How many of you log housework/cleaning?

heatherdoll40

If your going past the quick vaccume light dust of an every day cleaning log it if you want. Keeping the house neat is one thing but cleaning is a work out, I clean other peoples homes 2-3 times a week I'm wiped out after 4 hours.

heathally

I logged some this week. I don't log it if it's just vacuuming really quick, but if I'm doing a big job that takes a significant amount of time and may keep me from my regular workout, I definitely do. This week, I cleaned out a junk room and it took me several hours with a lot of lifting, carrying bending, etc. No way I wasn't going to count that calorie burn!

Tree72

I have my activity level set to sedentary since I work at a desk job. So if I do a lot of cleaning, like sweeping and mopping the whole house (all but the carpeted bedrooms of a 3400 square foot house), then I'll log it. It takes a fair amount of time and definitely burns some calories that I wouldn't on a typical day. I've never logged the normal day-to-day stuff like laundry, dishes, or wiping down the kitchen. I do think those might apply for some people, but it's more trouble than it's worth to me to pay attention to how long it takes and bother logging it.

This is definitely one of those subjects that can stir up some disagreements. I think it's a personal decision and you have to figure out what works for you. If you're logging activities like this and are seeing the progress you want, then obviously it's working for you.

MinnieInMaine

I don't because I also believe it's part of my normal activity. Plus I'm not a fan of cleaning so when I do it, I'll just do one or two small tasks at a time and they're not anything I get too agressive with so not much of a heart rate increase. It does make sense to me to count it as activity if you're activity level is set as sedentary and you're doing many tasks at once and get your heart rate up and/or get sweaty - I just don't approach cleaning that way.

Also have to put my 2 cents in regarding the so-called "rude" response (hope you don't take offense Red, you know you're my girl) but I'm not so sure the poster intended it to be read that way. I think they were just offering their point of view and some advice - perhaps unsolicited but that's just par for the course when you pose questions on a public forum such as this...

mommacool

For me it depends how vigorous it was... if I work up a sweat, or am tired. I give myself some credit. I figure if could use the calories to keep me from going under calorie.

Just regular everyday sweeping, vaccuuming, wiping cupboards and doing laundry, dishes etc, no.

Steam cleaning all the carpets, raking the lawn, scrubbing both bathrooms top to bottom, washing window on a ladder, yep.

The day I went to the warehouse club and spent $500 dollars.. yes! I lifted those cases of food at least 5 times each, in the cart, onto the belt, back in the cart, in the car, out of the car and then put them all away (up and down stairs to the basement).... If that was not equal to a gym workout, I don't know what was.

You have to use common sense on this one....

twinkietigress

For me I would say anything that keeps you up and moving and works as incentive to keep a positive attitude on getting fit should be logged! It will encourage you to keep going as every little bit counts and lets face it some days are better than others. If logging that today your best was to get up and dust while you watch tv than by all means count it.

If your doing your best every day, and ok with the fact it will vary you will reach your goals, there will be no stopping you!

Twinkie

Sarahmeridith

I dont because I wory if I do I may end up eating to much. I factor cleaning into my activity level (moderate).

beccaboo1021

And...my housework probably isn't as regular as it should be!

I hear ya on this on!! :laugh:

I only log it if it's a long cleaning day or if I'm going above and beyond the normal vaccum/sweep/dusting...

sugarbeans

I only log housework/cleaning if I have reorganized the house or "spring cleaning" otherwise the little everyday stuff I don't bother.

FabCheeky

I'm a pretty fit person (now), but I will log housework when I am pouring sweat. (Like trying to sweep and mop my entire house in 45 minutes or scrubbing showers.) That being said, I don't eat extra calories for it. It's more for me to track my extra activities, you know?

PlanetVelma

I log it only if it was heavy cleaning, and only log half the time I actually did it

I only log it if I'm deep cleaning - the same with gardening. I don't log regular watering/weeding - unless I'm out in the garden for hours and doing more than just the usual...like when I dug up some bushes, that was a lot of work and I was starving afterwards. I do only log half of the time as well....

