Logging 'cleaning' and 'shopping' cals burned etc

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  • JamiroJunior
    JamiroJunior Posts: 139
    I count walking in the mall an activity, it's like you're walking anywhere else. Besides, I'm usually walking there for three hours and I chose 'Leisurely Pace'.
  • chevy88grl
    chevy88grl Posts: 3,937 Member
    I never clean my own house, we pay my MIL to clean for us. So if I actually run the vacuum, sweep and mop floors, dust and clean toilets, then I promise you I will work up a sweat.

    I personally find these kinds of threads insulting and demoralizing. I don't understand WHY anyone else cares what someone logs as exercise. If you have a very obese person who manages to move around their house and do some activity, then why look down on them for logging that as exercise. If same person then complains they are not losing weight and can't understand why, that may be a different story. But to just judge based on what some deem as exercise can be hurtful to those who feel a sense of accomplishment. Try to remember not everyone is in the same place as you.


    I completely agree. I don't understand why people care what strangers log as exercise. I don't log my day to day cleaning stuff. I will, however, log lawn mowing (my lawn mower isn't self propelled and is like pushing a tank through sand) and I will also log long, intense cleaning (like steam cleaning or floor scrubbing on my hands and knees). If I'm breaking a huge sweat, I will log it. I may or may not eat back those calories. It just depends.

    Everyone is on an individual journey and I'm always so baffled as to why other people are worried so much about what someone else is doing. Focus on your own journey, your own goals, your own success and don't worry about what someone else is doing.

    Yep. The only time I WANT people to care about what I am doing is if I ask. If you have a friend that is stalled and they ask your opinion, then that opens up the opportunity for you to state what you think they are doing wrong. Otherwise it's NUNYA.

    Exactly. Unless someone is asking for advice or is commenting about how they aren't losing weight -- what they're doing is no one's business but their own. I don't know -- I guess I just feel like people are far too worried about what everyone is doing and not worried enough about what they are doing.

    I work in a very active job - so I don't count a whole lot as extra exercise. I know that my body is used to being in almost constant motion. However, if I'm doing something completely out of the ordinary - I may or may not log it (I switched jobs last week and was doing an even more physical job than my usual one - I didn't log any of it.
  • 1WorkoutAtATime
    1WorkoutAtATime Posts: 719
    I totally agree..
  • spookiewon
    spookiewon Posts: 59 Member
    What we define as excercise for some of us who were athletes in a prior life will be different than those with actual illnesses and disabilities.

    Thank you. For many of us walking and/or moving at all is exercise. I have peripheral neuropathy from my cancer treatment, and if I can tolerate the pain of walking OR cleaning, I have worked out. The gentleman who claims that this is NOT exercise has obviously been blessed with better health than I was.

    Good on your wife! And it's great that she found a spouse who understands that some things are more difficult for her and acts accordingly. I hope she appreciates you!
  • AP2o12
    AP2o12 Posts: 20
    I spend most of the day sitting in an office, so I chose the sedentary lifestyle but I also work at a gym 2x a week and I'm constantly cleaning machines, moving around heavy equipment, and re-racking weights and I work up a sweat! I definitely log those cleaning calories but I don't count my day-to-day routine. I've also wondered how accurate the calories burned are, so I always underestimate to stay on the safe side. I'd say if it's anything out of the normal routine though it's ok to count it!
  • Raclex
    Raclex Posts: 238
    A calorie burnt is a calorie burnt.

    Do you log sex :blushing: ? Hey, at the end of the day, it all adds up!
  • SherriH69
    SherriH69 Posts: 27
    I work at a sedentary job and for me, any cleaning or housework IS exercise. I usually adjust the calories burned to LESS though. I do feel MFP's estimate is skewed.
  • julie204
    julie204 Posts: 130
    I HAVE JUST DONE A 3 HOUR BIG CLEAN OF MY HOUSE AS I DONT USUALLY JUST FOR A GENERAL CLEAN DONT FORGET WE ARE BURNING CALS ALL THE TIME SO SOMTHING THAT YOU DONT DO ALL THE TIME LIKE A BIG CLEAN THEN I THINK ITS GOOD TO LOG IT
  • jmxxiiii
    jmxxiiii Posts: 231 Member
    Every movement counts, no need to be so crass about it.
  • spookiewon
    spookiewon Posts: 59 Member
    I don't add cleaning, deep down I know I'm moving which is better than sitting on the couch. Why do you want to give yourself credit for burning calories, so you can eat more? Personally I rather under estimate workouts, cardio etc and take the pounds off the scale.

    Too each there own.

