crochet???

24

Replies

  • 173 calories in an hour when crocheting. I understand where alot of you had negative answers to this question. But if you look at the whole picture then I think you would understand better. Like my self I have health issues where I can not go run for miles or use tread mil or other things like allot of you have. I allowed my health to take over for me and gave up packing on the pounds which did not help at all. Now I am working on changing my attitude my habits and what I eat how much, and even if it is just walking 100 steps in my home 3x a day to start with, I have probably looked up thing wondering am I burning calories or not. I am starting at the bottom of the exercise pile and trying to work my way up. I hope this helps explain some things. Like anything when you are eating healthier, lowering your intake, crochet does help burn some of those calories it really makes a difference in small baby steps.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I wonder how to count the calories spent when crocheting. Anyone have any ideas?

    It's already accounted for in your activity level....even if you put in sedentary that includes some activity.

    http://www.fitnessforweightloss.com/rate-your-activity-level-based-on-steps-per-day/

    Great snack deterrent for me.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    173 calories in an hour when crocheting. I understand where alot of you had negative answers to this question. But if you look at the whole picture then I think you would understand better. Like my self I have health issues where I can not go run for miles or use tread mil or other things like allot of you have. I allowed my health to take over for me and gave up packing on the pounds which did not help at all. Now I am working on changing my attitude my habits and what I eat how much, and even if it is just walking 100 steps in my home 3x a day to start with, I have probably looked up thing wondering am I burning calories or not. I am starting at the bottom of the exercise pile and trying to work my way up. I hope this helps explain some things. Like anything when you are eating healthier, lowering your intake, crochet does help burn some of those calories it really makes a difference in small baby steps.

    Ok - would 173 be the gross calories burned or the net calories burned? 173 sounds like a huge number for crocheting.

    What I mean by net calories is this......if my total daily energy expenditure (maintenance for sedentary activity) is 73 calories an hour...then the DIFFERENCE would be the calories burned just for crocheting....the net burn would be more like 100 calories (MFP is already giving credit for sedentary). Still seems high. But if you log the 100 calories in exercise and you continue to lose weight at the same pace...then you're good to go.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    firstsip wrote: »
    Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. I had no idea so many here actually crocheted. I do appreciate the helpful suggestions because I do crochet a lot and to be honest it is a lot of repetitive motion and if crocheting large items or with heavy material it can be considered some type of excersise. I apologize to the ones that thought I was crazy for asking the question :)

    Unfortunately, repetitive motion at even that sort of weight isn't burning many calories. You are likely strengthening your fingers, hands, wrists, and even forearms, which is great, because if you ever decided to pick up weights, you've got some potentially stronger stabilizers in your arms. But even weight training is less about calorie burn then it is about building muscle which in turn burns calories... which isn't happening with crocheting.

    Otherwise, you need to get your heart rate to actually consider something a cardio exercise. Unless you're huffing and puffing from crocheting, it is probably <5 calories an hour on top of your BMR.

    ^ this is what you want to remember. If your heart rate is elevated, you're burning extra calories. If not, you aren't.

    I tried knitting once and it was so aggravating it drove me to start smoking again.

    Maybe I should try crocheting...
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    CRAP necro thread :(
  • DirrtyH
    DirrtyH Posts: 664 Member
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    CRAP necro thread :(

    But aren't you glad you saw it? 'Cause wow.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    DirrtyH wrote: »
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    CRAP necro thread :(

    But aren't you glad you saw it? 'Cause wow.

    We'll always have the Necro Crochet Thread.

  • Edwardshar
    Edwardshar Posts: 271 Member
    Yeah, I wouldn't count those calories. I think those are just your typical calories you burn in a day. I don't log when I have to write a couple pages of notes. I do feel the burn in my wrist though. :)
  • CarlydogsMom
    CarlydogsMom Posts: 645 Member
    Are all you crocheters and knitters on Ravelry (ravelry.com)? There's a My Fitness Pal group there....it's fairly inactive, but maybe this can spark some activity.

    If you've never seen/heard of/used Ravelry before, check it out, it's amazing! Rav and MFP can keep me entertained for hours!
  • paulbearss
    paulbearss Posts: 26 Member
    coolraul07 wrote: »
    Did anyone click on this topic thinking the title was "crotch"?!:noway: :devil:

    ...

    Me neither... :blushing:
    I thought it was croquet...
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    DirrtyH wrote: »
    sofaking6 wrote: »
    CRAP necro thread :(

    But aren't you glad you saw it? 'Cause wow.

    I am, this was a nice pick me up. get it, in crocheting, you pick up stitches



    sorry
  • tomatoey
    tomatoey Posts: 5,446 Member
    gretchens1 wrote: »
    I can't believe so many people have responded negatively towards this question - I crochet quite a bit, and quickly, and do "feel the burn" in my arms from time to time. That being said, I thought this was a website where we were meant to support each other, not cut each other down - granted, it is not likely crocheting burns any recordable calories. But come on, people. Don't be jerks.

    gretchens1 your outrage was admirable but misplaced.
  • meritage4
    meritage4 Posts: 1,441 Member
    so the best answer was look under exercise knitting or crocheting and 29 calories an hour. It's not a lot but better than just sitting.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited April 2015
    XLMuffnTop wrote: »
    I wouldn't be worried about the calories burned. For me though, it keeps my hands busy. When I'm idle I tend to gravitate towards the kitchen.

