too much into it. Fat is not bad, I was simply referring to the fact that the OP is not at critical levels of body fat and not at any real risk of malnutrition for not logging extra activity. I find it strange how those on a fitness forum react to referring to one's fat as a source of extra energy, especially in someone trying to lose weight.1 -
@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.
I just find that logging any incidental "exercise" is counter intuitive to losing weight and a healthy lifestyle. It seems people are more likely to log accidental exercises but not accidental bites.
Extra fat comment was not a cheap shot, simply a statement based off the OP's stats and deficit.
Ummm she's 5'7 and 178... She's very close to a healthy, advisable BMI. So...
You are reading way too much into it. Fat is not bad, I was simply referring to the fact that the OP is not at critical levels of body fat and not at any real risk of malnutrition for not logging extra activity. I find it strange how those on a fitness forum react to referring to one's fat as a source of extra energy, especially in someone trying to lose weight.
When we lose weight we lose fat+existing lean muscle mass. When someone has a ways to go, then the risk of lean muscle mass is less. 178 is NOT a ways to go.
But that isn't the point. The OP - asked a question re: calorie burns for home renovation. If she wants to log calories....that's her business. Besides, we don't know what her currently deficit is.1 -
I would use the Calorie Lab link provided above and then "underestimate." For example, I once calculated that I had burned 750 calories painting. Since this program doesn't "work" if we overestimate calorie expenditure, I might have logged 500. I had worked for five hours and figured that 100 calories an hour is not an overestimation.
Log it, because you did it. Just be sure to take a conservative approach counting exercise calories.0 -
@bridget - I do quite a bit of home renovation work as our house is considerably older than yours is. I count 250 cals/hour for construction type work; 150 cals/hour for drywall spackling; 700 cals/hour for digging dirt and gravel. If you google questions similar to "How many calories burned in an hour of construction (etc.)?" you will find some web sites that have calculators that cover a whole spectrum of these types of jobs. I did some research, compared a few sites, took an average for various activities that MFP does not cover, lowered the number a bit to be on the safe side, and came up with numbers that work for me personally. I also have cal expenditures for items such as chopping wood and motorcycle riding. I tend to record everything that I do that is not part of my regular day or chores, etc.
@Laz - many individuals like to keep track of all of the calories that they expend and consume, why would this bother you? Your response, especially the "extra fat" part borders on the side of rude.
I just find that logging any incidental "exercise" is counter intuitive to losing weight and a healthy lifestyle. It seems people are more likely to log accidental exercises but not accidental bites.
Extra fat comment was not a cheap shot, simply a statement based off the OP's stats and deficit.
Ummm she's 5'7 and 178... She's very close to a healthy, advisable BMI. So...
You are reading way too much into it. Fat is not bad, I was simply referring to the fact that the OP is not at critical levels of body fat and not at any real risk of malnutrition for not logging extra activity. I find it strange how those on a fitness forum react to referring to one's fat as a source of extra energy, especially in someone trying to lose weight.
When we lose weight we lose fat+existing lean muscle mass. When someone has a ways to go, then the risk of lean muscle mass is less. 178 is NOT a ways to go.
But that isn't the point. The OP - asked a question re: calorie burns for home renovation. If she wants to log calories....that's her business. Besides, we don't know what her currently deficit is.
Preserving lean mass went out the window at 1200 calories. I'm not going to argue with you about the body composition/amount of lean mass of a former runner who does frequent cardio and is technically overweight and in a bracket already prone to lower lean mass.1 -
BridgetHarrington wrote: »Does anyone know how to calculate calories burned from hard house/yard work? I'm not talking vacuuming. This is home renovation stuff. Yesterday, I pulled up carpet, padding, staples and mounting strips off of 14 wood stairs and hauled them into the yard. The house is from the 20s and the carpet had been down for about 35 years. This took me about 3 hours. And, I belt sanded a bench, which took me half an hour.
I went to bed exhausted last night. I logged my food and didn't eat over 1200 calories. But how to calculate the exercise? I was drenched in sweat yesterday, I woke up starving and my back, arms and abs burn. Clearly, I did some work!
I'm 47, 5'7" and 178 pounds, if that helps.
I think there's an option for this in "Cardio"
Try "Housework, vigourous" or I know they have a furniture moving option, maybe that would be more fitting?0
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