    There's a good bit of evidence that this can backfire on you. I overestimate calories eaten to ensure I don't accidentally go over, but it's been demonstrated that overall you lose more and keep it off better if you eat back exercise calories rather than making them extra weight loss. Starving just complicates the problem of weight loss.
  • samantha0176
    samantha0176 Posts: 67 Member
    i only log cleaning on the days that i spent 3-5hrs cleaning...and i only do light cleaning for 45 min or 1hrs instead of putting the 4 hrs or so i spent on cleaning the house.....and if i am walking at the mall shopping for few hours i do log it as walking slow 2m/h because i am walking what is the difference between walking in the mall or outside? if i am shopping for 3hrs i only put 1.5hrs though...:o) happy shoppping and cleaning! :o)
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    Don't log this in.
    It's NOT exercise.

    What a classically male attitude!

    Not all males *ahem*cough*thisguy*cough*
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I probably should log those things since I've set my lifestyle to sedentary. But I don't.
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    i recently did a very big cleaning of my flat which took a couple of hours and i did log it. if it was the minor clean that i do every weekend, i personally wouldnt bother.

    i have logged the walking on my shopping trip before as well. as far as i am concerned, i was doing something out of the ordinary. it is not everyday i walk around the shops for a few hours. i think i deserve credit for it!

    i noticed a couple people on my friend list logging "food preparation/cooking" and "ironing". i think this is abit extreme. i cant imagine these 2 activities burning enough calories to make much of a difference
  • jsv454
    jsv454 Posts: 30 Member
    I have hardwood floors, so scrubbing them on my hands and knees definitely counts as a workout for me, and so does moving heavy furniture (by myself) to clean the floors underneath. By the time I am done, I have sweat pouring off me, so yes, I log an activity like that. Sweeping, dusting, washing dishes-- not so much.
  • suavequeen
    suavequeen Posts: 273 Member
    I log cleaning as cardio on weekends because my second job is constant walking, cleaning, heavy lifting, and washing dogs for 8 hrs. I only log 5 hrs of it just in case. My normal routine on weekdays is sitting at a desk so it changes my "normal mode".
  • Suziq2you
    Suziq2you Posts: 396 Member
    Don't log this in.
    It's NOT exercise.

    Says who?
  • Amber82479
    Amber82479 Posts: 629 Member
    If I do a heavy cleaning, all day type cleaning marathon, then yes, I log it... Otherwise, I usually don't... I guess I figure it just gives me a bit of a buffer for days I might go over a bit.
  • Klein1475
    Klein1475 Posts: 248 Member
    I agree with some of what you are saying but not all... Out of complete respect I say this... Our cleaning day is on Sundays... That is when everything gets cleaned from baseboards, ceiling fans, floors, walls, scrubbing, etc... I DO have my heart rate monitor on while I am working my butt off... I will burn around 700 to 800 calories if not more during this time but it takes me hours to do that... I am a sweaty mess when done... The other time I will log is if I am gardening b/c you kick some major calories and use muscles you haven't used in a long time... I also wear my heart rate monitor for that as well...

    I DO NOT log for walking around my house, going to the grocery store, washing dishes, sweeping the floor at night which takes 10 minutes...

    I also DO NOT eat workout calories... I don't do it to eat more...

    thank you for hearing me out... Have a great day...
  • thankyou4thevenom
    thankyou4thevenom Posts: 1,581 Member
    Don't log this in.
    It's NOT exercise.

    You've either never cleaned in your life or never done it properly. Cleaning is physically hard work when done properly.
  • Helenatrandom
    Helenatrandom Posts: 1,166 Member
    Cooking as a daily activity, no (unless I'm so exhausted I would have ordered take out pre mfp under similar circumstances).. Cooking Thanksgiving Dinner all by myself, including setting the table? You bet! I know mfp is off, so I only count for 25% of the time spent cooking. Same for cleaning. Day to day chores don't get logged, but preparing for company does, at 25% of time spent.
    It is not my intention to eat back these exercise calories, but to remind myself that even if I was too busy and tired to go to the gym, I was still physically active and don't deserve to feel guilty.
    Do I praise someone for calories burned cooking and cleaning? Why not? I don't know that they didn't work at it intensely. They are the best judge as to whether it should count as exercise for them!
  • Redneckdarling
    Redneckdarling Posts: 8 Member
    I am loging my cleaning to day cause I am steamcleaning the carpents and pretty much doing an over haul on my house. we had to spray for pest so this is not some thing i do day to day. i steam clean my carpets once a year and that means moving everything and taking stuff apart i dont go around things. So yes cleaning like that I will log. Shopping on the other hand it depends on what it is if i go to the mall then maybe (how long I am there.) It just depends on the person if they want to log it or not. About the over estimateing you cant do anything really about that they are just hurting them selfs in the long run.
  • 4thehardman
    4thehardman Posts: 731 Member
    I can tell you, trying to squeeze my butt into size smaller jeans definately burns calories!

    More seriously though, some people that do that may not yet be sure which 'activity level' they are to get an accurate calorie goal from MFP, if they are sedentary then they should log everything.

    Try not to be so judgmental though. I don't really see why it bothers you so much.

