House cleaning as exercise?

toots99
toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
edited September 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Okay so I've got a question. I just started a second part time job doing house cleaning. My question is should I count that as exercise? I do it about two or three days a week, a few hours a day. For instance today, it was a five hour job. Even if I enter it as light to moderate (even though at some times I was SWEATING!) it says I've burned over 1,000 calories! That's in addition to my regular (though shortened due to time constraints) gym time. To count or not to count? :laugh:

Replies

  • TracieJ65
    TracieJ65 Posts: 645 Member
    House Cleaning is in the database for exercise on here! I do down and dirty, huffing and puffing, house cleaning every Sunday and I sure count it. It I am just doing light pick up stuff I do not count it. I figure that it would not be in the database, on here, if it wasn't something that could be counted!
  • questionablemethods
    questionablemethods Posts: 2,174 Member
    Maybe up your regular activity level setting? You aren't doing it every day, so maybe only up it a notch? Otherwise, if you are really sweating, why not enter it. I know that when I really go to town on the floors and walls I definitely work up a sweat.
  • cbullock115
    cbullock115 Posts: 110
    I think if you are breaking a sweat then you are getting a workout and because you are doing it for lengthy amounts of time I would certainly count it. Try to be mindful of how you are doing things. Instead of bending over to clean the bathtub, do squats while you are scrubbing the sides of the tub; do some lunges while you are mopping and vacuming. You would be surprised at how much of a workout you get while cleaning.
  • Jesusfollower72
    Jesusfollower72 Posts: 95
    I've used a BodyBugg (calorie counter that is used on Biggest Loser) and yes you do actually burn that many calories! I say add it so you can accurately evaluate how many calories you need to eat.
    God bless,
    Karen
  • toots99
    toots99 Posts: 3,794 Member
    House Cleaning is in the database for exercise on here! I do down and dirty, huffing and puffing, house cleaning every Sunday and I sure count it. It I am just doing light pick up stuff I do not count it. I figure that it would not be in the database, on here, if it wasn't something that could be counted!

    I saw it in the database, that's how I came up with the calories burned. Maybe I'll up my activity level a notch. I'd be highly active then, because I work five or six nights a week as a waitress.

    Thanks for the replies. I am going to count it, and still keep up my regular exercise. :flowerforyou:
  • jdurham87
    jdurham87 Posts: 62
    When you set up your MFP account it asks you how active you are daily. So you being a waitress and a housecleaner you should pick very active and then let MFP automatically add your calories onto your daily intake instead of yourself posting that as a workout. Just my 2 cents :-/
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