    This is me! I lost 75 lb last year between New Years and the next Christmas and I credit the fact that I crocheted 6 afghans plus a couple of accessories with helping. Nothing like binge watching a TV show with yarn and a hook in hand to keep you from eating!

  • LoneWolfRunner
    LoneWolfRunner Posts: 1,160 Member
    I would only count it if you could crochet a king-size blanket in 2.5 hours.
  • tchancecover
    tchancecover Posts: 2 Member
    I am sorry that people are being so negative but according to my bariatric doctor any kind of movement burns calories. What shocked the crap out of me was that sleeping actually burns calories. So everything from brushing your teeth to doing house hold chores burns calories and if you couldn't find it I would consider using typing calories and divide that in half. I do both for hours each day as I can 't sit and watch TV it. But to me it seems that I use my hands and arms about have as much unless there's booboo's from complicated pattern or I loose try and have to rip it out and do it again. Stay positive and keeping your hands and mind busy is a great idea.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,234 Member
    Realistic does not = negative. Fooling yourself that you're burning more than you are is just going to lead to slower or stopped weight loss. Plus this thread is years old.
  • Nony_Mouse
    Nony_Mouse Posts: 5,646 Member
    ZOMG, double necro thread!!

    And just seriously...
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Oh you people. Missed this one and did make me lol.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    30139d1334299885-ript-zombie-thread.png
  • deluxmary2000
    deluxmary2000 Posts: 981 Member
    How many calories does thread resurrection burn?
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    I burn like 900 calories an hour crochetting. You wimps need to up your game.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I burn like 900 calories an hour crochetting. You wimps need to up your game.

    I agree. I only manage a 500 calorie burn per hour. You must be younger :)
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I am sorry that people are being so negative but according to my bariatric doctor any kind of movement burns calories. What shocked the crap out of me was that sleeping actually burns calories. So everything from brushing your teeth to doing house hold chores burns calories and if you couldn't find it I would consider using typing calories and divide that in half. I do both for hours each day as I can 't sit and watch TV it. But to me it seems that I use my hands and arms about have as much unless there's booboo's from complicated pattern or I loose try and have to rip it out and do it again. Stay positive and keeping your hands and mind busy is a great idea.

    This is a zombie thread but I'm going to respond to this post anyway because I am concerned that the poster is not logging properly.

    If you are using an MFP-provided calorie goal, the calories you burn while brushing your teeth and doing household chores are already included in it. Those calories are part of your NEAT calorie burn. NEAT calories are the calories that you spend doing activity other than exercise. Your MFP calorie goal is calculated as follows:

    BMR+NEAT-X=MFP goal*
    X = 250 calories for each half pound per week that you want to lose (i.e., if you want to lose 1 pound per week you multiply 250 by 2 and get 500

    *MFP goal for women will not go below 1200, for men will not go below 1500

    You are supposed to eat your entire MFP goal (or at least average it) and then log your exercise, which you then eat. Many people find that the MFP calorie calculator overstates calories. I would suggest eating a specific percentage of your exercise calories for 4 weeks (e.g., 50%) and then evaluating whether or not you should eat more or fewer of those calories.
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  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    auddii wrote: »
    30139d1334299885-ript-zombie-thread.png

    latest?cb=20150406004245&path-prefix=protagonist
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    magicherry wrote: »
    it just keeps me from snacking, so its not about burning calories as much as it is calorie intake prevention

    Thumbs-up! :)
  • quiltlovinlisa
    quiltlovinlisa Posts: 1,710 Member
    I think it's therapeutic and like any isolated movement can cause you to feel muscle fatigue but I wouldn't ever count it towards extra calories. I would think of it as bonus activity. (Have crocheted for 35 years, so I do know the muscle fatigue after a long session.)
  • shadowfax_c11
    shadowfax_c11 Posts: 1,942 Member
    I think some of you are all looking at this wrong.You don't need to huff and puff to get your heart rate up and going to lose some major calories.If you think sitting and doing nothing won"t get you no where in burning off calories then think again cuz your BMR is all about that lol. BMR refers to the number of calories your body needs to perform very basic functions while at rest. which include cell repair, body growth, blood circulation and breathing. So yes any lil thing you do counts.Like crazy ppl that move back and forth on their chair are burning calories. Nervous leg shaking before an interview are burning calories. So why not crocheting. Tho huffing and puffing to get your heart rate going in hardcore aerobics is the BEST and FASTEST way to go, but its not the only option. Also what helps make them effortless but very much countable activities useful is not over doing your calorie intake or whats the point in any lil thing you do LOL.

    Sitting in traffic gets my heart rate up sometimes too. I still don't count it as exercise.

    Crochet is a great idea for occupying your hands to keep you from eating. Kinda makes me think I should take up cross stitch again. But really, just consider any added calories burned as a bonus and don't log that.
  • c_keuffer
    c_keuffer Posts: 2 Member
    Actually, crochetting non stopping can use up to 500 calories an hour. I had the same question and actually according with new studies about NEAT Non exercise activity thermogenesis , crochet also makes your body going. Anythign besides sitting still for more than on hour a day is good for you. Leave the long rest for the sleeping time. I watch tv doing crochet and I was amazed to learn how many calories someone spends doing it.
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