Cleaning = burning??
Replies
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I don't log my normal every day cleaning...or even the laundry I have to walk up and down two flights of stairs and across the parking lot to the laundry room atleast 3 times...lol but massive things like moving furniture or scrubbing the floors on my knees or washing the walls..I will log.
I know right i work 5 days a week, with wednesday and sunday off, well i like the sunday to spend time with the family on trips or different activities so the wednesday is my day to clean and do all the chores that i have to do, so sweeping, moping, cleaning the bathroom, washing clothes, i don't have a dryer so i have to hang the clothes, on the roof so i have to walk up and walk down the stairs, still cooking, at the end of the day i feel like i was doing all the excercise of the world, LOL, never post it as excercise, but if i have to i will log too!!!!0 -
for me, I log cleaning when I am doing my weekly maintenance on the photo lab I work in. Some stuff is easy like vacuuming, but other parts involve me dismantling giant printers and vigorously scrubbing the parts in hot water. I do this for two hours every week, and you bet I log it! It's a killer workout. And if I do an intense speed clean of the bedroom I log that too. But washing a few windows? no.0
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The only time I add cleaning or gardening is if i really worked hard. For example last week for gardening I shoveled and moved a full truck of gravel into my back yard. it took all day and I worked really hard I know that i burned more calories then gardening but that was just the closest i could find for my log. Also I am getting read to sell my house so cleaning to me involves moving furniture around , cleaning carpets you get the idea. Anyhow it really is alot of work.0
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If it gives someone a sense of accomplishment, why not? It may seem silly to some, but seeing any and all activity and accomplishments may help to fuel their lifestyle change. I know when I'm productive and in charge of my surroundings, I'm more likely to have the mental and physical energy to be more active.
well said!
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i logged cleaning yesterday, but i only do it when it is something out of the ordinary. With 5 kids I pretty much clean and pick up constantly. Yesterday I pulled the third row seat out of my suv, took out the car seats and drove my truck down to the manual car wash and spent 45 minutes vacuuming out my truck and then washed it (very quickly as you pay by the minute) and then cleaned all the interior trim. I was definitely sweating and my heart rate was up. I did that and wasn't able to go to the gym.
i didnt eat those calories back, but i wanted to log it.
Yes, this. I would count this as exercise as well. It was also take up my work time. I'm a stay at home mom of three preschoolers and my husband is deployed. My exercise can be unconventional, but it's working.0 -
It irks me when people worry so much about what others do. When I had my profile set to sedentary, I logged cleaning as well as insanity works out. Calories burned are calories burned. Sedentary setting doesn't include those calories. In order to keep a moderate deficit, I tracked ALL activity. I've been very successful.
Explain to me how our bodies would know the difference between burning 100 calories from cleaning the kitchen or 100 calories from jogging on the tredmill.
Also, don't assume people who log things like cleaning use it as an "excuse to eat more". Some of us like keeping a moderate deficit so our metabolisms don't suck. I lost slowly with a small deficit and now I can maintain eating over 2000 calories a day. We're not a bunch of fatties looking for excuses to eat.
Well said! I keep my profile set to sedentary...but, I wear a fitbit and capture everything. If a chore or two get calculated within fitbit, so be it...but, I also only eat back about half of what fitbit calculates...and I've had great success so far. If people want to log housework - so be it... to each his own to use this tool - MFP - as they see fit.0 -
I agree with you angelazurcher, and most of the time it's those same people that wonder why after x number of months of being on MFP they're not losing any weight? Hello!!! Just because you burned a few more calories than you would have doing nothing doesn't make it exercise, and if this is the only "exercise" your doing then that's probably why your not losing anything. One of my friends logs EVERYTHING outside of sitting on the couch and has only lost about 10 pounds in almost a year, but can't seem to figure out why, but when you suggest the idea that getting up and walking to the fridge is not exercise everyone jumps all over you for being insensitive or something. REALLY?!?!?!?! If you don't want to hear it then don't complain because you're not losing weight!!!!! Just my 2 cents!!!!!
I think your use of MOST OF THE TIME THOSE SAME people is way out of line considering you have 1 example. I log cleaning. I've lost almost 20lbs since feb (my ticker says 16lbs currently because I had a mega salt fest, it was 18 and will be bak). There ya go, can't say most of anymore, because you have 1 piece of anecdotal evidence in support, and 1 against.0 -
The only time I add cleaning or gardening is if i really worked hard. For example last week for gardening I shoveled and moved a full truck of gravel into my back yard. it took all day and I worked really hard I know that i burned more calories then gardening but that was just the closest i could find for my log. Also I am getting read to sell my house so cleaning to me involves moving furniture around , cleaning carpets you get the idea. Anyhow it really is alot of work.
