Venting a little read at your own risk!! lol

EuroDriver

Ive been reading a bit on how people are "trying" to loose weight and i guess what they call "exercise". And i think it is just pointless and ridiculous that people are adding things like
-Washing car
-Cleaning
-a 10min walk
-Mowing the grass
-Wii boxing :S (have you seen anyone get ripped off playing video games for 30min? and do you really think that you burn what the game sais?)

Like seriously you guys is it going to get to the extent that you will be punching in your calorie burn for every time you stand up and sit down to walk to the toilet and back??? move your hand to flip a channel? All those things are just everyday things that people do!!! they are not exercise, you walk, you do your chores, you work! if you consider those things as "calorie burning exercise" then you will never be going out for a run, going to lift some weights, or doing anything that takes dedication to achieve your goal!!! All those things may add and help you just maybe 0.1% towards your daily exercise goal but they WILL NOT get you healthy! they will not let your heart, your stamina, and cardiovascular strength get better. It seems that people add those things so they can eat more as it sais you have to eat your calories burned so people are just "cheating" themselves so they can eat that extra snack.

You should quit putting things like that in your diary. Add things like
-Running/jogging
-weight lifting
-exercise videos
-push ups/sit ups
-dancing as ive seen lots of people here like
-LONG walks like at least 45min/1hr or greater walks...

things that actually you go out of your daily/weekly routine to do to burn those extra calories!! because if you are here trying to loose weight or get in shape then obviously what you are doing in daily routine isnt good enough and you NEED exercise so what makes you think that adding those things to your diary and it saying your burned a few cals you can eat more and you will magically loose weight??? Who do you think you are cheating? JUST YOURSELF! and if you can't even be honest with yourself than you shouldn't even be trying... you obviously dont want it bad enough! I know all this may sound a lil harsh to some but just tired of people failing and then saying "oh my body is not meant for that i tried already really hard i washed my own car and cut my grass and everything". There is literraly NO EXCUSE for any of you not to go for a run or do some real exercise. If you don't want to run, fine! go for a 2.5hour walk; set a destination to some shopping center walk there, walk around the stores, buy yourself a nice shirt that you deserve and will fit into eventually and walk back home!

heres a little youtube video to get you motivated to get you off your butt and get at it the way you are supposed to!! not sure if you can embed videos on this forum so just posted links.. just copy and paste
Please watch the videos... all them or not but atleast watch a couple!

I Love Living Life. I Am Happy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY <--I nearly teared up first time is saw this!
No Excuses!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obdd31Q9PqA
Your mind is more important than your body!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rC4EGFFcZw
No Pain No Gain!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Ja_7lwfrg
And to cheer you guys back up a bit...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-cpojkILO0

After watching the first 2 videos.... do you see that things really could be ALOT worse and there is no reason for you to skip that work out, skip that 15min run or be "too lazy". Some people would kill to even have the opportunity to do something that you can do right now!!

shopgirl192

Well said! I agree with you! I only log what I do at the gym or with a workout DVD! I would feel weird logging when I clean the house!

jhardenbergh

I do cardio boxing on my wii, and if you saw me afterwards I am sweating more than if I walked at 4.0 miles per hour on the treadmill for an hour. It's actually a very good workout. I agree with you on wii bowling though, that's not much of a workout.

heather1945

Hey - hang on there a minute.....Not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to do half the exercises you mention .......If I was 40 years younger, had the full mobility of my limbs, I too would be only to pleased to do more strenuous exercises. As it is, I must satisfy myself with my daily walk and light cleaning duties.....and have shed 20lbs (9kgs) in 17 weeks. Be a bit more realistic and tolerant towards others....at least we recognise that we need to lose weight and are working towards that goal - in our own way....

2bFitNTrim

I am a bit offended by this as I am sure many others are too. I had several surgeries in 2006/2007 followed by a couple years of PT. Plus I have fibromyalgia w/chronic back pain and chronic kidney pain.

I am not looking to rock a bikini or climb a mountain or run a marathon. I am trying like the devil to lose the pounds that crept up over the past few years and keep myself functional!!!

I have nothing against those who do insanity, run marathons, etc. In fact, a number of my friends work very hard at these activities and they inspire me. But a lot of folks here like myself w/medical issues, or those who carry a lot of weight, struggle to do "every day" activities you take for granted.

This was neither helpful nor supportive in any way.

