doing housework.... does this count as exercise?

huskamute

Hi, I was just wondering if we could include housework as exercise. I zip round doing my cleaning, hoovering etc and it can bring on quite a sweat!! I know there is no way to calculate this in terms of using calories but say i'm near my calorie allowance for the day but have done a shed load of housework, can i factor in maybe going over my allowance for this? Today for example, have polished, hoovered all downstairs, two loads of washing, including going to the garage to put it in the dryer, cleaned the bathroom and kitchen. Any thoughts on this appreciated.x

itsuki

There is a selection under cardio for cleaning - I think there's heavy cleaning and light cleaning.

If you think your cleaning is a significant effort and you want to count it, that's up to you (just make sure you aren't already taking it into account when you select your activity level).

I am warning you though - this is a hot topic here on MFP. The last two threads I saw that debated this very issue got very heated. So be prepared!

bfbooty

personally i don't include housework as it's something i do every day and always have when i set up mfp i took into account my general exercise each day iykwim so i guess it depends on what you set yourself up as whether or not mfp have already factored in this kind of exercise

sorry don't think i've made sense

could you go for a walk or something to give you some extra cals?

Dimplybutt

I say if you break a sweat then count it ... if you don't break a sweat, it don't count.

I'm not sure about how well the calories burned are counted within the selections of cleaning seeing as we all burn calories at a different rate so, if you don't have one, see about getting a HRM to give you the correct number. :flowerforyou:

Daydreams406

It is certainly better than sitting and doing nothing. Seems like it would be some sort of exercise to me. Not sure on how many calories are burned etc.
But I like bfbooty's post that if it is something she does and has done anyway, then maybe add something else to it.

Graciecny

Personally I wouldn't log regular housework as exercise, but that is just for the day-to-day stuff. If I move all the furniture and shampoo the rugs (we're talking 2+ hours easy) I think I'd probably log that. The regular cleaning just doesn't seem to me to be exercise, as I think of it.

I'll second what others said, though, about considering whether you set your activity level to take it into account.

huskamute

cheers for the replies, didn't realise it was a hot topic..... yikes!!!! I was just wondering really as i work nights so don't do housework every day like i do on my days off.

sarahp86

I wear a heart rate monitor when I've a lot to do! Last time I burned over 400cals in 90 miins. If its every day housework I don't bother

jhartram

I claim my cleaning as exercise (if for no other reason than to have it noticed), but I have my settings adjusted accordingly. I put myself down as sedentary, and I log my walks and my cleaning and my yard work in addition to my 30DS and Zumba. That way on the weekends when I do nearly nothing (except CONSTANTLY remind my kiddos not to kill their sibling) I eat accordingly. If I decide it's time for spring cleaning and kick butt, I eat accordingly. It works for me... about 2 pounds a week dropped.

Also, I log ALL my cleaning as "light to moderate effort" just in case the burn numbers are high. I reserve "heavy effort" cleaning for when I'm packing because I'm not just cleaning I'm also moving boxes and furniture... and I usually don't eat ALL my cleaning calories back... closer to half if I even get that far (and I usually don't).

Good luck!

chachita7

I got an HRM last week and wore it this weekend during my deep cleaning and counted it because it is the only exercise I was getting.

marm1962

Be careful using what MFP has set for housework........I clean houses for a living and if I really burned that many calories I wouldn't have to watch what I ate at all.

bfbooty

cheers for the replies, didn't realise it was a hot topic..... yikes!!!! I was just wondering really as i work nights so don't do housework every day like i do on my days off.

the way i see it is if it's in your normal day to day activity i would never count it e.g
if i walked every day to work and always have i wouldn't count that as exercise i would take it in account when setting my activity level, i had set my activity level at sitting down all day every day i'd count it but i think i set mine as being moderately active (not sure the wording they used) cos i am apart from when feeding baba (like i am now) on my feet most the day picking up toys cleaning spills doing laundry hoovering cooking washing dishes e.t.c it's in my normal day iykwim

honestlysweet

It's hard for me to believe you break a sweat doing housework, unless your air conditioning isn't working and it's hot out. Sorry, but I do housework, heavy cleaning housework every weekend (laundry too!) and I don't break a sweat. I think only real exercise should be counted. Like going to the gym and doing cardio classes. You have to really push yourself to get your heart rate up. That's exercise. Just my opinion.

yesthistime

I only track intentional exercise. Everything else I consider "normal daily activity". I try to keep in mind that if it's an activity that i did regularly and still managed to get this fat, it's probably not worth counting.

I also agree with being wary of MFP's calorie counts for any cardio exercise, as they tend to be inflated.

Wickedmeowmer

I think the 'break a sweat' way of counting exercise is a little wonky. I can go on a long hike and remain dry or eat lunch on a humid day and be schwetty.

