Legit question. Housework....exercise or no?
Replies
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The big question is do you eat back those calories burned from cleaning?
If you do, and are losing at a rate you are happy with, then continue on with what works.
If you eat them back and are not losing, then quit logging them or eating them back.
If you do NOT eat them back, then it is completely irrelevant.
Activity is activity. Doesn't matter how you get it in.
When I deep clean and log. I dont eat back the calories. Kinda just log it to keep track of what I do during the day. I dont log vacuuming, dishes, mopping or laundry since those I do everyday.
I starting trying to lose little over 2 weeks ago and have lost 5lbs since changing my eating habits (eating more)
Since you don't eat them back. it doesn't matter if you log it or not, and no need to get permission from the people here.
Sounds like you are doing just fine, and what you are doing is working for you, so congrats!
I don't eat my exer cals back, as I use them to supplement my deficit, and exercise is sporadic with me. I will log my activity, whether it is biking, swimming, mowing, or weight lifting, or even power-cooking or power cleaning days, just to keep track of my activity levels.
You keep doing what you are doing.
Perfect reply.
Thank you
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That is your right.I strongly disagree.
No.Your calories are not calculated according to what you did before or after you came to this site. They are calculated on a day of doing minimal activity and then you add exercise as you do it.
You are able to set your activity level, if this is something you've been doing for a coon's age, then it's already figured in when you set your activity level.
Considering how the olympics are going, they might be welcomed in.Housework is exercise.
Again, no. That effort would be factored into the activity level that is set on a per user basis. Not everyone set their account to sedentary.If someone rode a bike twice a week before coming to this site, they would count it.0 -
Don't log it. It's not exercise, but rather part of your normal activities. They are factored into the activity level you select when you set up MFP.0
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If you're sweating, yeah. If it's just to lazily dust the nick nacks, no.0
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Since you don't eat them back. it doesn't matter if you log it or not, and no need to get permission from the people here.
Sounds like you are doing just fine, and what you are doing is working for you, so congrats!
I don't eat my exer cals back, as I use them to supplement my deficit, and exercise is sporadic with me. I will log my activity, whether it is biking, swimming, mowing, or weight lifting, or even power-cooking or power cleaning days, just to keep track of my activity levels.
You keep doing what you are doing.
Perfect reply.
Thank you
Oh, I don't think we as a collective realized you were just looking for validation.
In that case.
Oh yeah, log it. Every time.0 -
Since you don't eat them back. it doesn't matter if you log it or not, and no need to get permission from the people here.
Sounds like you are doing just fine, and what you are doing is working for you, so congrats!
I don't eat my exer cals back, as I use them to supplement my deficit, and exercise is sporadic with me. I will log my activity, whether it is biking, swimming, mowing, or weight lifting, or even power-cooking or power cleaning days, just to keep track of my activity levels.
You keep doing what you are doing.
Perfect reply.
Thank you
Oh, I don't think we as a collective realized you were just looking for validation.
In that case.
Oh yeah, log it. Every time.
Will do
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I say no. Anything that is a regual life activity, such as cleaning I do not count on as calories burned, I don't count any calories I may burn walking during the day at work etc. Anything I do above and beyond my daily routine I count. So if I decided to walk to work one day (which I don't normally do) I would count that, any running, weight lifting, workout clases I do count. But I don't really think cleaning counts, sorry, just my opinion.0
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Yes. If you're wearing your HRM, and it's showing your HR is elevated as high as a cardio workout, and you are sweating, I would call it a legit workout. I do the same thing. I'll wear my HRM if I'm doing some "super cleaning", and if it shows I'm in my "zone", I count it. If not, then, no.0
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I would log it. It *is* exercise. Also I hate housework, even more than 30 Day Shred, so that would be a little additional carrot. I suppose it would be different if I said that I was moderately active when I set up my profile, but since I mostly sit all day I didn't say that.
You don't necessarily have to eat up all of your exercise calories either. It's just kind of fun to collect them, at least for me it is.0 -
I say no. Anything that is a regual life activity, such as cleaning I do not count on as calories burned, I don't count any calories I may burn walking during the day at work etc. Anything I do above and beyond my daily routine I count. So if I decided to walk to work one day (which I don't normally do) I would count that, any running, weight lifting, workout clases I do count. But I don't really think cleaning counts, sorry, just my opinion.
Appreciate your opinion.
I guess that's where I'm confused at. I work out everyday. I run a min of 2 miles every single day and have been for a good while now (before joining MFP) also i lift weights, hit the gym etc etc.
