Do YOU count cleaning?

jmv7117

I am torn. I mean.. I'm definitely walking around, and using my arms to scrub or wash dishes or dust.. and I'm bending down and picking things up and pushing the vacuum. It just seems weird to count that as exercise...

I don't count regular cleaning or housework but I do count abnormal, strenuous housework like spring cleaning, a complete floor to ceiling room clean, washing all the windows and that type of thing. For those who don't do a strenuous housework session, it can certainly have your heart rate up! Also, for those with their activity level set to sedentary then extra NEAT aside of normal level can be counted as an incentive to get more active, IMO.

PunkyRachel

I do if its not a regular activity. Last time I logged cleaning was when the daycare I work at rearranged classroom's one Saturday. (moved preschool upstairs, and 2's, one's and infants downstairs) It was a full 8-10 hour day of moving furniture, going up and down stair carrying boxes/toys/shelving units, sweeping, dusting, vacuuming rugs, etc. Then I only logged it as 5 hours, since we did take breaks and I was trying to be realistic.

I do log stuff like shoveling snow, mowing grass, and raking leaves, because I don't do those activities regularly.

LoseYouself

I NEVER count cleaning and other daily activites, no matter how thorough the cleaning is. I only count exercise as any activity that gets my heart rate into the fat loss or cardio zone and keep it there for a sustained period of time. I use a heart rate monitor for exercise, and if you were to put in on while cleaning, you would see that although it IS work, it's not getting your heart rate into the desired target heart rate zone for any sustained period of time, which to me is what exercise is.

I'd just eat the same calories you normally do, and if you burn a few extra calories, then let that go towards your weight loss. Chances are if you log those as calories burned, MFP is going to grossly overestimate what you burned and you'll eat back more calories than you really burned. The values MFP uses for exercise are usually off by quite a lot.

Just use it as a boost in activity for the day, but not enough that you need extra calories to fuel the low intensity. That's just my opinion.

jmv7117

No, defiantly not. I see people adding things to their diary that are not exercise, but should be thought of as part of your daily routine, part of life . I feel that adding cleaning or yard work would be like adding taking a shower or making dinner- silliness.

I don't see where it is anyone's business what someone adds to their diary as far as activity. Sure it may not be 'exercise' but it is NEAT and it is better than sitting on the couch eating bon bons. Just saying. Besides, they may be logging that activity as a way of becoming more active that will lead to exercising. You don't know what they are going through or why but it's up to them.

fificrazy

If you clean regularly, this should just be factored into your lifestyle activeness. If you've done something especially physical you don't always do in addition to your normal chores (washing a car, moving furniture to vacumm under, etc) then I'd personally add it. I've read a few articles explaining how much higher the calorie needs of a 1950s housewife was to a typical housewife today because cleaning can definitely be considered highly physical activity. Really interesting!

chelstakencharge

ummm.....nope.....I cleaned when I was fat and it never helped me lose weight.

PunkyRachel

if I sweat-I count it. That is really the only way I can tell if I burned something......

yep! agreed

JMel86

I cleaned & moved **** in & out of my garage for 4 hours yesterday, I counted 3 of those hours as 'cleaning-moderate effort' coz I was sweating & breathing heavy but everyday, normal cleaning, I don't count it.

broox80

I only count it if its out of the ordinary stuff like opening the pool, cleaning the garage, stuff like that.

Ely82010

No, I don't count cleaning. I set my activity as moderate/light active and I only log my walks, fitness classes, and gym workouts (cardio and strength training).

I used to log gardening but I don’t anymore. I just keep in mind the extra calories burned and I don’t fret if I go over my calories goals.

juliacatherine1

I count it if it makes me sweat.

honkytonks85

I use a fitbit to measure my activity.

If I do lots of cleaning, it counts extra steps, and therefore ups my daily expenditure level beyond my default (which is just my BMR + a guesstimate of activity level based on my physical attributes).

however I wouldn't count the activity as exercise and before the fitbit I wouldn't have thought about it at all

littlelaura

I wouldnt count cleaning unless its an entire day of the whole house from top to bottom, and working up a sweat also maybe try wearing a hrm (turning it off when you take a break). I think I have counted it like 2 times and that's like a spring cleaning big event or fall cleaning. Not the usual stuff.

RUNNING_AMOK_1958

Only if I work up a sweat doing it....which I never do.

So should I count sitting still in 90 degree heat? I promise I can work up a sweat doing it.

Should I never count time spent on the Gazelle unless it's over 75 degrees out? I practically never sweat on that thing, unless the temperature in the room is high enough. . . .

The operative word here was WORK

RUNNING_AMOK_1958

Only if I work up a sweat doing it....which I never do.