Goal_Seeker_1988

Well said....***LIKE***

jellyfishjen

Bump

MyaPapaya75

this post is judgmental and in very bad taste ..just my opinion...your telling people they shouldnt try? even if they are doing less than what you deem fit and appropriate?..good luck in your journey I sure hope you dont have anyone tell you that you need to be doing 3miles more than you currently are.....perhaps your rant is just that a rant that stems from within...I personally dont eat back my calories so I dont have a need to log smaller workout sessions on a daily basis....but really is telling people the little bit they are doing is useless going to help?

pauljsolie

I kind of agree. It all depends on what people have entered to calculate their BMR. If you are sedentary and do some of those activities, it should definitely be added.

AnaisInard

I agree with everything except the walk.

A 10 minute walk still counts. ANY exercise IS exercise. It is better than no exercise at all and every bit of exercise counts. It is OK to log those exercises.

jbug100

I personally only log heavy workouts, but to some that have lots of weight to lose and may be seriously deconditioned, some of those things that you don't consider excercise may be serious excercise for them. I agree that some will count breathing as excercise, and they are only fooling themselves...it's not my issue, it's theirs

jbug100

I personally only log heavy workouts, but to some that have lots of weight to lose and may be seriously deconditioned, some of those things that you don't consider excercise may be serious excercise for them. I agree that some will count breathing as excercise, and they are only fooling themselves...it's not my issue, it's theirs.

jpaw1002

You know wat i am right there with u! I agree. I had a bad ankle forever from a sports injury. I finally got it all squared away recently and im hitting the gym at least six times a week and have began to run. There aint nothin to it but to do it! & if it doesnt hurt the next day....u aint doing it right.

nice vent

MrsRobertson1005

About the 10 minute walk bit, i walk 10 minutes to work, 10 minutes home for lunch, 10 minutes back to work, and 10 minutes home at the end of the day, monday-friday. it's .3 miles each way, 1.2 miles a day and 6 miles week. I do more than just that. I count those calories but i also hold myself to every calorie i take, even a jaw breaker. if people didn't count those calories they wouldn't have an accurate count for the day and might not eat enough calories.

NancyAnne1960

Yes, that was a little harsh. Though I appreciate the thought that you are wanting people to succeed, you don't know when they say they mowed the grass, that it's 100 degrees out and an acre of lawn. Also, Wii boxing, as you stated, if you are jumping the entire time and sweating, for some people, that IS exercising. Some people have specific reasons for noted any extra movement in their lives. I agree it is tough to see people whine about not loosing because they are eating back calories burned, but that is what a lot of people on MFP suggest instead of, if your still hungry, then you need to eat them back. You don't always HAVE to eat ALL of them back. One last thought, I've read where some people post 15 min. doing something, when they actually did 30 min. just because they don't trust what it says they've actually burned. I get the point that you are probably aiming this towards those who have complained about not loosing weight, but it was a little harsh in general. And, yes, I read it at my own risk!! My fault. LOL

Janelle_Teaches

I understand what your saying...in your life those are 'not great' workouts...But for me, those light workouts are what really got me started! Those little 30 minute walks turned into 30 min. speed walks..then i started the couch to 5K. If i had started the program right away..I would have given up! And for me, mowing the lawn IS a workout!

You have your own voice..but you have to remember for some just get started is the real challenge!


...you did warn me to read at my own risk...:)

KellyDianeSpears

Very judgmental dude. I don't count those things as exercise either, but to each their own. Don't judge. Just do. As they say, walk the walk, or in your case "run the run"... Ya could have been working out HARD instead of taking the time to "vent" and offend people. Not impressed... I am, however, impressed with the guy who has lost 105lbs and isn't judging anyone. Great Work! You are an inspiration!!!!!!!!!

adrian_indy

I agree with you that shopping trips and normal walking is not exercise, but the rest is realistic depending on current weight and level of obesity. You say that there is no excuse why a person can't go out for a run. If you are morbidly obese, a jog would likely be so hard on you that your workout would last about 3 minutes if that, you would probably injure yourself, and you would lose motivation. You have to work up incrementaly. Asking a fat person why they can't go for a jog is the equivlent of asking a skinny person why they can't go into the gym and bench 300 lbs.

There is nothing wrong with brisk ten minute walks if done multiple times a day and can actually do more to spark the metabolism than one long walk. If you are skinny and burn calories easy, then no, mowing the lawn is not exercise. But if you weigh 400 lbs and are completely sedentary, then mowing for an hour with a manual push mower is, in fact burning calories. It's worthless if you aren't dieting, but if you ARE counting calories then it does count.

