What do you count as exercise?

I'm the same way. I play outside with my kids pretty much every single day, sometimes for hours and I used to log it as walking or something, but it was too difficult to really calculate because sometimes I really chase them around and sometimes I kind of stand around and watch them play. I sort of felt like it was holding me back somewhat in my weight loss goals by trying to convince myself I was burning a lot of calories, when maybe I really wasn't. Now I only log true, intentional exercise and I feel like it's making a difference.


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I log cleaning and gardening as long as my heart rate goes up. Yesterday I hauled brush to the fire pit for about 45 mins and then raked out flower beds for another 45, I actually decided to do that instead of going to the gym. Cleaning I only count when it is the out of the ordinary stuff like moving furniture and washing all the windows. Everyday things like, working, grocery shopping, and laundry will never make it onto my exercise list.

I said earlier, I count cleaning, I don't count mundane things like dishes, or washing laundry. I count it if it tires me out, and I feel all sweaty and just pooped out afterwards. Like, last week, the daycare I work at had to close due to sickness. We all had to come in a scrub the joint from top to bottom, I counted that as 4 hours of "light, cleaning" cause It was a lot of work, it was actually 6.5 hours, but since, towards, the end I did a lot of sitting, I was realistic and skimmed some time off.

To each their own, I count this stuff because, before this year, I'd maybe get up and clean twice a year, I never folded up laundry, it sat next to my bed separate from the dirty laundry, I'd let trash pile up and then when the odor got too much, I'd take out sometimes 10-20 full bags at a time. I know it sounds gross. I'm getting better, last time I cleaned I only had to take out 4 bags of trash, It only takes about an hour to fold and hang up laundry, whereas before I would take 3-6 hours, cause I'm washing more often. I will admit, I'm a lazy slob! I'm changing that, so judge me all you want.

I mean, I burned 296 calories just cleaning yesterday, and that was more than a lot of people did when they counted their actual "exercise," so you see why I counted that. Because it's a LOT and I worked HARD.

I mean, I burned 296 calories just cleaning yesterday, and that was more than a lot of people did when they counted their actual "exercise," so you see why I counted that. Because it's a LOT and I worked HARD.

how was that calculated? if it was by heart rate monitor thats one thing but id be skeptical if it was MFPs numbers. they are off.,

I mean, I burned 296 calories just cleaning yesterday, and that was more than a lot of people did when they counted their actual "exercise," so you see why I counted that. Because it's a LOT and I worked HARD.

how was that calculated? if it was by heart rate monitor thats one thing but id be skeptical if it was MFPs numbers. they are off.,

My heart rate monitor. I spent an hour cleaning as hard as FAST as I could because my newborn doesn't sleep very long and I really needed to get it done! Lol. Mfp said I burned a bit less than my hrm did.

I count intentional exercise, but if we spend a saturday doing spring yard work or fall cleanup, I would count that as very low impact aerobics (as I'm usually sweating). This is only a 5 or so times a year that I would add something extra like that. I will go and jump rope for 20 minutes for an extra latte though. lol

My pedometer tells me how many calories I burn (based on my height and weight), how many steps I took and the distance, and speed. So if I'm walking around the mall for hours, you bet I'm going to count that. Otherwise I only count workout DVD's and other intentional exercise. I don't bother counting anything else.

I think it depends on your level of fitness what your body considers exercise.

When I was on MFP a few years ago and was obese and sedentary I did log things like cleaning, shopping walking the dog etc. But because of my weight and poor fitness there was alot of effort involved in these tasks and they'd all increase my heart rate quite abit.

Now I'm 70lbs lighter, fit and with an active job where I walk 4-7 miles a day and what I've log has changed. I do not log any walking as my HRM suggests that this doesn't increase my heart rate that much or burn that many calories. I just set my profile to lightly active and then log my gym workouts, classes and DVD's.

I don't count the supermarket or shopping trips. Mostly I too count "intentional" exercise. I also count something like mowing the lawn. So far that's the only non-intentional exercise I've counted. If I happen to be at a mall and have some extra time, I may walk around for 10-20 minutes and count that. I try not to count anything where I feel I've moved at less than 3 mph.

usually just intentional excercize but sometimes on the weekends I count my cooking and some cleaning..I cook and bake for the entire week alot of saturdays & sundays so it does add up!

I have been counting exercise I do at the gym, or an outdoor walk, or exercise video as exercise...basically, anything I do as intentional exercise. Now that I have been here awhile, I do see others putting in cleaning, gardening, grocery shopping, even sitting at a desk all day as exercise. So where is the line on what is exercise? Things we do to break a sweat? - sports games, heavy cleaning or gardening, etc seem to be okay to me, but grocery shopping? What do you count as exercise?

I put in anything that is out of the ordinary to my day which for me is intentional exercise like my workout dvd's going for a long walk e.t.c
Cleaning e.t.c is something I do everyday and always have I don't see it as exercise as such

I do not count cleaning as exercise. However, today I did pull a lot of weeds (four bags worth!) and hauled heavy branches so I did consider that since it was really super taxing.

I put myself as sedentary...so I get the least calories. But at work I am sitting, however from the minute I get home I am not sitting still.Im stacking wood, straightening the house for 10 minutes, grooming horses.... If I have a no formal exercise day, I log some of my daily stuff to make myself see I AM doing SOMETHING but I am careful not to eat those calories back unless I 'have to'.

I only log intentional exercise. I am set up as sedentary. I worked in the yard this morning for two hours trimming hedges, cutting down bushes, pruning and raking. I also bagged 5 bags of leaves and debris. And picked up two trash cans full of branches that I had trimmed. I won't be counting and of that.

I am headed to the gym in a few minutes and I will log whatever I burn when I am there.

It's my personal decision to not log anything that I have not done as intentional exercise. This is my lifestyle change and I will be cleaning house and doing yardwork for the rest of my life. I won't be using it as an excuse to eat more.