I run everyday....your saying I should count that.
I deep clean 2 days out of the week, breaking a full sweat and wake up sore as if i just just squats, push ups and bicep curls.....doesn't count?
I was told I do not eat enough, so I try to log strenuous activities to fully realize the activity level and kinda base it on how much i should eat even though i dont eat back those calories...if that makes sense?0 -
Nope.
It's housework. If it's part of what you were doing normally when you came to the site, you've already accounted for it when you set up your tracker.
+1.
If house work is exercise, what about those who work manual labor, can they count that as exercise?
That should be accounted for in the activity level you set when you set up your profile. You wouldn't come here and say you are "sedentary" or "lightly active" when you know you bust your *kitten* every day would you?0 -
This I'd change your activity level but I wouldn't log it. IF you do log it I'd log it as light cleaning and 1/2 the time I did. I just don't feel like it's legit.Don't log as excersize but update your profile. There is a section that asks what you do for a living (ie, secretary - sitting all day / or laborer - running around/on feet). This should help with an accurate overview.
Off topic but I LOVE your hair. 0 -
Nope.
It's housework. If it's part of what you were doing normally when you came to the site, you've already accounted for it when you set up your tracker.
I agree with this. I do not count housework as exercise. Log it? Sure. But it's everyday activity.0 -
Through the week, no. On Saturdays yes because I do the heavy and yucky stuff for longer periods of time. I don't count it, though.0
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Keep doing what your doing if it is working for you. I LOVE how many replies say "don't count it cause it is normal activity" when you have clearly stated it isn't an everyday activity.
I workout 5 days a week at the gym (elliptical and weights). Some weekends, not all, I clean like a fiend or do heavy yard work for 6-8 hours and I do log it. Although I log it as @2 hours of cleaning/gardening. Some weekends, not all, I also do a circuit training class or a DVD. If we shouldn't be logging "normal" activity I guess maybe I shouldn't log my workouts at all cause I do those a lot more regularly then I do super industrial housekeeping.
I have a desk job so my activity level is set to sedentary. I like using that setting because it takes the guess work out of "was I active enough this particular day?" - I can just add activity as I do it. And like you I only count it if I am worn out and exhausted at the end of the job - loading the dishwasher, laundry, and cooking never make the cut. I don't eat back all my calories but I do eat back some of them especially when my log reveals I have had a super active day.
Oh and Most of my MFP friends do the same and we are all having success in our weight loss journey.0 -
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I'm a SAHM of 3 kids, so I'm always cleaning and I don't log any of it. However, my lifestyle is set to light active..maybe you can do that instead.0
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deep cleaning is i feel it when i deep clean big time0
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It depends on what you have set your activity level at... if it's set to sedentary... then go for it... if it's set higher than that... then I would say... mmm... probably not.
Perhaps you can get an activity tracker (like fitbit) to calculate those calories for you already. I have my calorie goal set to sedentary but have a fitbit, so I don't track my cleaning calories.
no
Well that is a smart rebuttal.
I really don't feel like wasting my time - which I am doing now - on a dead horse...this one get tossed about like every other day..
Exercise is something that you do in addition to your daily activities...i.e. Cleaning...I mean my office is on the second floor I walk up and down stairs every day..but I do not "log" that..it is built into my activity level for the day.
satisfied?
You're still wrong. if you took the elevator everyday, and then the stairs two days a week as your workout, then that would be extra. Just like how she does extensive cleaning two days a week wich goes above and beyond what she normally does. I don't get why people think just because it is cleaning it doesn't count. She could be burning more calories than somebodies 4 mile walk.0 -
[/quote]If someone rode a bike twice a week before coming to this site, they would count it.
"Again, no. That effort would be factored into the activity level that is set on a per user basis. Not everyone set their account to sedentary."
[/quote]
If what you were saying was true there would be no option to enter exercise calories, because everything one does is already set up in their activity level.0 -
It depends on what you have set your activity level at... if it's set to sedentary... then go for it... if it's set higher than that... then I would say... mmm... probably not.
Perhaps you can get an activity tracker (like fitbit) to calculate those calories for you already. I have my calorie goal set to sedentary but have a fitbit, so I don't track my cleaning calories.
no
Well that is a smart rebuttal.
I really don't feel like wasting my time - which I am doing now - on a dead horse...this one get tossed about like every other day..
Exercise is something that you do in addition to your daily activities...i.e. Cleaning...I mean my office is on the second floor I walk up and down stairs every day..but I do not "log" that..it is built into my activity level for the day.
satisfied?
