Do you really burn all those calories cleaning?

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Replies

  • debmartin06
    debmartin06 Posts: 8 Member
    I did not eat back my calories because I care about actual progress as opposed to just making the numbers on the screen look good. I did my exercise video later that night JUST to cover myself. :)
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    I usually log half the time spent on activities like that. For example, today I spent 4 hours digging weeds, hauling wheelbarrows full of dirt, etc., and logged 2.

    MFP is usually very close on its weight-loss predictions for me, so I must not be too far off.
  • liznsmith
    liznsmith Posts: 240 Member
    I don't care if it is high, it motivate me to clean!!! Now, whenever I watch t.v. I get up and start cleaning and just use the t.v. as background noise.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Hi,

    I am actually having a lot of problems with this. I work as a gardener and generally do 7 hours straight with very quick breaks for water and snacks. I have no idea how many calories I burn and do require more food on work days. I have been giving myself 400-500 extra calories and it feels right at the end of the day (not hungry or full). I like MFP because its so exacting and I would like to know how much I am burning. I've been looking into getting one of the wrist/arm bands that monitor your calories burned. Has anyone tried this? I've been swaying back and forth trying to justify the cost and the eye rolls from friends and family ;)

    Personally I'd say change your activity level and then don't enter the work as exercise.
  • BoomstickChick
    BoomstickChick Posts: 428 Member
    I wear my HRM when I do real cleaning, not the day to day stuff. They don't really lie :)
  • theCarlton
    theCarlton Posts: 1,344 Member
    I wouldn't know, I don't clean.
  • wnbrice
    wnbrice Posts: 244 Member
    Unless it is exceptional cleaning (like once a year spring cleaning sort of thing) I wouldn't bother recording it. Unless you dont plan on eating the calories back....Then go right ahead.
  • generallyme2
    generallyme2 Posts: 403 Member
    I always double check the calories burned either on another site or with my monitor. That said, I wouldn't add in cleaning as exercise and I don't, not even when i'm scrubbing the couch or lugging around the steam cleaner. I'd rather that just be bonus. I log intentional exercise.
  • PepperWorm
    PepperWorm Posts: 1,206
    The only 'cleaning' I ever log is mowing my lawn. It raises my heart rate and I sweat like a pig, especially since it's a push mower. Plus I spend anywhere from 1-3 hours on it.

    If you cleaned before you chose a healthier lifestyle and didn't lose weight, it ain't worth logging. Though I agree with some posters when they talk about serious, marathon scrubbin'...though adjust to ensure it isn't ridiculously high. :)
  • __Di__
    __Di__ Posts: 1,659 Member
    I wear my HRM when I do real cleaning, not the day to day stuff. They don't really lie :)

    Only problem is, HRMs are inaccurate for that sort of thing, the manufacturers will tell you that too. HRMs become inaccurate if the HR goes below 90.
  • allikat93
    allikat93 Posts: 236
    I wear my HRM when I do real cleaning, not the day to day stuff. They don't really lie :)

    Only problem is, HRMs are inaccurate for that sort of thing, the manufacturers will tell you that too. HRMs become inaccurate if the HR goes below 90.

    Hey lucky for me.. If Im up and about (even just walking around my house) my heartrate is between 100-120. I know it isnt good and I am working on lowering that number (although not as of late.. Injuries suck) but for now.. Guess I get to log my cleaning.
  • jpalocy77
    jpalocy77 Posts: 114 Member
    I work in the grocery business..and am constantly stocking, standing, jumping, moving,..heck running at times for 8+ hours a day. 4-5 days a week.. I dont do any exercise on those days..just because I am so EXHAUSTED by the end of the day...i dont log anything in MFP..except an occasional..heavy cleaning day if I have been in the cooler..slugging milk and beer around for 5 hours at a time.. I think that most likely burns more calories than my normal activities... I keep my mfp at the second to highest activity level..and sometimes I still feel that I am shorting myself calories so I eat more anyways...

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