Washing a car (calories burned)

Does anybody know how many calories you burn if you wash a car and it takes you 1 hour? Yes, I'm slow - I know it has to be under something under 'exercise' but I am not finding it. Thanks,

GRITSandSLUTS
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Replies

  • slideaway1
    slideaway1 Posts: 1,006 Member
    How big is the car? 10 calories for a Smart Car and 100 cals for a Limo is the rule I live and die by.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I would just count that as a bonus burn and not worry about logging it.
  • aspdenbrae
    aspdenbrae Posts: 49 Member
    You could try logging it as a light walk, although I imagine a good lay burns more lol.
  • BULL! I put it as heavy cleaning and went with the number it gave me. I am so tired I am laying down . . . not a good time for jokes. ... I'm doing this myfitnesspal and turning it in to my MD, so it is important when it comes to losing weight.
  • slideaway1
    slideaway1 Posts: 1,006 Member
    Ok, if your not in the mood for jokes. Washing a car will probably just be considered as an everyday activity (although not done everyday) and will be included in your overall TDEE. To some people washing their car might mean standing with a hose pipe aimed at it so it's hard to track.
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  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    My understanding has always been that logged exercise is that which significantly raises your heart rate. That being said, were constantly burning calories just by being alive, so theoretically you did burn something. I'd log it as 50cals as well. It's great that you're working with a doc on your endeavor. :)
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    _DaniC wrote: »
    Some advice, which you can choose to ignore and I will totally respect that lol I wouldn't log it as exercise. The reason is that technically it isn't exercise. Yes you burn calories, but why not make them "bonus" calories. I used to log all the walking I did daily (about 20 mins) as exercise and it hurt my cause more than it helped. It gave me an entitled feeling that I could skip my workout because at least I did some walking, plus it gave me more calories. It hindered my progress and motivation to do actual exercise.

    I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A FORUM FOR SUPPORT
  • slideaway1
    slideaway1 Posts: 1,006 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    _DaniC wrote: »
    Some advice, which you can choose to ignore and I will totally respect that lol I wouldn't log it as exercise. The reason is that technically it isn't exercise. Yes you burn calories, but why not make them "bonus" calories. I used to log all the walking I did daily (about 20 mins) as exercise and it hurt my cause more than it helped. It gave me an entitled feeling that I could skip my workout because at least I did some walking, plus it gave me more calories. It hindered my progress and motivation to do actual exercise.

    I THOUGHT THAT THIS WAS A FORUM FOR SUPPORT

    :D
  • IILikeToMoveItMoveIt
    IILikeToMoveItMoveIt Posts: 1,172 Member
    edited October 2015
    No jokes now. She's tired guys, she washed a whole car...For a whole hour... slowly... I'm lazy as hell though so I can't criticize too much... That being said though, if your DR. wants numbers I would advise to log as 50 cals. as well...
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    edited October 2015
    BULL! I put it as heavy cleaning and went with the number it gave me. I am so tired I am laying down . . . not a good time for jokes. ... I'm doing this myfitnesspal and turning it in to my MD, so it is important when it comes to losing weight.

    No, not bull. Don't make the mistake of directly linking calorie burn with perceived effort. A fit person your weight would burn essentially the same calories performing the task as you did, but would not be collapsing afterwards.

    Just because it wore you out does not mean the calorie burn is necessarily greater. What it means is that you are quite unfit at present (no insult intended) and what should be a relatively easy task is more difficult for you at present.

    Being unfit does not elevate calorie burn, not by enough to matter.

    Been there, done that.

    As an example, when I first started running at my heaviest (255) I would burn almost exactly the same calories per mile as I would three weeks later. The only difference was that three weeks later I was somewhat more fit and didn't feel like I was about to die, and could run 1 or 2km non stop, even though I wasn't that much lighter.

    What changed in three weeks? Miles did not get shorter and I was much the same weight. My pace did not change, either. I simply perceived less effort because I was more fit, but the actual work effort (speed, distance, weight) remained the same, therefore same calorie burn.

    Back to you: Imagine you wash your car every day for a month but lose zero weight, intentionally. Do you think car washing will be easier or harder by the end of the month?

    Easier, because your fitness will have improved.

    Same calorie burn though.

    You'll be doing yourself and your progress a disservice if you overestimate effort and calorie burn due to your perceptions based on your current level of fitness.

