Cleaning? Exercise?

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Replies

  • KemahSunshine
    KemahSunshine Posts: 71
    I would also like to mention that I have one house that I clean that is 5,700 Sq feet..... 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, an office, game room, great room, kitchen, dining room, formal dining room, living room & formal living room... So, for those who think house cleaning cant be work... I beg to differ!!! :laugh:
  • significance
    significance Posts: 436 Member
    I don't log dishes, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom. I do log getting up on the roof and cleaning the solar panels, moving all the furniture and scrubbing the floor and anything that really feels like exercise. If I spend 8 hours day on my feet in the kitchen cooking a dinner party extravaganza, I'll log a few hours of that, but not the whole time. My MFP activity level is set to sedentary (I have a desk job), but I think the MFP cleaning calorie estimates are over-estimates for me, since I'm fairly fit and active.
  • ki4yxo
    ki4yxo Posts: 709 Member
    Cleaning exercise?? Hmmm this makes me wonder...is SEX an exercise. (lol) I mean if you are only getting IT once in a blue moon do you log it??? (Sorry couldnt help myself) :blushing:


    Only if you're doing it right.

    I logged it the other morning. Almost a 1/2 hour with
    my BPM at around 150-160'sh. I put down 20 minutes
    at walking 4 miles per hour. :happy:
  • it_be_asin
    it_be_asin Posts: 562 Member
    If it makes you feel superior think that I'm just trying to get "extra calories" or find an excuse not to work out, then you can go ahead and think it.

    The reality is that I work out 5 days a week, walk everywhere I go (no car), and every day I do a large amount of cooking and cleaning. I log every second of it, and I eat back all my exercise calories too. *shrug* Never had a problem reaching my goals or fitting into those size 2 pants.

    I totally agree. Same for me. You can't argue with 34 26 34.
  • harrietlg
    harrietlg Posts: 239
    no I never do and it really annoys me that I know someone who logs it as burning 1000 calories because it took her 3 hours to do it :s

    i'm a chef, i spend everyday cleaning and running around but my profiles set to active so i already have the deficit!
  • Sul3i
    Sul3i Posts: 553 Member
    I do sometimes if I feel it was a workout but I'm not one that stays home or even cleans everyday... I don't count my job obviously that's just everyday living & if I were someone who stayed home I wouldn't log my everyday stuff... imo its my body my diary no one elses business n I find it strange if anyone would b annoyed at what I log and don't log... just sayin to those above who judge
  • hunnyspice
    hunnyspice Posts: 80 Member
    When I rearranged our pantry I logged it and when I moved all my stuff from one bedroom to another I also counted it. It's not something I do every day or every week even. If it happens less than 2x a year I'll count it as "exercise" but I don't log the exact times I was doing it for. I've only logged half of the time it took me. I don't count doing the dishes, cooking, doing laundry, etc. That's normal stuff that my body is used to.
  • wwww1199
    wwww1199 Posts: 228 Member
    My fiancee works a second job as a cleaning person. I think he should count it as exercise!
  • SithZombie
    SithZombie Posts: 165 Member
    I feel like it's cheating to count cleaning/housework =\
  • n8vchick77
    n8vchick77 Posts: 114 Member
    I personally have never logged my cleaning as a calorie burn although I do get sweaty I choose not to. I'd rather log in something I enjoy as a calorie burn. lol not that I hate cleaning ...wait I do hate it! lol
  • MaximalLife
    MaximalLife Posts: 2,447 Member
    I feel like it's cheating to count cleaning/housework =\
    It's what some people do who don't want to get out and do real exercise.
  • jdhosier
    jdhosier Posts: 315 Member
    What is "cleaning"?
  • thershey
    thershey Posts: 57 Member
    I count it on Saturday and Sunday when I am really cleaning my whole house and going up and down the steps doing laundry. During the week I have a sit down job so my activity level is set at mostly sitting. If I am just picking up during the week I do not count it. I definately count running the sweeper or sweeping and mopping floors because that takes extra energy and you are using muscles you do not usually use.
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    Do you guys count cleaning as exercise?
    Usually, no.
    Exercise is exercise, and house cleaning to some is nothing but an excuse not to do real cardio.
    Just evaluate your own motives, because it's different for each person.

    I consider it a part of my daily activity except when I mop, wearing an 80 pound vest.

    You better believe I am logging that in!

    You sound like a sour sort of person, maximal.