Look at it this way. My wife and I just joined the gym two weeks ago. I lift weights and do cardio, at least 30-45 mins 5 days a week. Now, physically, even if I didn't have a bum foot, running at this point is out of the question. But I walk at an incline at a moderate pace and I burn as many calories as some thin people do jogging because I've got more mass and my heart rate goes up easier. Now eventually, I will pick up the pace. But at this point my long risk walk is a better pay off than a tiny jog that will incapacitate me.

Hsanders3961

I can see where you are coming from. When I first got on MFP, I thought it was silly to log "cleaning" as exercise--and calling it "exercise" really is silly. BUT it IS burning more calories than sitting on the couch. MFP calculates your BMR as how many calories your body is burning at rest. So anything above that, and your body really is working harder. And for some people, that may be all the "exercise" they can squeeze in a busy schedule. I do agree that the numbers are WAY high and it could definitely sabatage a diet if not entered and used appropriately. But my point is....it IS getting up off our lazy bums and burning a few calories.

I have to say what bugs me the most is when people log their work as calories burned. I had one girl on here who worked as a cashier in a pizza place, so she logged "cleaning" every day for 360+ minutes and it would calculate to 1500+ calories burned! In my opinion, she should have just changed her activity level in the settings to something more active than "sedentary". She was eating all those calories back and she was so confused as to why she wasnt losing weight!

Either way, I can definitely understand what you are saying. However, different things work for different people. And to me and many others, just getting our booties up and movin' is a lot better than veggin' out on the couch!

mheightchew

I really do respect your opinion, and we all have a right to one. But I used to be the person you are talking about. I was almost 300 lbs, bipolar, PCOS, hypothyroid and chronic fatigue. Cleaning my house WAS a marathon. I did what I could do. And every little thing I did encouraged me to do a little more. Now I am 104 lbs lighter and a whole lot healthier. All of those little things I did helped me to be who I am today. I respect everyone on here for doing what they can to reach their goals.

suzooz

I choose to mow my lawn with a push mower. I have about 3/4 of an acre, and it takes me a little over 2 1/2 hours to complete it. I come back into the house more sweaty than when I do "real exercise" like weight lifting. I wear a BodyBugg, so I know that I'm burning calories, and I need to replace at least some of those calories.

Most of my work days are sedantary, so I need to record when I have unusual activities like mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, or (gasp) even shopping. I allow myself a few extra calories on those days, and am still continuing to lose weight.

Please stop criticizing those of us who have to do chores rather than work out at the gym!

jpaw1002

H/o, in this guys defense he said hes tired of people who COMPLAIN and say there not loosing. Are any of yall posting back on here one of the ones hes talkin about? I see people in their mid 50s-60s running and lifting weights all the time. They have special classes at my gym for the older crowed. My mom works w/ a 52yr old who runs. She runs the 15k in an hr and 56 mins. and that was after she broke her ankle in 3places and had surgery on it w/ plates and screws. So before you jump down this guys throat take a step back and actually LISTEN to what he is saying, hes saying hes tired of people complaining and their not really doing anything to fix it. I work at a restaurant where im CONSTANTLY running around and on my feet all day, sometimes i work doubles, but i never count that towards my work out goal b/c ur body gets used to it. You have to change your work out & what you eat b/c your body gets used to it and it wont change.

SiltyPigeon

Ive been reading a bit on how people are "trying" to loose weight and i guess what they call "exercise". And i think it is just pointless and ridiculous that people are adding things like
-Washing car
-Cleaning
-a 10min walk
-Mowing the grass
-Wii boxing :S (have you seen anyone get ripped off playing video games for 30min? and do you really think that you burn what the game sais?)


You should quit putting things like that in your diary. Add things like
-Running/jogging
-weight lifting
-exercise videos
-push ups/sit ups
-dancing as ive seen lots of people here like
-LONG walks like at least 45min/1hr or greater walks...

Hey!!! What is the difference between wii games and exercise videos? :frown:
I am sore for DAYS after doing a 30 minute wii active work out! Also I LOVE Zumba on the wii. It gets my heart beating and gets me sweating just as good as any exercise video!

EuroDriver

Sorry i guess just saw couple people that were logging 10min walks that could walk 10miles instead...

but for those that have had surgical problems, have medical issues etc yeah a 10min walk is excellent!!!! You would be exception but those of you also have to understand that there is people that will abuse those phrases...

I have EXTREMLY strong lower back pain from a car accident when i was 16(2 years of therapy massage and chyropractor).. still have the pain.. doesnt stop me, i just make sure im careful with my back, stretch good, do hyper extensions and light lower back exercises and my backs getting better. Had strong left shoulder pain before too now its gone after lifting and training..