So should I count sitting still in 90 degree heat? I promise I can work up a sweat doing it.

Should I never count time spent on the Gazelle unless it's over 75 degrees out? I practically never sweat on that thing, unless the temperature in the room is high enough. . . .

The operative word here was WORK

youtubeworkouter

I found out from scoobyworkshop website what I should be eating according to my goals and activity level and I stopped logging exercise. I workout 4 days week 30 minutes, cook 3 times a day for the family, clean for at least 30 minutes a day, and pick up and chase kids constantly from 8am to 1am. none of which I eat back. save time just go to Scoobyworkshop

32sami

I count anything in excess of my normal routine. Imo, and for the record haters it's MY opinion not necessarily yours. I think cleaning, working, etc and logging it is more to make individuals feel less guilty about not working out. Once again "my opinion" cause it does say next to topic "Do YOU count cleaning?" I don't.

CelebrityStatus

I log cleaning for only two reasons:

1. I was cleaning stalls at the farm... since there is no actual activity for that and it IS a workout!

2. I'm doing something strenuous like rearranging a ton of stuff... I didn't log it but today I moved my entire bedroom around by myself, including lifting and moving beds/dressers/end tables/etc across the room.

Other than that ... for something like cleaning, I go by the theory that if you aren't sweating, it's not worth logging.

kinmad4it

Judging by the OP's ticker, they're here to try and lose weight. So why try and justify sabotaging yourself? I've seen people here ask if they should log standing, I kid you not!!
You log exercise activities. Doing the cleaning has never and will never be classified as "exercise"
All you're doing is trying to fool yourself and alleviate the guilt from having those extra cookies. You think that by logging phantom exercise you can have those little extra treats and not go over your calorie allowance for the day.
Wake up and realise all you're doing is damage to your weight reduction plan. Even if everyone on here said it's ok it's still down to you and your own mental will power to say no.

With weight reduction being the goal here and the way to do that is to eat at a deficit, wouldn't it be prudent to only ever add proper exercise activities and think of anything else as bonus calories towards your deficit? Why run the risk of potentially going over your allowance by logging something you're not sure of?

Clash1001

I don't, personally.

I suspect I would overestimate calories, even halving them. If I know I've done a strenuous day, I will maybe not feel as bad about having an extra 100 cals or so, but that's as far as it goes for me.

Also, and this is just for me personally, I know what I decent workout feels like - and I don't feel like cleaning cuts it. Mind you, I do take frequent breaks when cleaning (I find it super boring!)

I just think 'cleaning' covers such a wide range of activities that there isn't a hope in hell that the calorie count is going to be accurate in any way, shape or form without a hrm.

pinkvici

I have my activity level set as sedentary, so if I clean hard enough to sweat I do count it. Have also been moving furniture, etc. in my home and prepping/painting rooms. I count that as well, since it is replacing my structured workout and I am sweating while I do it.

If I had my activity level set for anything other than sedentary, I would not count it.

Exactly this - although a "friend" clearly mocked me for this last time I did it! I spent about 3 hours cleaning/scrubbing/moving stuff etc., so logged 1 hour (thinking any extra cals burned were a bonus). I also have my activity level as sedentary as my job is mainly office based.

bestmeicanbe84

I don't count cleaning but I did count washing the car because it's not something I do everyday and burned a lot of calories doing it. According to my HRM it was 340 calories in 53 minutes.

debrakgoogins

Judging by the OP's ticker, they're here to try and lose weight. So why try and justify sabotaging yourself? I've seen people here ask if they should log standing, I kid you not!!
You log exercise activities. Doing the cleaning has never and will never be classified as "exercise"
All you're doing is trying to fool yourself and alleviate the guilt from having those extra cookies. You think that by logging phantom exercise you can have those little extra treats and not go over your calorie allowance for the day.
Wake up and realise all you're doing is damage to your weight reduction plan. Even if everyone on here said it's ok it's still down to you and your own mental will power to say no.

With weight reduction being the goal here and the way to do that is to eat at a deficit, wouldn't it be prudent to only ever add proper exercise activities and think of anything else as bonus calories towards your deficit? Why run the risk of potentially going over your allowance by logging something you're not sure of?

Why contribute to a conversation if you are only going to belittle or judge? Are you a certified fitness instructor? Are you a doctor? Your idea of "proper" exercise seems to contradict many reputable studies. Depending on where someone is in their fitness journey, cleaning may very well be a valid exercise. For those that are fit but want some extra burn, there are ways to ramp up cleaning to make it work your body more effectively.

