Pet Peeve - logging non 'exercise' exercise

Gilbrod

I understand your point completely. I sometimes question why some people are on this when they look great already. Then I come to a realization that it's a mental thing. If it makes em feel like they did something, and helps them continue to keep going; then it's for them. If something as tiny as that is a pet peeve for you, maybe we need to analyze what really matters in life. As the saying goes, "whatever floats your boat!"

Mommyof3loves

I really don't care what people log for their exercise because you know what if it is a motivator to them then who has any right to tell them they are wrong? Even if it is as simple as cleaning, maybe that's what they can do for now, you know start out small make your way up?? I don't see it as anyone's business what people log as exercise, if it isn't hurting you and your weight loss journey then don't worry about it.

EdensMummy

I think logging stuff like this can be indicative of a mindset that is counter-productive to making life-changing decisions. I'm sure that for some people (not everyone) logging this sort of stuff as exercise, it deters them from doing actual exercise as they think to themselves, "I've done my exercise for the day and there's no need to do anything else". Obviously that's not the case for everyone, but I'm sure some people think like that.

Heather75

I agree with the people who think you should stop judging others and worry about what you are doing.

rml_16

I can only conclude from this thread that a lot of people in it have VERY easy and stress-free lives if this is what bothers them. :-)

scgma

I agree to a point....if it is a change for you then log it as a boost...I have met some really large people that do no activity on this site and in an effort to get healthy and moving just sweeping the floor is a workout!! For those blessed to be able to clean house daily, we can use this as a reminder!! I appaude anyone that is trying to improve their overall health !! Sooo count it all...as you lose and can do more , you might want to limit those activities that you do daily...
Just my opinion...

angijunbug

Why does it matter what someone else wants to log or not log as exercise? Everyone has their own reasons. Some people chose to log less than they actually do, so maybe the did more than "light" cleaning, but dont want to over estimate because they dont have a hrm, or maybe they use that to prompt themselves to do more housework. Maybe they have their activity set to sedentary, so that everything over that is extra. Maybe they don't even eat that back anyway, but still like to log it. Maybe they are recovering from an injury, or sickness, or have a debilitating condition so that all they can do is light, and everything is an achievement. Let people use this tool as a tool, how best works for them. You use it how you want too.

Nicely said! If you do not like what people choose to log then do not look at it! We all can't be as perfect as you, my dear!

reese66

Who cares, if it doesn't concern me why should it bother me. Just another thought... I work all week sitting on my *kitten* so I don't clean house every day of the week so if I break sweat cleaning house on Saturday well then I'm taking it if I choose too...

AliceLMS

Pet peeve~people who feel the need to put others down for their effort ( no matter how small) instead of encouraging them!

Pet peeve~people who assume they know everything about a strangers life, and are thus able to judge what is appropriate for the other person!

Pet peeve~ the phrase " real exercise" which apparently means if you are accomplishing something other than burning calories, you are not exercising.

EdensMummy

PS I think the original poster is getting a bit too much stick for just expressing an opinion - she didn't say these people are evil or deserve bad things to happen to them...I think a pet peeve is just that - not quite strong enough to be a genuine annoyance but something she just finds a little irritating and she wanted to share it! Let her express her opinion people, that's all she's doing!

THCamel

OP - I like the way u speak ur mind! Made me :laugh:

I don't take umbrage by it however

CarolynB38

If someone has selected their activity level as "sedentary" and they do their cleaning a couple of times a week and put some backbone into it, then why not log it? I personally don't because my lifestyle is active anyway so it's just part of my "active" lifestyle. As far as I see it, I've already logged it by selecting "active", but for those who selected "sedentary" then log away. If it helps an inactive person to be more active then why not. Different strategies help different people. It obviously doesn't help you, or me for that matter, but it does help some people and in some cases it seems perfectly valid to log cleaning as exercise.

livi_cowgirl

Well, I logged cleaning yesterday but I was doing it for 3 hours solid and it wasn't just washing dishes and sweeping the floor either it was serious scrubbing and humphing things about. It was a serious work out and I was shattered after it, so why shouldn't I log it?
Regardless of how strenuous the activity, if it makes people feel better about themselves and helps them to improve, then who cares if they log it. This is a personal journey in which we are all taking control our lives so I think we should do what works for us and screw what other people think. (pardon my French)

BrownEyedGiRL928

I hardly post on these boards but I couldn't help replying to this one.

I can understand the point you are trying to make - BUT - for people who are seriously counting their calories they need to log their activity/calories burned throughout the day so they know if they have exceeded their calorie quota even after doing light activities.

I wear a activity monitor all day long and log how many calories I burn in a day... everyday. There are days I don't do strenuous activity but by the end of the day I've burned 500-600 calories just from walking around the office, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. Those calories burned make a huge impact towards achieving my goal - doesn't matter if I burned them cleaning or doing a heavy cardio work-out.

Pete_Mann

I'm going to log in my exercise journal that I replied to this topic.

27strange

Different strokes for different folks. To me, it really just depends on what type of lifestyle you live now compared to what you were living before. I mean if this person never ever mowed the lawn before making a commitment to a healthier lifestyle and joining MFP, but now they do mow the yard, then I say go ahead and count it as exercise.

For me, the rule is this: Did I perform this activity before living this healthier lifestyle? If the answer is YES, then I DO NOT log it. If the answer is NO, then I log it. I don't log walking the dogs, mowing the lawn, cleaning, etc because I did all of these things before trying to lose weight, it was part of my life then, its part of my life now, I don't log it.

