Burning calories from cleaning!

munchlax65

OK so I just totted up my 3 hours cleaning I did today and it reckons burned 640 calories?! I can't see how thats possible, I didn't even break a sweat or feel especially knackered from it?

fitby38

and i doubt 640 is accurate

JoolieW68

If I do a thorough cleaning (something I don't normally do) I put half the time it actually took.

munchlax65

I dont trust it in the slightest. 640 calories is loads! I could have a roast dinner for that and a pudding.

beccadaniixox

For cleaning I always do half or 1/3.

munchlax65

If I do a thorough cleaning (something I don't normally do) I put half the time it actually took.

Good idea think I'll do that from now on

doinitforme2012

i generally don't log cleaning unless i break a sweat like if im scrubbing the floor or doing laundry (doing laundry for me is a bathtub full of hot water clothes and a lot of swirling and ringing and bending over)

zyxst

I always take the calories MFP says and divide in half.

jonnyman41

do you normally do lots of cleaning? personally I dont count anything I usually do in everyday life as I still got here whilst doing it. If however it is sometimes I do infrequently, like gardening, then I do count it.

skinnyinnotime

I wore my hrm whilst doing a clean and then compared it to mfp's burn, mfp was waaaaay over. I don't bother logging cleaning, it's part of my daily lifestyle.

campi_mama

Is this part of your "normal" weekly routine? If so, I wouldn't count it. If it was above and beyond what you would do on a normal week (like moving the couch or major spring cleaning) I would consider giving yourself (maybe) 200-300 hundred calories credit. Just my opinion... I would not go with the 640 estimate.

WaterBunnie

Isn't cleaning just an everyday activity which would already be allowed for within the activity level we pick?

TheFunBun

I mean, depending on your size, you would have burned 300 calories just by being awake those three hours. (I burn about 2400 a day before exercise, sedentary). That's 3.3 calories per minute. While working out and busting your *kitten*, you can burn up to 10 calories per minute... (super high mets activity)

If you were doing a 1/3 of *kitten* busting activity for 3 hours, I'd say it's accurate. If you were only doing an 1/8th of *kitten* busting activity, I'd say not!

UpEarly

The calorie burn doesn't seem unreasonable to me!

I wear a BodyMedia Fit, and see numbers very similar to those when I clean. Today, I spent from noon until 2:30 in my kitchen doing food prep and cooking for the upcoming week. In that time, I burned 647 calories. I wasn't sweaty or tired, either. But I do trust the accuracy of the number from my BodyMedia.

bedinky1207

I have never counted cleaning as a calorie burn. I've worn my heart rate monitor while cleaning and my heart just does not get up into zone for long enough periods of time to get a good burn in. I think that calorie burn while doing chores can be deceiving.

KySny82

It's funny that I came across this post now because I just decided to wear my HRM while running the sweeper and scrubbing my kitchen floor (Swiffer Wet Jet); 28 minutes later I had burned 194 calories. Your calorie burn isn't completely unreasonable, but I'd consider purchasing a HRM if you want more accurate calculations, since everyone is different.

JoolieW68

It's discussions like these that are the reason I don't eat back all of my exercise calories.....they are never 100% accurate. Close, but not 100%.

munchlax65

Thanks for the helpful contributions I have decided I won't count household chores anymore as they are part of my everyday routine anyway. I work full time, so only really get to give my house a full clean at the weekends.

LDunzweiler

I generally log only half the actual time I spent cleaning. You are burning a good bit of calories if you really get with it though, like cleaning the hell out of the bathroom, car, kids room! LOL!!! Light cleaning, mark under light cleaning only 1/2 the actual time and it generally looks a little more 'normal' on burned calories. If you break a sweat and feel like you worked out, mark it as vigorous effort, but still only 1/2 actual time.

kokaneesailor

I'm so self righteous I don't even log breathing.

Good for you, log it if it works for you.

lovelee79

I don't log cleaning unless I am sweating or out of breath.

cgraylyon

I log my cleaning, but usually half the time. I only clean once per week. I don't count picking up or minor cleaning thoughout the week. When I clean it's from top to bottom and I clean my entire house in about 4 hours. I am really sweaty when I am done and usually need a nap

chergarr73

I keep my settings at sedentary to give me a buffer for daily chores/straightening. Weekly, I do a thorough cleaning of the house top to bottom and because I am set at sedentary I DO count that but only at about half. Last Friday I cleaned for a solid 6 and a half hours. I counted 3 of them... I do think they have a "high" ish calorie count for activity sometimes...which is why I would rather set myself at sedentary when I am not at all sedentary daily.

sofitheteacup

I always take the calories MFP says and divide in half.

For cleaning, or in general? Why?

jaqiswany

Ive been doing alot of spring cleaning lately but done lots of stretching whilst doing it , and washing windows etc so lots of movement a bit more than just general dusting etc.
moving lots of boxes and lots of up and down stairs , so its not normal everyday stuff ive been logging.
I havent broken out into too many sweats but ive ached so ive been working alot more of my muscles than i usually do