    Im not being judgemental and it doesnt bother me, I am using this forum to ask an opinion on something, which is what is for!!!

    You are being judgemental. Call it what you want but yes you are. Why are you using this forum to ask a question about other peoples business when it has no bearing on your own life and weight loss? This forum is not for that. You might want to try www.thisismyjudgmentofothersbecauseIknowbest.com/forums

    This is a website and the forum's purpose is to discuss things like this, if you have a problem with people asking opinions and want to try and turn a simple question and post into an argument maybe you should stay away from it!!!!

    I am simply saying its not your business how anyone else logs their exercise.
    I also think that the purpose of the forums is to discuss weight/fitness/health as it is relevent to us and our journeys. This thread is not that, it is a blatant attack on how other people log their exercise.
    If it is a discussion that directly affects your journey then please share how and maybe we can share our stories of how the way we log our exercise helps us as individuals and give our opinions on good ways to improve logging for maximum results. Otherwise I'm afraid, intentional or not, your OP comes across as judgemental and I was not the only one who picked up on that. If it was not your intention then perhaps you could change the wording to avoid further misunderstandings?
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    I used to log cleaning and house chores, but I would only count things like yard work or vigorous cleaning i.e. scrubbing, vacuuming, etc. I would also underestimate my calories burned. Now, I don't log any of those calorie expenditures at all. I count those as part of my daily activity. I only log workouts.

    Logging shopping as a workout... is pretty ridiculous. It's not a deliberate and heart rate raising workout, in my opinion (unless you're battling other Black Friday shoppers, or something, then maybe...). I push myself HARD physically and mentally when I workout. The only "pushing" I do when shopping or cleaning doesn't even come CLOSE to my gym workouts, therefore, I don't count it.
  • spookiewon
    spookiewon Posts: 59 Member
    A calorie burnt is a calorie burnt.

    Do you log sex :blushing: ? Hey, at the end of the day, it all adds up!

    Yes! Not often enough, though!
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    A calorie burnt is a calorie burnt.

    Do you log sex :blushing: ? Hey, at the end of the day, it all adds up!

    Yes! Not often enough, though!

    That's another one of those things that (even though it's NOT an every day activity sometimes... grrr) I just would rather include in my daily calorie expenditure.
  • spookiewon
    spookiewon Posts: 59 Member
    I used to log cleaning and house chores, but I would only count things like yard work or vigorous cleaning i.e. scrubbing, vacuuming, etc. I would also underestimate my calories burned. Now, I don't log any of those calorie expenditures at all. I count those as part of my daily activity. I only log workouts.

    Logging shopping as a workout... is pretty ridiculous. It's not a deliberate and heart rate raising workout, in my opinion (unless you're battling other Black Friday shoppers, or something, then maybe...). I push myself HARD physically and mentally when I workout. The only "pushing" I do when shopping or cleaning doesn't even come CLOSE to my gym workouts, therefore, I don't count it.

    I sure do wish enduring the pain of walking to shop and clean wasn't something that wasn't "pushing." I push myself, too, but it's to even move; because even moving causes me excruciating pain. Acting like you're somehow special because you "push yourself hard" ...is pretty ridiculous.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    I used to log cleaning and house chores, but I would only count things like yard work or vigorous cleaning i.e. scrubbing, vacuuming, etc. I would also underestimate my calories burned. Now, I don't log any of those calorie expenditures at all. I count those as part of my daily activity. I only log workouts.

    Logging shopping as a workout... is pretty ridiculous. It's not a deliberate and heart rate raising workout, in my opinion (unless you're battling other Black Friday shoppers, or something, then maybe...). I push myself HARD physically and mentally when I workout. The only "pushing" I do when shopping or cleaning doesn't even come CLOSE to my gym workouts, therefore, I don't count it.

    I sure do wish enduring the pain of waking to shop and clean wasn't something that want' "pushing." I push myself, too, but it's to even move; because even moving causes me excruciating pain. Acting like you're somehow special because you "push yourself hard" ...is pretty ridiculous.

    Your comment on my post is pretty uncalled for and wrongly presumes that I don't understand that other people do have to work harder at more routine activities. I explained my personal reasons for not logging certain cleaning and daily chore activities. I'm not claiming that I'm special. I simply set the bar higher for myself. What you want to do is your own business. I'm certainly not trying to compare the value of my workouts to someone else's. I never judged, just stated my opinion in response to the OP's question. What's so wrong with that?
  • abbigail_r
    abbigail_r Posts: 283 Member
    I only log if I did vigorous out of the norm cleaning. but yeah I dont agree with those that log all cals. The minimum amount you are given is to offset the ones you should be burning normally...
  • pftjill
    pftjill Posts: 488
    I don't log things like that, because honestly most people over estimate what they are burning which means they usually eat more than they should. However I have a pretty active lifestyle so I figure it is included.
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