Cleaning? Exercise?

KemahSunshine

I would also like to mention that I have one house that I clean that is 5,700 Sq feet..... 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, an office, game room, great room, kitchen, dining room, formal dining room, living room & formal living room... So, for those who think house cleaning cant be work... I beg to differ!!! :laugh:

significance

I don't log dishes, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom. I do log getting up on the roof and cleaning the solar panels, moving all the furniture and scrubbing the floor and anything that really feels like exercise. If I spend 8 hours day on my feet in the kitchen cooking a dinner party extravaganza, I'll log a few hours of that, but not the whole time. My MFP activity level is set to sedentary (I have a desk job), but I think the MFP cleaning calorie estimates are over-estimates for me, since I'm fairly fit and active.

ki4yxo

Cleaning exercise?? Hmmm this makes me wonder...is SEX an exercise. (lol) I mean if you are only getting IT once in a blue moon do you log it??? (Sorry couldnt help myself) :blushing:

Only if you're doing it right.

I logged it the other morning. Almost a 1/2 hour with
my BPM at around 150-160'sh. I put down 20 minutes
at walking 4 miles per hour. :happy:

it_be_asin

If it makes you feel superior think that I'm just trying to get "extra calories" or find an excuse not to work out, then you can go ahead and think it.

The reality is that I work out 5 days a week, walk everywhere I go (no car), and every day I do a large amount of cooking and cleaning. I log every second of it, and I eat back all my exercise calories too. *shrug* Never had a problem reaching my goals or fitting into those size 2 pants.

I totally agree. Same for me. You can't argue with 34 26 34.

harrietlg

no I never do and it really annoys me that I know someone who logs it as burning 1000 calories because it took her 3 hours to do it

i'm a chef, i spend everyday cleaning and running around but my profiles set to active so i already have the deficit!

Sul3i

I do sometimes if I feel it was a workout but I'm not one that stays home or even cleans everyday... I don't count my job obviously that's just everyday living & if I were someone who stayed home I wouldn't log my everyday stuff... imo its my body my diary no one elses business n I find it strange if anyone would b annoyed at what I log and don't log... just sayin to those above who judge

hunnyspice

When I rearranged our pantry I logged it and when I moved all my stuff from one bedroom to another I also counted it. It's not something I do every day or every week even. If it happens less than 2x a year I'll count it as "exercise" but I don't log the exact times I was doing it for. I've only logged half of the time it took me. I don't count doing the dishes, cooking, doing laundry, etc. That's normal stuff that my body is used to.

wwww1199

My fiancee works a second job as a cleaning person. I think he should count it as exercise!

SithZombie

I feel like it's cheating to count cleaning/housework =\

n8vchick77

I personally have never logged my cleaning as a calorie burn although I do get sweaty I choose not to. I'd rather log in something I enjoy as a calorie burn. lol not that I hate cleaning ...wait I do hate it! lol

MaximalLife

I feel like it's cheating to count cleaning/housework =\

It's what some people do who don't want to get out and do real exercise.

jdhosier

What is "cleaning"?

thershey

I count it on Saturday and Sunday when I am really cleaning my whole house and going up and down the steps doing laundry. During the week I have a sit down job so my activity level is set at mostly sitting. If I am just picking up during the week I do not count it. I definately count running the sweeper or sweeping and mopping floors because that takes extra energy and you are using muscles you do not usually use.

emergencytennis

Do you guys count cleaning as exercise?

Usually, no.
Exercise is exercise, and house cleaning to some is nothing but an excuse not to do real cardio.
Just evaluate your own motives, because it's different for each person.

I consider it a part of my daily activity except when I mop, wearing an 80 pound vest.

You better believe I am logging that in!

You sound like a sour sort of person, maximal.

I set my activity level to "sedentary" and then logged anything I did for 30 minutes that raised my heartrate, and then I ate it. 45 minutes cleaning, I ate it. I ate mowing the verge - man, how I ate anything in the garden; pruning, weeding, anything.

What matters is that you set your activity level to what is appropriate and then you log your exercise accordingly. If I had set mine to "moderate" I would not have logged those things.

elizabeth1222

Does Housekeeping count? I usually work six hour five days a week and I feel like I had a total workout.:drinker:

netsirk12

I do. But I also play music, dance and do squats ect while cleaning. Theres no reason why we cant do squats while folding laundry and putting away dishes.

LooseWheel

Yes. Put my heart rate monitor on to do vacuuming, washing and mowing and each one of those burns different cals that can be added

ladyraven68

Great explanation here.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/291071-activity-level-and-logging-exercise

laineylynnfit

IMO, I don't consider 'regular' cleaning as exercise. Yes, you burn calories but when I think about logging exercise, I think about intense exercising that you doing to lose weight, not an everyday activity. I'm not sure that the calories burned when you type in like "light-duty cleaning" etc. is accurate but again, that's just my opinion!

netsirk12

Does Housekeeping count? I usually work six hour five days a week and I feel like I had a total workout.:drinker:

yes I have my own cleaning buisness but I put that I have more of an active life style and rarely log it. If its my own house I do because I do much more!

ZoAnnAlexis

If it gets your heart rate up, then its exercise. If you are standing in one place washing dishes, probably not going to get that heart pumping. BUT, going up and down the stairs with a laundry basket in tow or sling a vaccum around the house for and extended time, for sure!

sms1986

No, I only log specific exercise as even being alive burns calories.

jcstanton

I do. Because I am single and childless, I live by myself and I am relatively good about cleaning up after myself, so I only need to clean/do laundry once/wk. Saturday mornings I do my cleaning/scrubbing/laundry for about two or three hours and I do break a sweat. Cleaning is usually the majority of my exercise on Saturdays. In the summertime I also add yardwork (lawnmowing, weeding flower beds, etc...) to my Saturday routine.

alienblonde1

Hey if someone logs cleaning as exercise and they are losing what difference does it make?


Again I don't log it but have buddies who do and they are losing.

Luvlynamazing

I count it when I due heavy duty cleaning. I cleaned for two hours and only logged it in as one, so that when I do my cardio later in the day it is added in. I only due it about once a week, when I am doing a deep clean of the house, otherwise I don't add it.

mab33

I wish I had time to clean every day. With only two hours awake at home weekdays it's not likely. I may consider adding a thorough cleaning/gardening session on the weekend. But not likely.

sammys1girly

NO!!!!! When you make your profile it asks about your lifestyle! If you clean everyday it should already be added toward your calories. Sorry but this is a pet peeve of mine! I feel like people are just trying to get extra calories or something. * This is my opinion.*

Different people have different reasons for logging it...for example, I don't count my everyday cleaning but do clean for an elderly couple for an entire morning once every week and it's constant 3 hrs of scrubbing and moving so I count just that morning, b/c it's not my "usual" daily activity. Although I never count the full 3 hrs, more like 2 to 2.5 so I don't over-estimate on calories.

vanilla81

i think it depends on the size of house - if you spend 30 minutes dusting the furniture in a room it does not really mean you exercise... but in exchange if you rub the floors for like the same time i think its a different kind of story - you got my point

carolann_22

I do if it's steady deep cleaning for more than an hour. But I have a BodyMediaFit that tells me how much I've burned during that time, so I know I'm fairly accurate.

ETA: And it's on top of my other exercise, I don't JUST clean and call it my cardio for the day.

nikolaim5

If your goal is weight loss then definitely do NOT count it. It should be accounted for in your initial "activity level" anyways.