These are links that can provide more information about making cleaning into a workout. These are from reputable resources, including doctors and fitness specialists:

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/spring-cleaning-calorie-burn

http://www.sharecare.com/health/everyday-activities-fitness/is-cleaning-your-house-exercise

http://www.hivehealthmedia.com/10-household-cleaning-chores-exercise/

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/tips/expert-advice/how-many-calories-do-you-burn-with-household-chores/

The following is a breakdown of calories burned per hour:

Make It Burn
Exactly how many calories are we burning while scrubbing? Here’s a breakdown of approximately how many calories we burn per cleaning activity per hour:

•Sweeping: 240
•Packing/Unpacking: 220
•Scrubbing floors on hands and knees: 325
•Cleaning, light (dusting, wiping down counters, picking up clothes): 100
•Cleaning, general (washing dishes, doing laundry): 200
•Cleaning house, heavy effort (vacuuming, hanging laundry, repetitive bending over): 260
•Child care: 205
•Shoveling snow: 415
•Raking lawn: 235
•Mowing lawn: 325
•Moving large household item: 400
•Cooking: 150
•Grocery shopping: 90

katesmash

I don't log cleaning. Even if it was the huge, heavy duty cleaning with moving furniture, etc. I have a desk job so my setting is sedentary.

I have counted shoveling snow because that IS a workout, especially the amounts we have gotten. I was outside yesterday for an hour in the snow, building a snowman with the kids and in general just playing out there, and the snow is deep and it was hard to walk in the yard, and I did track something, but I think I called it like 20 minutes shoveling snow... which was part of what I did. But I sure didn't track it as an hour.
I don't track swimming at the pool with my kids because that's mostly sitting around or standing.. but I do track it if I went to the pool and swam laps for an hour.

explosivedonut

I wouldn't count walking around the mall, so why would I count cleaning? Both are equally as "difficult" Unless I'm going for a run, following along with a workout DVD, or lifting heavy things, I wouldn't count it. If I did track it, I certainly wouldn't eat the calories back.

Let me put it this way, I'm going to Disney soon. I am going to be walking around all day. I am not going to log how many calories I burned.

RllyGudTweetr

I wouldn't count walking around the mall, so why would I count cleaning? Both are equally as "difficult" Unless I'm going for a run, following along with a workout DVD, or lifting heavy things, I wouldn't count it. If I did track it, I certainly wouldn't eat the calories back.

Let me put it this way, I'm going to Disney soon. I am going to be walking around all day. I am not going to log how many calories I burned.

Because you don't believe you're burning calories above what you'd burn sitting on the couch, or. . .?

explosivedonut

I wouldn't count walking around the mall, so why would I count cleaning? Both are equally as "difficult" Unless I'm going for a run, following along with a workout DVD, or lifting heavy things, I wouldn't count it. If I did track it, I certainly wouldn't eat the calories back.

Let me put it this way, I'm going to Disney soon. I am going to be walking around all day. I am not going to log how many calories I burned.

Because you don't believe you're burning calories above what you'd burn sitting on the couch, or. . .?

Because it's pretty miniscule, in the grand scheme of things.

kshadows

No. That's part of my normal daily routine, and I figured that in with my calorie allowance.

I do count it if I'm doing something out of the norm (bi-monthly heavy duty stuff)

walkdmc

It depends. If it's my daily grind…dishes, laundry, vacuuming, dusting, etc., then no, I don't count it. That stuff usually takes up about 2 hours out of my day, off and on, not continuous work. If I spend 4+ hours cleaning the entire house, rarely taking a break, working up a sweat, I figure I burn about 200-300 extra calories and may count that. I definitely count things like yard work and cleaning up the basement (which entails hauling heavy boxes up stairs multiple times, etc).

Also, to the person going to Disney who won't be counting their extra activity/walking. I suggest wearing a pedometer. It's a lot of fun to check it at the end of the night and see a whopper of a number. Plus, you may rethink logging that activity. It's not unusual to burn an extra 1k calories/day with all that walking and you may change your stance on "not logging" (i.e., not eating back some of those calories burned).

RllyGudTweetr

I wouldn't count walking around the mall, so why would I count cleaning? Both are equally as "difficult" Unless I'm going for a run, following along with a workout DVD, or lifting heavy things, I wouldn't count it. If I did track it, I certainly wouldn't eat the calories back.

Let me put it this way, I'm going to Disney soon. I am going to be walking around all day. I am not going to log how many calories I burned.

Because you don't believe you're burning calories above what you'd burn sitting on the couch, or. . .?

Because it's pretty miniscule, in the grand scheme of things.

It's almost certainly more than 200 calories burned, depending on your weight and pace, and - assuming you didn't call walking around Disney your baseline activity level based on your work - above the baseline you gave MFP. If you find that minuscule, that's you're prerogative.