    Best of luck
    Mike



  • _Waffle_
    _Waffle_ Posts: 13,049 Member
    How dirty was this car?
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  • dirtyflirty30
    dirtyflirty30 Posts: 222 Member
    Whoa, lighten up, friend.

    In all seriousness, I live by the rule that unless I had to put on a sports bra for it, I don't count it on the tracker (with the exception of a planned walk). Count this as a bonus, as others have said, and feel proud of it. :)
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    edited October 2015
    My brain burns 250- 300 calories a day the rest of my body around 1600 calories just laying on the couch. Did you burn calories washing your car YES 100% did you burn many more than you would have laying on the couch not that many more maybe an extra 100 calories. The fact that your tired is because your cardio system is out of shape not because you did something your body can easily do everyday if you had a well working cardio system..
  • juggernaut1974
    juggernaut1974 Posts: 6,212 Member
    I wouldn't log it. It's NOT exercise. If you feel you must, enter it with about 5 calories burned.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Whoa, lighten up, friend.

    In all seriousness, I live by the rule that unless I had to put on a sports bra for it, I don't count it on the tracker (with the exception of a planned walk). Count this as a bonus, as others have said, and feel proud of it. :)

    Twinsies! I have the same rule!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    DavPul wrote: »
    Whoa, lighten up, friend.

    In all seriousness, I live by the rule that unless I had to put on a sports bra for it, I don't count it on the tracker (with the exception of a planned walk). Count this as a bonus, as others have said, and feel proud of it. :)

    Twinsies! I have the same rule!

    Picture or it didn't happen

  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    BULL! I put it as heavy cleaning and went with the number it gave me. I am so tired I am laying down . . . not a good time for jokes. ... I'm doing this myfitnesspal and turning it in to my MD, so it is important when it comes to losing weight.

    you're so tired you're laying down? what does that even mean?
    how does that become a prerequisite for calories burned?

    I'm assuming your a poor excuse for a troll because no one could possibly believe washing a car is heavy cleaning. that's just absurd.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I would suggest that being exhausted after washing your car is a wake-up call to improve your fitness.......
  • JayWalk39
    JayWalk39 Posts: 68 Member
    Washing a car is probably 50 calories. Laying down afterwards is -50 calories. So basically you broke even.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    How big is your car? I'm trying to figure out how it took an hour. My husband can take a couple of hours but that's because he details it to the nth degree, inside and out.
  • ohmscheeks
    ohmscheeks Posts: 840 Member
    Calling troll.
  • oilphins
    oilphins Posts: 240 Member
    edited October 2015
    Sorry but if your exhausted from washing a car, you really need to start doing something to get your cardio up. This doesn't sound to healthy to me. If you don't mind me asking, are you really obese? Hopefully your cholesterol isn't high because this is a heart attack waiting to happen, and this is NO JOKE! Nobody should be exhausted and have to lay down after washing a car. But good luck to to.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    Sad to see people piling on to @GRITSandSLUTS.

    Yes, her reply to the early answers provided was off base, no doubt due to being misinformed, but it seems pretty clear that hers was an honest question just the same.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    edited October 2015
    never mind
  • Abby_C2014
    Abby_C2014 Posts: 86 Member
    Washing a car is more like a light activity. I doubt that you burn more than a 100. I know you have to stand and hose it down (so there is resting periods). I would consider cleaning my car = cleaning my dishes or the entire kitchen (not joking here).
  • PAtinCO
    PAtinCO Posts: 129 Member
    No offense but being that meticulous about counting every calorie burned seems more like trying to find a way to maximize food intake rather than focusing on weight loss.

    It's better to count less calories burned rather than more if you're trying to lose weight. Always estimate on the low side and ignore things that are minor. You'll benefit more from that approach.
  • Abby_C2014
    Abby_C2014 Posts: 86 Member
    PAtinCO wrote: »
    No offense but being that meticulous about counting every calorie burned seems more like trying to find a way to maximize food intake rather than focusing on weight loss.

    It's better to count less calories burned rather than more if you're trying to lose weight. Always estimate on the low side and ignore things that are minor. You'll benefit more from that approach.
    I am with PATinco. I wish there is a like button for this answer.

  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    Some of us have really dirty habitskpzbtwu00w8b.jpg