    I set my activity level to "sedentary" and then logged anything I did for 30 minutes that raised my heartrate, and then I ate it. 45 minutes cleaning, I ate it. I ate mowing the verge - man, how I ate anything in the garden; pruning, weeding, anything.

    What matters is that you set your activity level to what is appropriate and then you log your exercise accordingly. If I had set mine to "moderate" I would not have logged those things.
  • elizabeth1222
    elizabeth1222 Posts: 51
    Does Housekeeping count? I usually work six hour five days a week and I feel like I had a total workout.:drinker:
  • netsirk12
    netsirk12 Posts: 220 Member
    I do. But I also play music, dance and do squats ect while cleaning. Theres no reason why we cant do squats while folding laundry and putting away dishes.
  • LooseWheel
    LooseWheel Posts: 211 Member
    Yes. Put my heart rate monitor on to do vacuuming, washing and mowing and each one of those burns different cals that can be added :)
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Great explanation here.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/291071-activity-level-and-logging-exercise
  • laineylynnfit
    laineylynnfit Posts: 369 Member
    IMO, I don't consider 'regular' cleaning as exercise. Yes, you burn calories but when I think about logging exercise, I think about intense exercising that you doing to lose weight, not an everyday activity. I'm not sure that the calories burned when you type in like "light-duty cleaning" etc. is accurate but again, that's just my opinion!
  • netsirk12
    netsirk12 Posts: 220 Member
    Does Housekeeping count? I usually work six hour five days a week and I feel like I had a total workout.:drinker:


    yes I have my own cleaning buisness but I put that I have more of an active life style and rarely log it. If its my own house I do because I do much more!
  • ZoAnnAlexis
    ZoAnnAlexis Posts: 34
    If it gets your heart rate up, then its exercise. If you are standing in one place washing dishes, probably not going to get that heart pumping. BUT, going up and down the stairs with a laundry basket in tow or sling a vaccum around the house for and extended time, for sure!
  • sms1986
    sms1986 Posts: 113 Member
    No, I only log specific exercise as even being alive burns calories.
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    I do. Because I am single and childless, I live by myself and I am relatively good about cleaning up after myself, so I only need to clean/do laundry once/wk. Saturday mornings I do my cleaning/scrubbing/laundry for about two or three hours and I do break a sweat. Cleaning is usually the majority of my exercise on Saturdays. In the summertime I also add yardwork (lawnmowing, weeding flower beds, etc...) to my Saturday routine.
  • alienblonde1
    alienblonde1 Posts: 749 Member
    Hey if someone logs cleaning as exercise and they are losing what difference does it make?


    Again I don't log it but have buddies who do and they are losing.
  • Luvlynamazing
    Luvlynamazing Posts: 58
    I count it when I due heavy duty cleaning. I cleaned for two hours and only logged it in as one, so that when I do my cardio later in the day it is added in. I only due it about once a week, when I am doing a deep clean of the house, otherwise I don't add it.
  • mab33
    mab33 Posts: 242 Member
    I wish I had time to clean every day. With only two hours awake at home weekdays it's not likely. I may consider adding a thorough cleaning/gardening session on the weekend. But not likely.
  • sammys1girly
    sammys1girly Posts: 1,045 Member
    NO!!!!! When you make your profile it asks about your lifestyle! If you clean everyday it should already be added toward your calories. Sorry but this is a pet peeve of mine! I feel like people are just trying to get extra calories or something. * This is my opinion.*

    Different people have different reasons for logging it...for example, I don't count my everyday cleaning but do clean for an elderly couple for an entire morning once every week and it's constant 3 hrs of scrubbing and moving so I count just that morning, b/c it's not my "usual" daily activity. Although I never count the full 3 hrs, more like 2 to 2.5 so I don't over-estimate on calories.
  • vanilla81
    vanilla81 Posts: 37
    i think it depends on the size of house - if you spend 30 minutes dusting the furniture in a room it does not really mean you exercise... but in exchange if you rub the floors for like the same time i think its a different kind of story - you got my point
  • carolann_22
    carolann_22 Posts: 364 Member
    I do if it's steady deep cleaning for more than an hour. But I have a BodyMediaFit that tells me how much I've burned during that time, so I know I'm fairly accurate.

    ETA: And it's on top of my other exercise, I don't JUST clean and call it my cardio for the day.
  • nikolaim5
    nikolaim5 Posts: 233
    If your goal is weight loss then definitely do NOT count it. It should be accounted for in your initial "activity level" anyways.
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