But everyone is different and I am not going to judge. Maybe they never ever did much house cleaning before but now that they are committed to a healthier lifestyle they have improved fitness and can do it or are choosing to do it to be less sedentary.

CARNAT22

Sometimes people forget that we are all different !!! That is my pet peeve LOL!!

I just don't understand why some people get so personally upset by other peoples choices? If you don't want to log cleaning then don't?

Personally I log daily walking and I eat back my 'exercise' calories burnt from said walking! I am 1lb away from goal weight and I have always used this method, so it works - for me! Of course that doesn't mean it would work for everyone.

MFP is on the whole a very supportive, friendly place so it saddens me to read threads like this.

Yes we are all here to support each other but ultimaltely our own indivdual weightloss is our own business and is shaped by our own choices. What works for someone will not work for someone else!

TavistockToad

PS I think the original poster is getting a bit too much stick for just expressing an opinion - she didn't say these people are evil or deserve bad things to happen to them...I think a pet peeve is just that - not quite strong enough to be a genuine annoyance but something she just finds a little irritating and she wanted to share it! Let her express her opinion people, that's all she's doing!

I agree with this. i dont log cleaning etc, and everyone's entitled to their own opinion!

robin52077

There is a really wonderful and inspirational woman on this site who was so sedentary and heavy that she almost never even stood up. Her inspirational blog posts chronicled her progress. At one point she could not walk to the bathroom and back without stopping to rest. She rejoiced with joyful tears the first time she got to the shower, showered, and got back out of the bathroom without having to sit down. She would log 5 minutes of seated chair-aerobics and that exhausted her at first. We cheered her on when she logged grocery shopping as exercise because she actually left the house and walked around the store for the first time in years.
She is amazing.
Don't judge because you don't know everyone's whole story.

Dtho5159

Pet peeve~people who feel the need to put others down for their effort ( no matter how small) instead of encouraging them!

Pet peeve~people who assume they know everything about a strangers life, and are thus able to judge what is appropriate for the other person!

Pet peeve~ the phrase " real exercise" which apparently means if you are accomplishing something other than burning calories, you are not exercising.

I like you!! lol

shazzamax11

To be honest I dont really care what people log, as everybody says its a personal preference.
If you do no exercise and have a sedentary job then cleaning is using cardio whether its light, moderate or heavy. If you clean a house from top to bottom then you can burn calories. If you run up and down the stairs then you burn calories. Either way its a personal choice what you decide to record and its not something anybody should have a problem with,
This is supposed to be a supportive site.

luv_lea

'I know this may come off rude, and I don't mean it like that, but it drives me crazy when' people worry too much about what other people are doing when it really doesn't affect them in the first place.

As another poster said: Maybe it would just be easier/better for you to not be friends with people who do it since you aren't supportive of it.

Happy0326

I DON'T log those things....But, this is THEIR journey NOT ours. Don't let it drive you crazy....worry about what you have to do for your journey & I don't mean to come off rude. : )

bry_all01

I understand your point completely. I sometimes question why some people are on this when they look great already. Then I come to a realization that it's a mental thing. If it makes em feel like they did something, and helps them continue to keep going; then it's for them. If something as tiny as that is a pet peeve for you, maybe we need to analyze what really matters in life. As the saying goes, "whatever floats your boat!"

So, because I am already a size 2-4, I should not be on here? I am not on here to lose weight and state that in my profile. I am here to maintain and get toned and ripped. In order to get toned and ripped while maintaining my current weight, I need to keep track of my protein and carb intake, to make sure they are high enough, while my overall calories are not in excess.

koosdel

I can only conclude from this thread that a lot of people in it have VERY easy and stress-free lives if this is what bothers them. :-)

This is my take on the subject.

HopefulLeigh

PS I think the original poster is getting a bit too much stick for just expressing an opinion - she didn't say these people are evil or deserve bad things to happen to them...I think a pet peeve is just that - not quite strong enough to be a genuine annoyance but something she just finds a little irritating and she wanted to share it! Let her express her opinion people, that's all she's doing!

If that opinion is hurtful, it's not surprising that she's 'getting stick'. "To me it feels like grasping at straws just to earn extra calories." <--- This was pretty insulting.

shazzamax11

I'm going to log in my exercise journal that I replied to this topic.

love it ;o)

ajbeans

PS I think the original poster is getting a bit too much stick for just expressing an opinion - she didn't say these people are evil or deserve bad things to happen to them...I think a pet peeve is just that - not quite strong enough to be a genuine annoyance but something she just finds a little irritating and she wanted to share it! Let her express her opinion people, that's all she's doing!

I agree with this. i dont log cleaning etc, and everyone's entitled to their own opinion!

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but sometimes we all need to learn when to keep our opinions to ourselves. If it doesn't affect you, you really don't need to put other people down.

reepobob

I find the mini-burns I see logged to be mildly amusing...if I am doing any strenuous "non-historical" exercise activity like mowing grass or plowing snow, I will wear the HRM and I will log the burn minus what I would have burned if I had sat watching TV in a sedentary position...at my weight, I burn 1.5 calories on average per minute sitting still...so I just account for those calories and subtract them from what the HRM says and log the difference...that way I won't tend to overeat, but still get a little bonus burn for something extra at dinner...

I will echo earlier comments...I have enough to worry about in my own life to get irratated by what someone else does on this site...

nerdyandilikeit

*sigh*

I'm glad my mom has no clue how to find a forum thread. She's already embarrassed about how little she can do even just around her tiny one bedroom apartment (she has degenerative disc disease and is on disability for it), if she saw this or the other posts I've seen like it, she'd never do anything out of discouragement.

I'm glad the OP got to vent her feelings tho. That is the point of the forums.