Unless I sweat I don't log my activity.......right or wrong?

lollyb2
lollyb2 Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm noticing that a few people are logging their general daily activity as exercise and therefore calories earned, i.e. cleaning etc. I've always assumed that in order for exercise to be beneficia,l and therefore extra calories burned, you would need to feel you're making some effort. Am I missing out on a few calories here by not logging everything?:happy:
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Replies

  • XtyAnn17
    XtyAnn17 Posts: 632 Member
    No your fine. Logging the dishes etc imho is ridiculous and not worth it.
  • BrandyontheRun
    BrandyontheRun Posts: 204 Member
    I don't log cleaning and only log my walking if I've been walking a long time carrying my daughter (ex: when we do groceries I carry her strapped into the wrap).

    If it's not strenuous I don't log it. I feel like I'd be "cheating" by logging my everyday cleaning or walking around.
  • GauchoMark
    GauchoMark Posts: 1,804 Member
    I tend to agree with you. The only activity I log is any exercise that I do that is truly cardio. I lift weights heavy about 4 times a week and I don't log that.

    I think that is where a lot of people that say MFP doesn't work are failing - they are poor estimators. Some people tend to work the system to squeeze out every possible calorie so they can eat more, so either intentionally or subconsciously they under-estimate food and over-estimate activity. Not to mention that the machines over-estimate burn and the food manufacturers tend to under estimate as well. I know that for me, personally, not logging my strength training, my calories and fat loss match up relatively well over time, and I am pretty diligent.
  • kdkyzer
    kdkyzer Posts: 137 Member
    I tend to do that same thing. I just look at stuff like cleaning, etc, as part of daily life and it doesn't occur to me to log that. I did, however, log yesterday's 18 holes of golf even though I didn't look at is as a workout.
  • NewMnky1
    NewMnky1 Posts: 264
    I only log actual cardio or weights. I do not factor in any other activity that falls in my normal day like walking etc.
  • iplayoutside19
    iplayoutside19 Posts: 2,304 Member
    I agree with your general premise. However, Sweat does not = calories burned, effort, or a "good work out".
  • sandradev1
    sandradev1 Posts: 786 Member
    Everybody is different and will do this in a different way. I feel that things I do that are an activity I did when I was increasing weight and was unhealthy is obviously not conducive to good health. Whereas, anything I do specifically to improve my health is and I like to take credit for it.

    Having said that, I use the In Place of a Road Map method and have calculated my calorie goal to include my exercise, so that is what I eat.

    The link to the road map, if interested is:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12 <
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    It's a personal choice. It would be wrong for me but not necessarily for someone else to log cleaning, gardening, etc...I actually did use to log my gardening but soon felt I was cheating myself.
  • Bex2Bslim
    Bex2Bslim Posts: 1,092
    I agree mainly, I do however log my busy bar shifts as this is my second job so it's not in my normal day to day. I was literally on my feet for 9hrs (less 20min break) yesterday with christening of over 100 people to oversee, so although I wasn't sweating, I feel there were definite calories burnt :D
  • lesita75
    lesita75 Posts: 379 Member
    I don't care what others log. I stay in my own lane and do what works for me.
  • moebius13
    moebius13 Posts: 39
    Although I don't log normal day to day activity, I will log things, like loading or unloading pallets of sand bags or salt or such at my job, as I do not normally do this on a daily basis. 30 minutes moving 40lb bags to me seems the same as a 30 minute workout.
  • rduhlir
    rduhlir Posts: 3,550 Member
    I only log excess house work...like putting up/taking down Christmas decorations. But I usually sweat during it. But general house cleaning, nah. Not unless I have turned it into a workout....like I dance while vacuuming now, so that I can burn more calories.
  • amarna13
    amarna13 Posts: 23 Member
    I wouldn't log things like doing the dishes. But for example yesterday my husband and myself unloaded, moved and stacked a full ton of wood pellets by the side of our house, as I don't normally do that and was lifting, carrying, etc. 40lb bags of pellets I logged that. Or sometimes in the spring/summer I like to mow the lawn with an old push mower we have (just person powered, no gas or anything) so I would log that. Personally though I don't care what other people do, I figure if it works for them, great!
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    I think you're perfectly find doing what you're doing.

    As for the people who log all activity, it would make sense if they've set themselves up as sedentary, then everything they do aside from the very basics would need to be logged.
  • BamsieEkhaya
    BamsieEkhaya Posts: 657 Member
    unless it's a HUGE clean, I'm talking all 3 floors, everything ordered, wardrobes colour co-ordinated, hoovered, dusted, iron, wipe down walls, shower, sinks etc then no I don't count it...even then I only go for a mass clean session 3times a year and don't count my weekly wardrobe clean (empty wardrobe onto bed, wipe down shelves and draws then colour co-ordinate and re-stack!...can take up to 4hours )
  • erinpooh
    erinpooh Posts: 90
    It depends on the housework. I log mopping, vacuuming, sweeping and cleaning walls--things that are a bit more strenuous or cause me to sweat a little (I'm a vigorous cleaner!) I don't log laundry or washing dishes. For gardening, I did log when I was raking leaves, but probably would not for things like planting flowers. I don't eat back the majority of my exercise points, so I'm not sure it matters much in my situation.

    EDIT: I am set at sedentary.
  • susannahsutton1
    susannahsutton1 Posts: 372
    I sort of agree with the OP about housework, but a lot of my cardio is done outdoors, so I don't always sweat, even if working hard, especially in the current weather which is FREEZING. I'm all about wearing an HRM.
  • besaro
    besaro Posts: 1,858 Member
    I don't care what others log. I stay in my own lane and do what works for me.

