Does burning calories cleaning really count?
Options
![Mrz_Rich](https://dakd0cjsv8wfa.cloudfront.net/images/photos/user/06ad/11bc/c419/a7f5/70cb/506a/daeb/8d3be1335536dfdf55501a530d3efcdf430c.jpg)
Mrz_Rich
Posts: 90
I'm just curious how many of you log the calories you burn cleaning the house? I never have before because I figure it's not above and beyond my "normal activity" so I'm not sure I should be logging them in. However, this morning while cleaning my house I worked up quite a sweat...Maybe if I cleaned more often it wouldn't be such a workout! LOL :ohwell: ) Even if I log those calories in as "cleaning - moderate effort" it says I would burn about 300 calories. To log or not to log??
0
Replies
-
It depends on how you set your regular activity level. Since I set mine for "lightly active," I only count cleaning if I'm doing a lot more than usual.
I think some people set their regular activity level as "sedentary" just so they can count cleaning, etc., every time.0 -
I log everything, and I have 3 kids and grandkids so I am always cleaning...lol...but seriously, I don't use the burning of calories as a reason to eat more. I just try to stay active, and keep my exercises up and go for it.
Blessings,
Diane0 -
I log it in cause I work up a sweat when I clean0
-
in my opinion - cleaning, shopping, cooking, etc are part of your regular daily activities...you did them before MFP and you will keep doing them...I wouldn't log them - if you got a burn from it then that is a bonus....
the only activity like that that I have logged is shovelling snow - this really gets your heart rate up and works alot of muscles...similiar once it gets nice out I will log gardening and mowing the lawn as well....0 -
I wouldn't log them. Just consider them a bonus. Some people count everything they do as exercise, such as grocery shopping, cleaning, and so on. I think it's already counted in your activity level. If you start counting everything you do as exercise, you probably won't be seeing a loss. Hope that helps.0
-
I log when I do heavy cleaning like spring cleaning0
-
I vote 'to log'.
However when I do it I cut my time in half just to be on the safe side. (1hr of house work, I log 30min)
0 -
I agree I don't count cleaning, yard work or anything that is requires to keep a home, but if i was building a brick wall I would count that0
-
I don't because when I first set it up I put that I am very very active during the day or whatever (run a child care and am a foster parent). So it already calculated that for my daily allowed calories.0
-
I think that if your breaking a sweat you should count it. If your doing more than your norm definitely log that also.0
-
I wouldn't count cleaning my house as an exercise, unless I was spring cleaning. The only reason I have logged cleaning as an exercise, is because I have just started a new job in a kitchen, and for the last week we have had to deep clean almost everyday after the tradesmen had been in.
I despise cleaning!0 -
I never log for normal stuff, cleaning, shopping, sex. It's all a part of life. I just log for when I set out to work my butt off for the purpose of burning calories and fat.0
-
I just logged my "vigorous effor" cleaning because I wore my HRM and was "spring cleaning"....I washed the ceiling, walls, and windows inside and out in the living room..oh and I have part of the carpet done, I have to do the rest after it dries and I can put the couch back....I burned 1144 calories and yes I was sweating....
But if I am just doing the daily stuff, I don't log it.0 -
For me it depends on what I'm doing, Basic dusting? No. Vaccuming and moving furniture out of the way? Yes. I have 5 dogs living in my home and a 13 year old boy - "cleaning" for me involves more than general household maintenance... it means carpet cleaning, moving furniture, hand scrubbing floors, scouring walls.... I wear my HRM and gauge what it says vs. what I normally burn in a workout - if it's similar - then yes, I count it!!!0
-
No No and NO. to me, its a way to sugar coat your numbers, dont eat them back . dont log them . NOPE0
-
I would say it depends on how you setup your profile, like a couple others have stated.
If you are Sedentary, I would log cleaning. If I was Very Active, I would not log it.
Sedentary: Spend most of the day sitting (e.g. bank teller, desk job)
Lightly Active: Spend a good part of the day on your feet (e.g. nurse, salesman)
Active: Spend a good part of the day doing some physical activity (e.g. waitress, mailman)
Very Active: Spend most of the day doing heavy physical activity (e.g. bike messenger, carpenter)0 -
Only time I add cleaning is when I clean my Grandma's house, because usually clean it from top to bottom and am there for several hours. When it comes to my own house I never keep track of those calories0
-
I don't usually log cleaning unless it's above and beyond my daily straightening, toy pick-up, dishes, etc. However, I posted this before, I usually DO log shopping because I don't shop every day. When I do, 99% of the time I end up bringing both my kids (almost 40 lbs each) and put them in a Target shopping cart with one of those double-seats added to the front, and I push it all over creation in the store, adding to it various items (large box of diapers/pull-ups, 2 gallons of milk, box of canned cat food, 20-40 lbs of dog food, etc, etc.) I walk pretty quickly to start with, so pushing all that stuff around the store for 90 minutes is definitely a workout if you ask me.
And, for those who doubt you can lose weight by logging cleaning and shopping as "exercise" on occasion, I submit this: I stopped "exercising" due to the flu and an achilles tendon injury on 1/26/11. I was doing EA Sports Active 3-4x per week, but my Dr. said to stop high-impact exercise. It took me about 2 weeks to recover from the flu, and when I started feeling better, rather than join a gym to get access to an elliptical or recumbant bike, we decided to buy a piece of equipment for our home. We just ordered it and should get it this week. Without any exercise other than my daily routine, walking, (I did run/walk a 5k in there,) and occasionally logging my shopping and heavy-duty cleaning, I weighed myself this morning, and I weigh 14.6 lbs less than I did on 1/26. I don't normally eat all my exercise calories, regardless of what type of exertion it is, but there were days when I ate back my cleaning and/or shopping calories, and I still managed to lose.
The thing is, you have to be honest with yourself because, in the end, you're only cheating yourself. If it felt like a workout, log it. If it didn't, don't.
JMO.0 -
I'm not going to comment on cleaning, but I agree that I won't count daily activity as exercise.
Some days my job is very physically demanding; other days- not so much. I believe that the daily calories will balance out.
The only numbers I log are periods of intentional workouts- because I am focused and steady in effort.0 -
No No and NO. to me, its a way to sugar coat your numbers, dont eat them back . dont log them . NOPE
I agree with Tami! She is a fitness guru. She knows her stuff.0
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 392.1K Introduce Yourself
- 43.6K Getting Started
- 259.9K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.7K Food and Nutrition
- 47.4K Recipes
- 232.3K Fitness and Exercise
- 403 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.4K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.5K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 152.8K Motivation and Support
- 7.9K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 23 News and Announcements
- 999 Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.4K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions