Logging 'food preparation?' /rant

AliciaStinger

I don't count stuff that I do on a daily basis, becuase my body is already used to burning those calories - but, for example, raking leaves and shoveling snow are things I don't ordinarily do that do provide a nice burn. Last fall when I raked leaves, I realized that I hadn't been working out all of my arm muscles, because I was sore in the upper arms and back the next day. A couple of years ago my town got almost two feet of snow over about 18 hours. I spent four hours SHOVELING (not snow blowing) layers of snow off the walk at not only my house, but seven of my neighbors' houses, and THEN we shoveled out close to 15 cars so they could be moved for the plow (which was difficult because the guy kept coming by and plowing us back in), and then walked a block through more snow to shovel out an elderly neighbor. I'm pretty sure that counts as a workout.

As for logging "food preparation," I don't log it when I'm making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something normal; I log it when I'm spending 30-45 minutes cooking, ESPECIALLY when I make cakes. The logic is as follows: I am a sitter; I like to do everything sitting down. When I make food, I'm standing up - which is already burning more calories than I normally do - but then I'm also moving around. I'm back and forth between drawers and bowls and the fridge and the cabinet. I also don't have a mixer (hand or stand mixer) so I mix all of my batters by hand. This may have been normal for my great grandmothers (and seeing how chunky my dad's side of the family is, I'm guessing his grandmothers had excellent arm muscles), but for me, stiring batter until it's all mixed in and clump-free is a decent arm workout - and I get both arms involved because it can be tiring.

When I joined MFP, I thought the idea of considering a day-to-day activity (like walking from the car to the house) an "exercise" was silly - but you have to realize that there are people who eat out three meals a day or don't leave the house very often and these small things actually do have an impact on them. You should also realize that there are people who log it as part of work; I was the cashier at a slow, yet seriously understaffed pizza place -- meaning that if we got an order for anything more than 2-3 pizzas at a time, I was also the cook, and sometimes the back-up delivery person. I could be running back and forth between phone calls and three different kitchens (one for pizza, one for salads and sandwiches, and the third for pastas and fried foods - and I mean run, because you can't miss a call or burn the food). While the average person shouldn't fool him/herself by including "food preparation" as a daily activity, it's hardly going to make a difference, because I'm guessing most people only spend as much time "prepping food" as it takes to make one meal. In other words, they probably don't get much out of logging it, because it's a small burn. All the same, if it bothers you that much, delete the people who do that.

_Pseudonymous_

You burned approximately 5 calories typing this message. Assuming it took you around 5 minutes to type this, that is.

you should probably log that.

Swissmiss

You burned approximately 5 calories typing this message. Assuming it took you around 5 minutes to type this, that is.

you should probably log that.

:laugh:

meliclark

OK, I understand, but say someone weighs 300+ pounds, and really normally does NOTHING, all day. ANYTHING that they start doing, ie food prep, house work, is a plus to them. You can't judge someone else because you don't live their lives. And like someone else said...IF they are cheating anyone, its themselves....not you.
Its ok to rant...lol...I do it all the time :bigsmile:

Exactly...Maybe it's a big deal for someone very heavy and inactive. Every movement counts for them! More power to them!!

_Pseudonymous_

You burned approximately 5 calories typing this message. Assuming it took you around 5 minutes to type this, that is.

you should probably log that.

:laugh:

Madam, you just burned 1.3 calories per a minute of laughter right there.

Add that to your writing and that response and we are looking at a whole 2.3 calories!!! Way to go!!!

bethFromDayton

Honestly...why does it bother you what they do? Its not hurting you. It doesn't affect you at all.

It bothers me because these people want to change their lifestyle and are unhappy, but are just cheating themselves.

But it still isn't hurting you. They might be fooling and cheating themselves, but it still doesn't affect you. So why does it bother you what someone lese is doing when it has no impact on you.

There are things you care about (this appears to be one) and things you control (this isn't one). Wouldn't it make more sense to concentate your energy on things you care about AND control?