    Stay in my own lane! love it! will now try and live it! lol
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I hear Xzibit logs logging.
  • swaymyway
    swaymyway Posts: 428 Member
    Everyone is different - some people log all activity as their lifestyle is set as sedentary or it's stuff they didn't used to do before trying to lose weight/get fit. I try not to judge what others are doing.

    Though for me I agree with the OP, unless I am doing it AS MY WORKOUT I don't log it, I determine that by if I bother putting my heart rate monitor or not. I also log my dog walking as I didn't used to do it, I do get my heart rate up chasing him around and my lifestyle is set to sedentary on here.
  • BrionySpandler
    BrionySpandler Posts: 3 Member
    I do a daily dog walk of 1 hour. If it is no overly strenuous, and I walk at moderate pace and it burns 240 calories. I don't sweat at all, but that's a lot of calories! So, depending on what level of 'activity' you refer to will very much depend on whether you expend energy or not. But I would say factor something in...
  • fluffypetal
    fluffypetal Posts: 50
    Hi,

    I tend to log housework some of the time BUT only if I have been really on the move and then I do silly exercises whilst doing it (like lunges whilst hoovering). Some people say it may be cheating but I don't see it as that. If I was just flicking a duster around then no I wouldn't log it. It lets me see that I have been busy and that I have done something, which is better than nothing.

    It's each to their own and if someone feels more motivated to move a bit more and log these kind of things into their planner then good for them as it will only keep motivating them and that can only be a GOOD thing. Sweat or no sweat.

    Annie xxx
  • allisonj87
    allisonj87 Posts: 55 Member
    I usually only log cleaning if its a strenuous down and dirty kind of cleaning!! I do; however, log breastfeeding, which in no way causes me to sweat!! I want to make sure I'm getting enough for my baby.
  • zombiekookie
    zombiekookie Posts: 40 Member
    I sweat easy, at least that's how it feels. With that take I should be logging in my cleaning, but I list my activity level as moderately moving about. It is included in the calories i believe. As for my roommate, who is a housewife, she doesn't get out much doing the activities I do. She listed herself as sedentary. Her listing cleaning, walking, and shopping would work. I'm sure if she started working out, listing those would become obsolete.
  • jesindc
    jesindc Posts: 724 Member
    I think it has a lot to do with how you categorize you activity level. I sit at a desk much of the day on an average day at work, so I list my activity level as sedentary, but I do commute into work by walking or riding a bike, so I log those activity calories even though they aren't an official work out (although I do get out of breath on the bike on the two hills on the way to work). I suppose that I could just move my activity level up and MFP would give me a few extra calories per day and then I wouldn't have to log the calories I burn on my commute, but I'd rather keep track of it. I guess it's six in one, half dozen in the other. I don't log cleaning, but I will say that on a few occasions (like those twice a year deep cleaning days), I have broken a sweet while cleaning (mostly from going up and down the stairs so many times I suppose).
  • Lyssa62
    Lyssa62 Posts: 930 Member
    I dont' log anything -- I let the fitbit do it. I think that "normal" activity is already factored in so some may be adding a calorie burn that is already being counted. I'd rather error in a low burn estimate than over estimating.
  • stefaniekeegan
    stefaniekeegan Posts: 1 Member
    I pretty much agree with you all here.
    The calorie count that you allow yourself is taking into account the usual routine stuff. If you start to log every tiny thing you do surely you need to consider lowering the excess calories that you are allowed.

    Since the walk to the shops or a quick hoover will only burn a few calories anyway isn't it better to not count them and have them as a bonus?

    If you aim is to loose weight, then by cheating the system you are only cheating yourself and will not see the results you hope for.

    I round up food and down calories just to be sure. Then if I do end up having cheeky biscuit I don't feel terrible about it and get to control my urges with the odd treat here and there.
  • kali31337
    kali31337 Posts: 1,048 Member
    I used to log cleaning (when it happened!) but now that I'm in the gym 5-6 days a week, I don't log it. I just can't even try to attempt that many calories back. Though that being said, I did log the cleaning we did this weekend because we spent 4.5 hours cleaning our house from top to bottom and I still only logged an hour of it since I didn't wear my HRM
  • MartialAngel
    MartialAngel Posts: 64 Member
    I log a lot of my cleaning, but only because I didn't do much of it before. Now, when I clean, it's normally a very long process and I'm lugging a 14 month old wiggly girl with me everywhere, so I feel it is a workout for me. However, I don't use only that as my exercise. I still make sure to do some actual exercise. I power walk about 2.5 miles at LEAST once a week. I have workout DVDs I do during Gabriel's nap time. Now, while I count some cleaning, don't coun laundry, unless I'm folding, and I do more work by walking back and forth from the living room to whichever room the laundry belongs in for each article of clothing. While it is more work, and takes longer, I try to go quickly so I get a slightly elevated heart rate and breathing. If its simple stuff, don't count it. I'm still losing weight like crazy. But there is nothing wrong with how you are doing it. Keep up the great work!
  • Blessedmommy_2x
    Blessedmommy_2x Posts: 419 Member
    I don't really care what others do... Sometimes you just find what works for you, and focus on that. And it will vary for everyone.

    I personally DO NOT log "daily activities" as exercise... like, cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, prepping food, whether I was sweating exhausted, spent hours doing it or not. My reason: If I have been doing these activities daily for years and its never helped me lose weight, and I still managed to gain... then WHY would I count it as "exercise" now??? I think it would just hurt my progress and at some point I think its cheating the system - at least for me.

    Honestly... I am pregnant now and those daily activities totally wear me out, burn more cals and cause me to sweat at times. BUT I still don't log it as a exercise unless it is a formal planned exercise... not me just burning cals, living. I told myself I need to exercise daily to stay in shape... if I counted washing dishes and cleaning the house as exercise Id never get around to REALLY exercising.

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