ATXJudie

Not housework/cleaning. We don't do much heavy cleaning ourselves...but I would log any time my hubby and I really got out there and did yardwork.

We have weekends where we are out there all day - raking, mowing, gardening, etc. Pouring sweat. Usually I don't go to the gym on those days, and I assume that all counts as something!

deanadimples

I don't log it. I consider it daily routine.

For me to consider any activity exercise....I have be working solely for the purpose of burning calories. Workout shoes on, workout bra, etc. And If my hair isn't wet, I didn't exercise to my ability. For me exercise is always about pushing myself to see how far I can go compared to how far I tell myself I can.

I look at it this way. When I think about losing my weight, I don't say to myself "I think I'll go clean something really well". I got fat while still cleaning my house. For me, exercise is always a physical effort outside my regular routine. I may sweat at time cleaning, but it's not exercise. And for me it never will be.

If I were to log cleaning...would I then have to log sex? walking to the car? washing the car? shopping? Sadly I can do all those...well except the one LOL. But I consider those freebie calories burned. They make up for the foods that are harder to track (no labels/homecooked), or little things I may have missed. I think of those calories burned as cushions for any intake I may have missed or miscalculated. But never exercise.

LilRedRooster

I do occasionally, but only on the days when I go buck-wild and deep clean everything, because on those days, the only way I can spend the time in cleaning is to put the baby on my back and do it while wearing her. She's about 22lbs now, so deep-cleaning for 2 hours while hauling her around is more of a workout than some of my "real" workouts.

But otherwise, no, I don't count the other stuff.

deanadimples

I do occasionally, but only on the days when I go buck-wild and deep clean everything, because on those days, the only way I can spend the time in cleaning is to put the baby on my back and do it while wearing her. She's about 22lbs now, so deep-cleaning for 2 hours while hauling her around is more of a workout than some of my "real" workouts.

Now that would be a workout!

SixCatFaerie

IF IT BREAKS A SWEAT, I LOG IT, THERE'S GOT TO BE CALORIES GOING SOMEWHERE!!!

100% agreement! Especially for those of us that can't really exercise in conventional ways due to illness or physical limitations.


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

Juswannaloseit

I log it; I log everything! I think the whole idea is "activity" which equals movement, increased heart rate, blood flow, even perspiration. It does not have to be "exercise", which face it, to some people is a bad word like "diet". It is important when going from sedentary to more active that you log your activity - that's progress. So, in my opinion, activity is what's most important, whether gardening, walking the dog, vacuuming, dusting, playing with the kids.

sushisuzi2

Hahaha I don't log any activity even if I do it. Somehow it will screw with my head and thing "ooh, I can eat a lot more".
If I am hungry because I walked three miles....I eat.

california_peach

I do not usually log it but I did when I cleaned out the garage because that was a major undertaking. I have a small house so I can clean almost the entire thing in like 2 hours.

IndigoFlowers

I don't log cleaning.. however, if I were to handwash my car, cut the grass, or shovel show then I would log those activities and use my HRM to do so.

Heather75

I just don't clean so I never have to struggle with this decision.

supershiny

Wow, there is so much judgment towards those of us who log housework. Maybe you just don't clean the way I do? I have worn my hrm while cleaning and it goes almost as high as it does while walking. Since I log my walks, why wouldn't I log my cleaning? Your body doesn't know when you are at a gym and doesn't burn calories any differently. Why is there something magical about a gym? do they pump skinny juice into the water?? O_0

My profile is set to sedentary as I work at a tech company.... cleaning my apartment is no mean feat. I don't log when I put a dish in the sink, but I log when I clean the kitchen or the bathroom. Y'all need to chill about this. For serious haha

Heather75

Wow, there is so much judgment towards those of us who log housework. Maybe you just don't clean the way I do? I have worn my hrm while cleaning and it goes almost as high as it does while walking. Since I log my walks, why wouldn't I log my cleaning? Your body doesn't know when you are at a gym and doesn't burn calories any differently. Why is there something magical about a gym? do they pump skinny juice into the water?? O_0

My profile is set to sedentary as I work at a tech company.... cleaning my apartment is no mean feat. I don't log when I put a dish in the sink, but I log when I clean the kitchen or the bathroom. Y'all need to chill about this. For serious haha

I wholeheartedly agree.