Of course, your rant doesn't really affect me--you're just getting yourself upset.

stumblinthrulife

Am I 'allowed' to log shoveling 8" of snow off two driveways?*














*Just kidding. I'm not really asking. I'll log whatever the hell I please.

gracielynn1011

I can't answer for every one and I know you are not talking specifically about me (cause I don't know you at all). But in my case, I log food prep every so often because I work at a kitchen for my kids school. I do spend 3-4 hours that day on my feet, constantly moving and lifting heavy pans and kettles. But I usually only log half the actual time. Same thing with cleaning, my other job is to professionally and thoroughly detail the inside of Rvs, so when I spend 6-80 hours per day cleaning and climbing up and down, in and out of tight spaces, I log half that time.

I do agree though that some people over log.

MBNagel74

OK, I understand, but say someone weighs 300+ pounds, and really normally does NOTHING, all day. ANYTHING that they start doing, ie food prep, house work, is a plus to them. You can't judge someone else because you don't live their lives. And like someone else said...IF they are cheating anyone, its themselves....not you.
Its ok to rant...lol...I do it all the time :bigsmile:

Exactly...Maybe it's a big deal for someone very heavy and inactive. Every movement counts for them! More power to them!!

^^This

Up until last November, I was in an office job, sitting on my *kitten* for 8-10 hours a day. ANY activity would be more than I did then. Now, I am a homemaker, doing things I didn't do normally. (Sorry folks, but housecleaning was done by my hubby until he went back to work - not me...)

If I'm hurting myself, so be it... But, down 27 pounds in the short period of time is no small feat... AND that's with logging the "silly" things like housecleaning and food prep (where it is a lot of chopping, mixing, blah blah blah...) Oh, and I don't log to eat the calories back... That, to me, would be counterproductive.

JessHealthKick

Uh, I give up. No one actually reads my response and lists their *special* case. Of course there are special/different cases with everything (a 5 hour cooking class) or healing from health problems and so on. Please read my further responses before continuing to attack.

Yes it doesn't affect me as such, but hey, this is a place where we are meant to help each other, so for the people cheating themselves and saying 'oh but it took me 150 calories to get the cookies out of the fridge so it's ok' (yes exaggeration I know), it's just sad. I don't want to see that.

Sign out, if no one will read properly then I give up! Bye ya'll

Caitlinhappymeal

There are some on here who will have their activity set to sedentary because of disability, so walking up the stairs for example could be a workout in itself for some.

But you can giggle at this one, I've logged grating fresh horseradish before because it was massive and it took my 20 mins on a micro grater!! I burned something like 70 cals as I was wearing my heartrate monitor!!

DonnaBee2013

My sister would have to add all these activities you are mocking in order to NOT lose weight and keep herself healthy. She has been battling crippling arthritis and Still's disease since she was 2 1/2 years old. She just came out of surgery last week after having both ankles rebuilt. She already has 2 artificial hips, both of which need to be replaced again within the next month or so. She is a wife and mother of a hyper 4 year old son, and a teenager. Every single thing you do as "a regular daily activity" is a chore for her, takes her twice as long, and gets her heart rate going. All this, and I'm sure she weighs less than the majority of the people who are bashing people on this thread.

My point is, you don't know WHY people are logging things the way they do. To make comments such as "lazy", "fat", "just wants to eat more", etc shows some ugly character traits that you might want to work on.

Saying that you didn't mean "special cases"...is even more of a joke. Every person on this website is unique, and their circumstances are different. Who are you to judge who is "special" and who is not?

If you called my sister a "special case", she'd probably knock you out. lol

runningwild00

I burn a lot of calories peeling an orange. You guys must be doing something wrong!

honkytonks85

Hey, so as I warned this is a rant... I want your opinions on this.

I have seen people logging food preparation, washing dishes, even 2mins walking up stairs. Is this getting a bit ridiculous? I see those everyday actions as being part of my net personally.

Should I log it every time I use the bathroom? And add extra calories if it's a little more difficult than usual? Like seriously people, be realistic... unless you are doing a strenuous amount of housework I don't see why this should be logged. But do prove me wrong, please, I'd like to giggle at the reasoning.

