am i cheating by counting cooking and cleaning as cardio?

I always feel the same way about if I put down calories for when I'm at work! I'm pretty sure that'd be fine, though, because afterall, moving around and cooking in the kitchen is moving around, and you are burning calories. Whenever I add that to my daily count (likewise, to feel like I'm not a terrible person hahaha ) I always try to put it a bit lower than what it might be, so then I still feel as though I need to hit the tredmil or take the dog on a walk.

I'd like to hear other people's opinions on this as well.

Only you can know that, really. On Saturday I cleaned the whole house (2 levels) switched out all the clothes for our family (5 people) from winter to summer, tons of laundry and climbing up to the attic - I logged it because it took 4 hours (I only counted half the calories it said) and I was WIPED out after, I had exercised.

Now last night, I did the kitchen, but it was 15 minutes and I didn't feel like I had done anything, so I didn't log it. If you honestly feel like you've worked out, log it. If you haven't, don't.

I think it also depends on how hard you work when you're cleaning AND what you set your activity level to when you signed up. If your calorie goal is based on being sedentary, then log everything!

I agree with @ladyfacehead! Everything counts and if your up and moving then I say ADD IT. Spice it up a little by turning on the radio and dancing. My sons hates it but when I have a little free time between cooking I make him come and dance with me. Sorry to hear about you sickness....keep your motivation.

IT GETS TIRING BUT I MANAGE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY I KNOW IMMA BE SUCCESFUL

If I bust my butt at work cleaning or even doing housework for a continuous amount of time... I count it! Climbing stairs is great cardio especially if you have a 2 story house, and your laundry room is in the basement and vacuuming or hand scrubbing your floors too! Somedays it doesnt take as much effort so those days dont count, but the days you go crazy doing it all ... yes for sure!

If doing so gives you motivation then it's probably OK to log some of it. Keep in mind that on your MFP settings, you should already have set your daily activity level (sedentary, moderate, etc.) so that level already takes into consideration a certain amount of these activities. Personally, I would only consider logging activities that are over and above the normal activity level for me - doing something like 4 hours of cleaning out a garage, or mowing a lawn, for example. Certainly anything that gets a sweat going and raises your heart level should be counted.

That's just my opinion, (for what it's worth)

my life has been so hectic lately and I've been dealing with a recurrent sinus infection. I haven't worked out in weeks!!! I feel crappy, but I'm really trying to stay in my calorie range. So far, I've been pretty good about it (considering my history). That being said, I've been counting my cooking and cleaning as cardio. I'm trying any way that I can to keep my motivation up to continue counting. I keep thinking that this is cheating. Does anyone have any insight on this? Am I cheating or does this seem accruate?

Counting your cooking as cardio? Seriously?


I'm going to stop right there because I will get in trouble for what I'd really say.

If I vacuum the whole house (three level townhome plus basement) then yes, that's exercise for me. I work up a good sweat doing it. However, I wouldn't count cooking personally. I think part of my problem before I started on MFP was using all my house chores as my exercise. I'd fall into a rut saying "well, I did laundry today and baked muffins, so that's exercise" and it wasn't enough. I wasn't losing weight and didn't feel good about myself. Now I don't use house chores (even vacuuming!) as exercise and I make my butt get up and move *lol* that's just me though

If you have to ask it's probably cheating

I think you know the answer. If it feels like cheating, it's because it is.

I would be pretty cautious about including this as cardio because there are way too many factors that could affect your caloric burn. In addition to this, mfp already allots you extra cals based on your indicated activity level. You can't call yourself "active" and then also log those calories as exercise on top. If you have a fitbit or some other cal tracking device, you may have better luck with this. I just assume my daily activities (housework, cooking, yardwork) are all part of my daily life. Now when I do 45 minutes of cardio, those are getting logged!

Eta: yesterday I did burn 6 calories doing 326 minutes of "clicking mouse, right index finger". What a great burn and yes, I ate those exercise calories back.

Check this site out. I do alot of these moves when I am cleaning. My kids laugh at me while I vacuum!

http://www.cleanmomma.com/

I agree that it helps me to see it from a motivation level. However, I also have my lifestyle set as "sedentary". If you have your lifestyle set above that level, I would avoid counting normal daily tasks as exercise.

At first I counted EVERYTHING...now I try to only count cooking/cleaning when I know I've worked really hard, like done a deep clean on the kitchen, or when I fold laundry and I stand up to do and bend down each time to pick up something to fold. I try to only count times I really feel like I'm exerting myself to clean as calorie burns.

GL with your journey!

I work full time at a desk job so my husband does most of the cooking and we have a cleaner so I definitely count the cleaning and cooking (and gardening) if I do it for more than an hour but I only count an hour as I think the calories are too high. But I only count it because it's not a regular thing.