Cleaning. Do you or don't you log it and why?

No I don't log it. For me personally, I only log intentional activity where I am working toward a specific fitness goal.

I don't log shopping or yard work either. I cleaned out the chicken coop last weekend and didn't count that either. I just figure that is part of my daily activity even if occasionally the work is more difficult. I did however briefly admire my biceps while I was using the wheel barrow

I don't log a lot of stuff, cleaning, walking at work, small walks, etc. I chalk it up to being lightly active. I only log purposeful exercise, or things like mowing the lawn/gardening.

If your losing weight then count what ever you want to because what your doing is working so why mess with it. If your not, then take a better look at what your counting as exercise.

I agree with this.... It's really your own preferance... Do what works for you!! I personally do not log it... If I do have a busy cleaning day, more than usual...and I break a sweat while doing it...Bonus!!

I only log something if I am purposely doing it for the exercise and not if it were something I would be doing anyway. So no cleaning added for me. Also if I am at Disney and walking around the parks for 10 hours, I don't log that. I would be doing it anyway. When I am at Disney and I get up an hour early and run 4 miles, I log that. That is exercise.

I don't log the normal stuff. I do log the big stuff that requires moving big furniture that's only done a few times a year... and even then, only if I think I've put enough effort into it that not getting those extra calories will make me feel like crap the next day. Generally I only enter exercise that I've done for the purpose of exercising.

I generally just consider it to be part of my daily activity, but if I spend several hours painting or doing heavy housework, I do log it, mainly because all that work made me hungry.

here's a question for those who DO log day to day things like cleaning. rhetorical of course, just something to think about...

if you log the cleaning (likely based on MFP's estimated burn), do you then find that you are justifying more food for the day?

"ooooo i cleaned, now i can have more cake!"

the way i see it, any "behind the scenes burns" that take place will just further your progress.

great point.

I never log it..I gained weight and cleaned everyday..so what would make me think ill lose it by counting it as working out? Just my opinion...

Normal housework? No.

The kind of cleaning I do before my inlaws visit, where I'm climbing ladders to clean the ceiling fan blades and moving the couch to vacuum under it? Yes. Mowing the lawn? Yes. Shoveling snow? Yes.

Although right now, I'm eating based on TDEE, so I don't exactly count any of my exercise.

Nope.

I only log cleaning when it is spring cleaning type of activity. Where I'm on the floor with a scrub brush or REALLY scrubbing all day kinda thing. Hard work where you are sore at the end of the day.

I do not log cleaning. Unless it's a full on spring/fall clean the house out kind of cleaning. I just don't think it's necessary to log everyday cleaning.

I don't because its something undo everyday as my regular routine. I only log something that is above my normal activity.

I'm surprised at how judgmental a good number of you are.......

For sure there are those of us who can do the weekly housework in the blink of an eye because of our age, our fitness, our family situation or our health. And why would you bother noting this as exercise because in general it isn't; you didn't break a sweat, you didn't huff and puff with the exertion and you generally breezed through the morning.

And for others, cleaning the house can be a major chore for all the same above reasons. And in these situations it's a real sense of achievement to successfully complete even one chore and noting it on your exercise diary is an easily seen achievement reminder. Some health conditions that inhibit active participation at gyms or going for brisk walks are arthritis or similar agility problems, asthma and breathing difficulties, depression and anxiety, limb amputations, Agoraphobia, obesity, old age and many, many more.

In general my exercise is walking and I've built myself up to a distance of about 3km - I try to do this about 3 times a week. But some weeks I am unable to go any further than the end of the driveway because of my arthritic knee. So when I've been able to lux the whole house ignoring the pain and discomfort in my knee, then I do note it down on my exercise diary. Or when I've spent 2 or 3 hours of an afternoon doing baking (creaming the butter and sugar by hand) and then I make tea for the family and I'm tired and exhausted then I figure I've spent effort doing this so I'll put a couple of hours of cooking down in my diary. I don't put the FULL amount of time I take doing any chore - I usually put 1 or 2 hours. It really is just a token but it makes me feel as though I am a contributing human being - contributing to my own weightloss program.

Hey, I just thought I'd ask the question, for no particular reason to be honest other that curiosity

I personally don't log it as I clean throughout the whole day picking up after me and the little one, washing the pots just after they've been used etc so I don't see the point in logging it
The only time I do clean for probably 30 minutes straight is when I have to clean up after the other half in the morning lol

How about you?

No, it's ridiculous. I wish I can expand upon my opinion but that really sums it up. Logging of exercise calories, eating back exercise calories in general just seems silly to me. Eat at TDEE and don't worry about the small stuff.

WHAT IS A TDEE??????