House work as exercise? Meh, I say no. I would say lawn mowing a largish yard or pulling weeds is extra calories though...

bfbooty

It's hard for me to believe you break a sweat doing housework, unless your air conditioning isn't working and it's hot out. Sorry, but I do housework, heavy cleaning housework every weekend (laundry too!) and I don't break a sweat. I think only real exercise should be counted. Like going to the gym and doing cardio classes. You have to really push yourself to get your heart rate up. That's exercise. Just my opinion.

before i started exercising again i was so unfit so yea i'd have sweat when cleaning lol :blushing: not really now though i do a bit when lugging baskets of laundry up and down the stairs and hoovering the stairs, i still don't count it in though lol

bfbooty

I only track intentional exercise. Everything else I consider "normal daily activity". I try to keep in mind that if it's an activity that i did regularly and still managed to get this fat, it's probably not worth counting.

I also agree with being wary of MFP's calorie counts for any cardio exercise, as they tend to be inflated.

lol exactly i'm still fat even though i break my *kitten* every day cleaning - or maybe i just ate too much he he he

blackberrysmom

Personally I wouldn't log regular housework as exercise, but that is just for the day-to-day stuff. If I move all the furniture and shampoo the rugs (we're talking 2+ hours easy) I think I'd probably log that. The regular cleaning just doesn't seem to me to be exercise, as I think of it.

I'll second what others said, though, about considering whether you set your activity level to take it into account.

blackberrysmom

That makes sense. Moving furniture, not your everyday chores.

Hayter2013

I log mine in, especially if I were to clean the whole house on a Sunday (when permitable) and it keeps me busy for hours, back and legs usually aching so I feel like I've been at the gym! Very tired afterwards! I burned something like 600 cals in 5 hours cleaning, but its all dependant on your current weight. I usually do it as "Heavy" for vacuuming and "Light" for like tidying up etc. The way I see it, you may as well log as much as you can when you are not sitting on the couch etc. I log in for cooking, cleaning, ironing and looking after my son (although he's 30lb odd, on here the only option for carrying a baby is 15lb) I definately notice a difference in how I feel once I've done these things, I mean, even carrying my son upstairs kills my arms!!
I don't get a chance to "exercise" per say as in going to the gym as I am at work all day, then my son is in bed at 7:30, myself around 10pm, so in that time I have things such as cleaning, washing, ironing etc... (as well as trying to give myself a break to wind down after work!!) I add these calories in but do try not to want to "eat them"

Keisha2BFitAgain

I only count the cleaning that I do once a week that takes more than 2 hrs and consist of cleaning the entire house from top to bottom (involves a lot bending, stretching, lifting,etc). Usually after that I feel like I have done at least a hour of hard core Zumba :laugh: . I do not count the everyday dusting, vacuuming, etc.

Hayter2013

Meant to ask, does anyone else's hoover feel like they are giving you a hernia! Might be the hoover or my carpets but sometimes it aches like hell! lol:laugh:

mooglysmom

I do because I am set to sedentary. Anytime I get my butt off the couch I log it, lol. This morning I spent 45 minutes deep cleaning the bathroom, I logged it. That was hard work, ha! But I was scrubbing the floor and the walls.

tbskipp

If i cleaned my house everyday, i wouldn't count it. But, if you saw my house, you'd know that I do not clean nearly enough.
If it's something you don't normally do and you feel it in your body, i say count it. It's movement and calorie burning!

samf36

Meant to ask, does anyone else's hoover feel like they are giving you a hernia! Might be the hoover or my carpets but sometimes it aches like hell! lol:laugh:

Nope I have an 8 pound Oreck very easy to use.

StartingAnewDay

I don't, and i don't heavy clean everyday. I just count it as "extra" in my mind. For me doing laundry = lugging a basket up and down about 30 steps lol, plus I moved 2 beds etc. I didn't count any of it.

I don't want to get in the habit of "counting it" and using it as excuse for regular exercise. "I don't feel like exercising today.. it's ok, I did 4 loads of laundry, up n down all those steps.." you see where this can lead for some?

On days i may be close to or going over my limit, in my mind I know I did more stuff and so the extra food doesn't bother me as much.

melanieharper

Seeing as:
1. My work lifestyle is extremely sedentary (full-time WFH laptop geek and freelance geek on the side)
2. I'm not a housekeeping goddess (avoid like the plague, clean only every other week or so not normal activity)
3. My hobbies are reading and research

I figure anytime I get outta my chair and my heart rate gets up, I log it. For me, that includes dog walking, laundry hauling (7 loads up and down stairs!), scrubbing (4 bathrooms), and vaccuming. I don't count dishes as that's standing still, and I dust with my wallet. Since I rarely clean, when I do, it's exercise hacking through the layers

calliope_music

i don't include it unless i'm doing something totally crazy, like cleaning out my garage or washing the floor by hand.

which i'm about to go do now.

Meaganandcheese

I personally don't cont housework. I follow the "sport bra" rule ... if I don't have to change into workout gear to do it, I don't count it.

FORIANN

I wonder if you might get better results if you just change your profile from sedentary to active? I'm an IT guy and I spend a lot of time on butt...taking breaks every 45 min to stretch, etc and I do at least a hour of hard cardio each day and my results have been amazing. I overestimate the calories I eat and underestimate the calories I burn. This is about results at the end of the day.

tbskipp

I personally don't cont housework. I follow the "sport bra" rule ... if I don't have to change into workout gear to do it, I don't count it.

I like that!!!!!