HCbaby

I do, but only like once a week when I do the major cleaning like vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom etc. Not for the everyday stuff like making beds wiping counters etc. Either way it is all moving your body and getting exercise.

sushisuzi2

Wow, there is so much judgment towards those of us who log housework. Maybe you just don't clean the way I do? I have worn my hrm while cleaning and it goes almost as high as it does while walking. Since I log my walks, why wouldn't I log my cleaning?

Well, some of us (me :bigsmile: ) are too lazy to log that in, too. And no, I don't clean hard. My place is small.

On the Livestrong site, I logged everything I did, bumping up from total sedentary. OMG, it took over my life and I was on that site 5+ hours a day.
:happy:
I didn't catch a whiff of any judgement though...maybe my gauge is off today?

swaymyway

Wow, there is so much judgment towards those of us who log housework. Maybe you just don't clean the way I do? I have worn my hrm while cleaning and it goes almost as high as it does while walking. Since I log my walks, why wouldn't I log my cleaning? Your body doesn't know when you are at a gym and doesn't burn calories any differently. Why is there something magical about a gym? do they pump skinny juice into the water?? O_0

My profile is set to sedentary as I work at a tech company.... cleaning my apartment is no mean feat. I don't log when I put a dish in the sink, but I log when I clean the kitchen or the bathroom. Y'all need to chill about this. For serious haha

Cleaning is a normal every day activity for most people and it is already accounted for in your BMR - the calories you need to just 'live', living includes breathing and digesting food and going up and downstairs to the toilet and household chores etc. It just doesn't make sense to me to count it as exercise unless it's something out of the ordinary because you are simply counting it twice and skewing your own stats.

I wouldn't judge any one who counts it, if you are doing so and it's working for you then you can't argue with that - but when asked our opinions on it as we were with this thread, of course people are going to share their views, it is called a 'discussion' forum after all

farfalledibaciodinotte

I don't think house cleaning should be considered a "workout"...house cleaning is part of your everyday life and if you want to have a clean house, you should clean it. Now if you want to lose weight ...you should do a "workout"

lol someone who actually cleans for a living, would think much differently.. not to be negative, but I'm quite compulsive when cleaning, and I tend to break a sweat. yes.. IT COUNTS.

elinsofie

Cleaning is a normal every day activity for most people and it is already accounted for in your BMR - the calories you need to just 'live', living includes breathing and digesting food and going up and downstairs to the toilet and household chores etc. It just doesn't make sense to me to count it as exercise unless it's something out of the ordinary because you are simply counting it twice and skewing your own stats.

BMR does not include household chores. The BMR Calculator page says:

"Your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is an estimate of how many calories you'd burn if you were to do nothing but rest for 24 hours. It represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep your body functioning, including breathing and keeping your heart beating.

Your BMR does not include the calories you burn from normal daily activities or exercise."


Let's say your BMR is about 1400 cals and activity level is set to sedentary. Then MFP adds 350 cals to the BMR to estimate your daily calorie burn. If the amount of cleaning you do goes within those 350 cals along with the rest of the every day stuff, then don't log it. But shouldn't anything beyond those 350 be logged, no matter if it's called cleaning or working out?

buryherdead

yesterday was the first day that I ever have. I'm going on vacation and I wanted to clean my whole house so I don't come home and feel the need to clean. I even used a timer and once it started going I didn't stop moving, I went from one chore to the next and went for an hour and a half. I'll only be logging house work when I do things like that. Otherwise I won't.

musicgal8199

I don't log my daily chores such as gardening, mowing, housework, etc. I think exercise needs to be a state of mind, as well as an activity. Exercise should be intentional.

My friend wrote a really great blog about this, though......

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Armik/view/seems-artificial-to-me-111470