Does anyone count housework as excersise?

jofjltncb6 · April 2013

I'm not sedentary at all I work out over a hr a day so what would I put it at?

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you put it at *at first*...because then you should track consistently for 6+ weeks and *then* determine if you need to change it. People are different in their BMR and the only way to figure that out for each individual is to track and adjust. That said, I recommend starting at "lightly active" and logging your exercise on top of that. (Myself, I had to tweak it up to "active" to account for my metabolism.) Track consistently for 6+ weeks and then reevaluate. If you're losing too quickly, bump it up to "active". Too slowly and then consider dropping it. Track again for at least 6 weeks and reevaluate again. Repeat cycle until goal reached.

lithezebra · April 2013

If you set your activity level to sedentary, then anything that you do that involves moving around can be counted as exercise. If you call yourself active, then no, you should not count housework as an exercise. If you call yourself active, based on your workout, then you shouldn't count your workout separately either.

tmiracle11 · April 2013

Isn't house cleaning under the exercise database on MFP? I've never used it but I believe it's there...

StArBeLLa87 · April 2013

I worked out 900 plus minutes this week and that's usually my average a week

pinkraynedropjacki · April 2013

nope I got fat while cleaning

No you got fat while eating.

Robin_Bin · April 2013

I'm not sedentary at all I work out over a hr a day so what would I put it at?

There are multiple ways to do this. Some people calculate how much they burn including their normal weekly exercise and how much of a deficit they need. Then they put that in as a target. Because their exercise is already included in their target, they then record all exercise as 1 calorie. At the other extreme, some people say they are sedentary (low daily activity) and then record all kinds of activity, like shopping, housework etc.
The concern is that you don't double count exercise or under eat by too much because you don't count exercise.
Over time you'll see what works for you.

temple_n · April 2013

I sweat so it counts.

temple_n · April 2013

be nice

Project_Jodie · April 2013

Nope - I wouldn't.

pinkraynedropjacki · April 2013

I sweat so it counts.

Just so you know, I sweat in my sleep. I'm not counting that as exercise. Sweat is not an indication of anything :happy:

vagirl8669 · April 2013

I don't know that routine housework should count cuz your body is used to that. If you scrubbing floors or building a deck, go ahead and count it. lol

treagal · April 2013

heck yes, i put cleaning as exercise. maybe you should change your settings, from sedentary to the next one.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics · April 2013

I'm not sedentary at all I work out over a hr a day so what would I put it at?

Ultimately, it doesn't matter what you put it at *at first*...because then you should track consistently for 6+ weeks and *then* determine if you need to change it. People are different in their BMR and the only way to figure that out for each individual is to track and adjust. That said, I recommend starting at "lightly active" and logging your exercise on top of that. (Myself, I had to tweak it up to "active" to account for my metabolism.) Track consistently for 6+ weeks and then reevaluate. If you're losing too quickly, bump it up to "active". Too slowly and then consider dropping it. Track again for at least 6 weeks and reevaluate again. Repeat cycle until goal reached.

This is a good method. I'd say at least lightly active but maybe active depending on the rest of your day. I'm a housewife with no kids and lightly active is about right for me.

sweetash13 · April 2013

Yes, when its about a few hours of cleaning i do every 3 months. When my room looks like a tornado, its takes at least 3hrs to clean it up, I break a sweat. I wouldn't count daily cleaning chores like sweeping, vacuuming or mopping.

stongjos · April 2013

I'm not sedentary at all I work out over a hr a day so what would I put it at?

I think sedentary is for your work. If you're sitting all day in front of a computer, than you're sedentary. I guess it counts for about 8 hours a day. Everything you do after work you log it into exercise. If you are a postman than you don't put it like you're sedentary, you put active. But you don't log that exercise because it is counted in your work... I don't know how to explain it well...

As for logging housework, I logged it today, but I did about 3 hours and I only logged one hour. It depends on how fast I was cleaning and if my cardio was up.

mjkpe · April 2013

If you use a HRM it could assist you. If properly set it should tell you what extra calories you've burned other than your normal lifestyle. When I clean I am set on "kill" so I count it and usually have to change afterwards, (sorry for the TMI).

barbaratrollman · April 2013

I don't count housework as exercise. I doubt that I'm really burning many more calories doing housework than I'd be burning doing other normal activities.

BlitzClipz · April 2013

I don't count just regular housework that I do every day even though my activity level is also more sedentary. But if I'm cleaning out closets or moving furniture, and other more intense chores like that, I count it.