You're still wrong. if you took the elevator everyday, and then the stairs two days a week as your workout, then that would be extra. Just like how she does extensive cleaning two days a week wich goes above and beyond what she normally does. I don't get why people think just because it is cleaning it doesn't count. She could be burning more calories than somebodies 4 mile walk.
Ahh thank you! That's what i have been trying to get at this whole time!0 -
Keep doing what your doing if it is working for you. I LOVE how many replies say "don't count it cause it is normal activity" when you have clearly stated it isn't an everyday activity.
I workout 5 days a week at the gym (elliptical and weights). Some weekends, not all, I clean like a fiend or do heavy yard work for 6-8 hours and I do log it. Although I log it as @2 hours of cleaning/gardening. Some weekends, not all, I also do a circuit training class or a DVD. If we shouldn't be logging "normal" activity I guess maybe I shouldn't log my workouts at all cause I do those a lot more regularly then I do super industrial housekeeping.
I have a desk job so my activity level is set to sedentary. I like using that setting because it takes the guess work out of "was I active enough this particular day?" - I can just add activity as I do it. And like you I only count it if I am worn out and exhausted at the end of the job - loading the dishwasher, laundry, and cooking never make the cut. I don't eat back all my calories but I do eat back some of them especially when my log reveals I have had a super active day.
Oh and Most of my MFP friends do the same and we are all having success in our weight loss journey.
Thank you thank you thank you.
I shouldve known better by asking it on here but i wanted everyones honest opinions but most never even read the entire thing. lol0 -
train, work out, and exercise are all synonyms. you can say something along the lines like "i'm going to go lift weights," or "i'm going to go for a run." but you can easily substitute those words for the former: "i'm going to go train," and "i'm going to go for a work out."
you can not say "i'm going to go exercise this floor. it is so dirty." or "man, the carpet needs a really thorough work out."
but, on second thought, for a good through carpet work out, you do use a machine. so what do i know???0 -
include it in your NEAT, it's not exercise. All of my chasing around of the kids, cooking, cleaning, etc is included in my NEAT activity level. If I happen to have a killer day landscaping the yard or something I just treat myself to a couple extra brews and call it a day.0
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train, work out, and exercise are all synonyms. you can say something along the lines like "i'm going to go lift weights," or "i'm going to go for a run." but you can easily substitute those words for the former: "i'm going to go train," and "i'm going to go for a work out."
you can not say "i'm going to go exercise this floor. it is so dirty." or "man, the carpet needs a really thorough work out."
but, on second thought, for a good through carpet work out, you do use a machine. so what do i know???
You're using it wrong. To train, workout, or exercise is something you are doing too your body, liifting weights, running, cleaning is how you are doing it. "I'm going to get a really good workout in by moving all of the furniture around, moving the TV, lifting the stove, and putting all of my summer clothes down stairs." You wouldn't say, "I'm going to go train those weights over there, they are so heavy"0 -
can't hear you. i have triathlons to go get ready for. this floor ain't gonna mop itself!0
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can't hear you. i have triathlons to go get ready for. this floor ain't gonna mop itself!
Have fun exercising the floor, it is probably dirty. I have nothing to go get ready for so I'm going to go workout that treadmill, it is so fat.0 -
The way I see it, as long as you're sweating it should count. If your burning as many calories cleaning as you do working out it should count as a work out. I do every so often use cleaning as a workout but only if I've worked up a sweat. And it's not something I do on a daily basis. More like once a week deal (if that) when I don't have the time to get a normal workout in. I work in housekeeping and you can get a good workout in and get a good sweat going.0
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I am gonna jump right into this dramafest. I personally don't. If you want to, fine, that's up to you. I think you would do yourself more of a favor by not logging it, but that's just me. I have my activity level set to sedentary, but I don't count all the extra walking I do (I walk about a mile or two every day walking to/from the parking garage etc). It just seems like it isn't "exercise" to me. If you think you do it enough to warrant putting it in as exercise calories, maybe you should instead put your activity level higher. I think that would be a better choice.0
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I don't think any of these angry people actually read your post. And I don't say that because they said no, I say that because their justification for their opinion doesn't make sense in your situation.
I think you should log it. Just because you're getting a good benefit out of it (a super clean house) doesn't mean it doesn't count as exercise. If you were doing some other manual labor that isn't factored into your daily activity you would log that too. I think people have a problem with the label.
Also, it's pretty clear that you aren't trying to get some sort of sneaky exercise calories to eat back into your day... just trying to figure out your "calories out".0
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