doing housework.... does this count as exercise?

There is a selection under cardio for cleaning - I think there's heavy cleaning and light cleaning.

If you think your cleaning is a significant effort and you want to count it, that's up to you (just make sure you aren't already taking it into account when you select your activity level).

I am warning you though - this is a hot topic here on MFP. The last two threads I saw that debated this very issue got very heated. So be prepared!

I say if you break a sweat then count it ... if you don't break a sweat, it don't count.

I'm not sure about how well the calories burned are counted within the selections of cleaning seeing as we all burn calories at a different rate so, if you don't have one, see about getting a HRM to give you the correct number. :flowerforyou:

Personally I wouldn't log regular housework as exercise, but that is just for the day-to-day stuff. If I move all the furniture and shampoo the rugs (we're talking 2+ hours easy) I think I'd probably log that. The regular cleaning just doesn't seem to me to be exercise, as I think of it.

I'll second what others said, though, about considering whether you set your activity level to take it into account.

I wear a heart rate monitor when I've a lot to do! Last time I burned over 400cals in 90 miins. If its every day housework I don't bother

I got an HRM last week and wore it this weekend during my deep cleaning and counted it because it is the only exercise I was getting.

cheers for the replies, didn't realise it was a hot topic..... yikes!!!! I was just wondering really as i work nights so don't do housework every day like i do on my days off.

the way i see it is if it's in your normal day to day activity i would never count it e.g
if i walked every day to work and always have i wouldn't count that as exercise i would take it in account when setting my activity level, i had set my activity level at sitting down all day every day i'd count it but i think i set mine as being moderately active (not sure the wording they used) cos i am apart from when feeding baba (like i am now) on my feet most the day picking up toys cleaning spills doing laundry hoovering cooking washing dishes e.t.c it's in my normal day iykwim

I only track intentional exercise. Everything else I consider "normal daily activity". I try to keep in mind that if it's an activity that i did regularly and still managed to get this fat, it's probably not worth counting.

I also agree with being wary of MFP's calorie counts for any cardio exercise, as they tend to be inflated.

It's hard for me to believe you break a sweat doing housework, unless your air conditioning isn't working and it's hot out. Sorry, but I do housework, heavy cleaning housework every weekend (laundry too!) and I don't break a sweat. I think only real exercise should be counted. Like going to the gym and doing cardio classes. You have to really push yourself to get your heart rate up. That's exercise. Just my opinion.

before i started exercising again i was so unfit so yea i'd have sweat when cleaning lol :blushing: not really now though i do a bit when lugging baskets of laundry up and down the stairs and hoovering the stairs, i still don't count it in though lol

Personally I wouldn't log regular housework as exercise, but that is just for the day-to-day stuff. If I move all the furniture and shampoo the rugs (we're talking 2+ hours easy) I think I'd probably log that. The regular cleaning just doesn't seem to me to be exercise, as I think of it.

I'll second what others said, though, about considering whether you set your activity level to take it into account.

I log mine in, especially if I were to clean the whole house on a Sunday (when permitable) and it keeps me busy for hours, back and legs usually aching so I feel like I've been at the gym! Very tired afterwards! I burned something like 600 cals in 5 hours cleaning, but its all dependant on your current weight. I usually do it as "Heavy" for vacuuming and "Light" for like tidying up etc. The way I see it, you may as well log as much as you can when you are not sitting on the couch etc. I log in for cooking, cleaning, ironing and looking after my son (although he's 30lb odd, on here the only option for carrying a baby is 15lb) I definately notice a difference in how I feel once I've done these things, I mean, even carrying my son upstairs kills my arms!!
I don't get a chance to "exercise" per say as in going to the gym as I am at work all day, then my son is in bed at 7:30, myself around 10pm, so in that time I have things such as cleaning, washing, ironing etc... (as well as trying to give myself a break to wind down after work!!) I add these calories in but do try not to want to "eat them"

Meant to ask, does anyone else's hoover feel like they are giving you a hernia! Might be the hoover or my carpets but sometimes it aches like hell! lol:laugh:

If i cleaned my house everyday, i wouldn't count it. But, if you saw my house, you'd know that I do not clean nearly enough.
If it's something you don't normally do and you feel it in your body, i say count it. It's movement and calorie burning!

I don't, and i don't heavy clean everyday. I just count it as "extra" in my mind. For me doing laundry = lugging a basket up and down about 30 steps lol, plus I moved 2 beds etc. I didn't count any of it.

I don't want to get in the habit of "counting it" and using it as excuse for regular exercise. "I don't feel like exercising today.. it's ok, I did 4 loads of laundry, up n down all those steps.." you see where this can lead for some?

On days i may be close to or going over my limit, in my mind I know I did more stuff and so the extra food doesn't bother me as much.

i don't include it unless i'm doing something totally crazy, like cleaning out my garage or washing the floor by hand.

which i'm about to go do now.

I wonder if you might get better results if you just change your profile from sedentary to active? I'm an IT guy and I spend a lot of time on butt...taking breaks every 45 min to stretch, etc and I do at least a hour of hard cardio each day and my results have been amazing. I overestimate the calories I eat and underestimate the calories I burn. This is about results at the end of the day.