It's okay that for some its a "BIIIG" job to clean a house.. or rinse off a car... but its not something you have to logg in as exercise.. as it is not.

oh as previous poster said... theres alot of old people, i see a 70's lady who walks in the gym and lifts weights! and it looks likes shes struggling to get from one machine to another yet shes still there to keep her health up! Theres one old man i talk to hes 68 and the guy is about 5'10 and he can outlift me on almost everyting! he is a monster at his age.

Heather75

Why do you care what other people do? Focus on your own fitness and stop judging other people.

daniellerp

I could not agree with you more! I truly don't feel that some of the activities you are allowed to put up are actual "exercise".
However, just to play devil's advocate here, when you first sign up on this site it asks you to state your daily activity level and some people are truly sedentary. Therefore mowing the lawn or a short walk might truly be out of their daily "normal" amount of activity. If someone weighs 350 pounds it would be a heck of a lot more work for them to vacuum or mow the lawn than it would be for you or I.

I do often count short walks (30 minutes to the park with a baby on my back and another in the stroller) but almost always find myself finishing the day under my calorie amount. (I'm trying to lose pregnancy weight so my appetite isn't what it was when I was pregnant). I completely see what you are saying about using the activity calories as a way to cheat in another snack. Really, anyone who does that is ultimately shooting themself in the foot. I would think it is likely people who have a long standing tradition of overeating and/or food addiction. At least being a part of this website is a step in the right direction.

Zoe678

Why do you care what other people do? Focus on your own fitness and stop judging other people.

Amen.

lcoulter23

I am at 314 pounds right now. My ticker says I have lost only 15 pounds, but I have lost in total 43 pounds since January. I have PCOS, hypothyroidism, Vitamin D and Vitamin D deficiencies, a bad ankle due to an ankle break ten years ago, and severe anemia. I have my setting at lightly active even though I am sitting a lot of the time, although I have a ton of nervous energy so I am constantly moving. at first I could barely do anything. Walking five steps made me tired. then I started doing my old turbo jam dvds and then we got a membership to the Y and we started swimming and then I started going on my own and started doing the seated elliptical and then the regular elliptical and now I do Zumba and tonight I did a circuit training video that was way harder than the Jillian Michaels 30 day shred. I have been here since March but I am just now getting stamina to do harder more intense stuff. I have completely changed the way I eat, and I still have a very hard time walking because of my ankle and the fact that my body doesn't metabolize vitamins correctly and I don't have the muscle strength in my legs because of it. It isn't for lack of trying either. I have been wanting to try the C25K program but every time I try my legs lock up and I can't move. I log my grocery shopping trips because I spend a lot of time in the store walking around at a good fast pace, which I can do only because I am holding onto a cart. if I wasn't forget it. Also, I do my shopping alone and usually buy at least 3 cases of water and load everything onto the belt myself load it into the trunk of the car and then take it into the house where my husband helps me put it away. That is a lot of work for me! Also, I don't clean often so when I do I log it. To do laundry I have to stand on my tip toes because I am short and can't reach the bottom of the washer to get things out. By the end of the task I am drenched in sweat. Also, when I play wii boxing, I do full body boxing and work up a HUGE sweat. I don't just stand there using only my arms. My heart rate is speeding and I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. Also, Zumba for the wii is a great workout too. Don't tell me what to count as exercise and what to not count. I am moving. I am definitely losing. And I am definitely doing something right.

leahdanbury

i logged a ten min walk today! that was only because it rained and i didn't think my little boy would like being soaked!

EuroDriver

I choose to mow my lawn with a push mower. I have about 3/4 of an acre, and it takes me a little over 2 1/2 hours to complete it. I come back into the house more sweaty than when I do "real exercise" like weight lifting. I wear a BodyBugg, so I know that I'm burning calories, and I need to replace at least some of those calories.

Most of my work days are sedantary, so I need to record when I have unusual activities like mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, or (gasp) even shopping. I allow myself a few extra calories on those days, and am still continuing to lose weight.

Please stop criticizing those of us who have to do chores rather than work out at the gym!

now yeah thats a tuff workout lol i use push mower too... but not enough turf to put in as exercise and thats what i meant if people can do more.. and readying from their dairies they can should do more ... if i mowed a lawn that size i would consider it as a good workout too!

and thats what i was getting at as stated.. a girl was posting a 1500cal burn from standing at work wiping a counter then eat those cals and wonder why shes not loosing anything!

es0torok

First, he's not being judgmental, he just being opinionated.

Exercise that counts for each person may vary. If I ran 5 miles everyday, I probably would not log an evening stroll. But if I mow my large Texas yard in 100 degree heat and maintain a heart rate of 140-160 for one to two hours, I will record it.