Cheers,

A grumpy Aussie

Agreed. Your TDEE calculation will already factor in every day activities, even if you put sedentary it assumes you are doing some activity throughout the day (as opposed to just laying in bed for 24 hours). It doesn't bother me that people log this stuff, just know that you may be overestimating calories burned and can slow your weight loss progress.

cdgabbert

I can't even explain it other than they are trying to make themselves feel better!! I mean those burned calories should have been calculated in the BMR... I could understand if you over did something in a day ... like did stairs at the Empire State Building... but not the two minutes you spent going up and down steps... Wow - so I can log in my running around office to give the phone to someone? NO - I will log in when I work in shipping area or do heavier cleaning or the cleaning at work, more so I know I did it... burning more calories then I do in a "normal" work day, or did beyond daily cleaning I did - like scrub floors on hands and knees...

I can't make you laugh other than remember they are special people! Just like the ones who eat "fish and chips" and McDonald's and whatever other things those of us who are serious about our efforts... so sit back and read it and say - wow - glad you brushed your teeth today because they must not do it every day!

BigDnSW

I have a dear friend here on MFP who does log housework and food prep. However, she is disabled a bit and that is her exercise. There are times she can take a short walk. She is losing weight slowly. She has a very sweet heart and is one of the most supportive friends I have here on MFP.

Before throwing stones at others for reasons you may not know...you might want to think a bit that their lives may not be so perfect or easy. Single parents with kids working two jobs...another friend of mine.

I would spend more time finding ways to encourage and support those around you. If we all took the time, I am sure we could find ways to needle and nitpick one another apart.

We are human and we all have a story.

"Mercy triumphs over judgement."

XxfitforeverxX

I usually log whenever I clean the house or something, but what you mentioned is just too much. You burn calories throughout the day in everything you do.

DonnaBee2013

I can't even explain it other than they are trying to make themselves feel better!! I mean those burned calories should have been calculated in the BMR... I could understand if you over did something in a day ... like did stairs at the Empire State Building... but not the two minutes you spent going up and down steps... Wow - so I can log in my running around office to give the phone to someone? NO - I will log in when I work in shipping area or do heavier cleaning or the cleaning at work, more so I know I did it... burning more calories then I do in a "normal" work day, or did beyond daily cleaning I did - like scrub floors on hands and knees...

I can't make you laugh other than remember they are special people! Just like the ones who eat "fish and chips" and McDonald's and whatever other things those of us who are serious about our efforts... so sit back and read it and say - wow - glad you brushed your teeth today because they must not do it every day!

You sir, have the intellect of a flea.

JuliaWomp

Haven't seen that - pretty funny...

Maybe it was something super intense, like butchering a camel.

Or grinding sausage meat by hand.

Or squeezing a tonne of oranges by hand.

Or pulping grapes for wine by stamping on them.

Or kneading a massive amount of dough for one hour.

Or...ok, I'm just getting carried away now. I don't actually think it was any of those things, but it was fun to think about what would be worth logging.

you eat camel?

BWAHHHAhahahahhaha


Though kneading dough for only TEN MINUTES a day these past couple weeks has actually made a noticeable difference in my arms. But that says more about my wet-noodle arms than it does about kneading dough. ANd I'm certainly not going to log it as exercise, or I'd have an excuse to eat loaves and loaves of warm bread instead of normal pieces ;p

ThePinkPenguin

I log when I walk my three dogs, and this weekend, my parents are away, so I will get some extra time to walk them. I consider it exercise, especially when I feel like I am nearly dragging them up the street LOL. I think I have heard stuff before about how people with pets get more exercise or something, so even though that's a day to day thing, a 20-minute walk can still be exercise.

MeeshyBW

Just wow.

I wouldn't think to log it personally but like some people have said here, the people logging might be 90% immobile so any activity is good.

However.... If we are talking someone under 200lbs as a woman then they need to get a grip.