when i do my garden, i claim weed pulling and digging and posting fences and all that! im so tired after a few hours out there...0 -
if a person is morbidly obese, and they never did these things before its a step in the right direction, just because it doesnt fit ur lifestyle, it doesnt matter. Dont make ur norm a standard, thats ridiculous
it seems like the people that judge the most, hate hearing negativity themselves....0 -
It is up to each person I figure. It doesn't bother me to see someone log it, because they are staying active and burning calories. I don't log it myself. However, this morning I cleaned for two hours and by the time I finished scrubbing the tub there was sweat dripping in my eyes. I was scrubbing a little harder knowing that not only was the house getting all cleaned up, but I was burning some calories too.0
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In my mind set cleaning, yard work, play with the kids,going to costco is just living life not considered exercise. The list of exuses to eat more and not go over the calorie count and then wine about not lossing weight goes on forever. If your hungry truely hungry eat more so you go over your calories for the day, just keep it real.0
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This site is intended for support. So why are people mad when I say blatantly unsupportive things to other people? :sad:I'm a little surprised by the disrespect of some people, when this site is intended for support and discussion. I'm not here to argue with anyone, just to talk. Just relax and be kind.
:noway:0 -
I only log exercising I do "out of the norm". My walk to the bus stop, my walk to work, regular cleaning (sweeping, dishes, etc.), nightly walks, etc. does not count. (Even though I have my activity rate set at sedentary.) If I was to wash the whole floor and do a lot more, then I would log it. Just like I log it if I go on a long walk different than usual. If I go out dancing. If I do exercise DVDs at home. That kind of thing.0
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Personally, I log it but I don't eat back those calories.0
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Because of my job (where some days I'm very active and some days not at all) I have my profile set to sedentary, and then on active days I have a personal exercise I log to show the difference.
When it comes to cleaning, I clean every day, but I don't log it everyday. I log cleaning if I do yard work that is cardiovascular, or indoors if I do something out of the ordinary like steaming, and then I cut the time it took to do the activity, cut it in half, and round down to the nearest hundred (ex 456 becomes 400). I know I did something out-of-the-norm but I don't want to overestimate.0 -
I swear this topic comes up at least once a week!
I don't know any of my MFPals who log exercise JUST so they can eat more. Do you?? Besides, how do you know how much, if anything, they've been able to do? Some people are so obese that all they can do is lift hand weights in bed, let alone walk. For them, cleaning house can be a HUGE accomplishment and IS exercise!!! We are here to SUPPORT people, not to be mean! If you can't support someone who logs cleaning as exercise, delete them as a friend. They can find others who WILL support them.
Don't judge people, it's not nice!
Edited to add: I'm going to log that I burned 50 calories just from reading about this topic.
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I log cleaning but not for actual cleaning... I have a sedentary lifestyle on the whole, but I work part time in a very busy nightclub.
I wouldn't want to change my whole lifestyle setting for a very active job (constantly moving, spinning, lifting heavy things, and dancing) that I do for 6 hours straight a time, but only 3 times a week.
So yeah since I have no idea how many calories 6 hours of that burns, I usually just log 2 hours of light cleaning.
Anybody think this is over or undershooting?0 -
Hello
I just started here a couple of weeks ago, and my life over the past number of years has been sedentary so that is what I set myself at. Yes I cleaned before but now when i do it I tend to do it with more vigour or put on some loud music and dance while i do it. So, I log it and it isn't to eat more at all. In 2 weeks, monitoring my calorie intake and upping the intensity of my cleaning hehe and walking for 25 minutes with my baby in his stroller I have managed to lose 12lbs. (Tuesday will be my update day and I have lost more but 12 is what I have logged so far) I have been in this boat before and ran straight out of the gates and lost weight fast and went to the gym every day, however the difference then was I didn't have 2 small kids so now this is a learning curve for me. It is also a slow and steady journey, making gradual changes so at the end it will be my lifestyle not just a quick fix to lose some weight that will go back on because I couldn't keep up the momentum I started with. We all have our irks, sometimes it is better to think a little because sometimes what seems completely acceptable to you is like slap in the face to people who are here for support and are trying their best to build a healthy lifestyle. Good luck everyone.0 -
I log cleaning but not for actual cleaning... I have a sedentary lifestyle on the whole, but I work part time in a very busy nightclub.
I wouldn't want to change my whole lifestyle setting for a very active job (constantly moving, spinning, lifting heavy things, and dancing) that I do for 6 hours straight a time, but only 3 times a week.
So yeah since I have no idea how many calories 6 hours of that burns, I usually just log 2 hours of light cleaning.
Anybody think this is over or undershooting?
they say a waitress on an average burns apx 500 cals in an 8 hour shift... idk if this helps but its all i got!! lol0 -
Again with this? I have a BMF. It tells me my calorie burn all day, every day (that I wear it). I burn way more cleaning all day (weekends) then I do working out for an hour or two and then going to work..0
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Its actually activity calories IF you are moving you are burning. I do intense workouts but yesterday I did some major cleaning.. you mean to tell me I didn't burn any calories? I wear my HRM while doing weeding and planting in my garden I burned like 100 calories in 20 min. If your body is burning the calories you should log them. I usually don't but its really no harm to you or anyone else if people do.0
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What does it matter what other people do on their profiles? The whole point is for people to make better food choices and to be more active. If cleaning the house makes some people more active, let them log it.0
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In my opinion if people want to log cleaning then that's up to them. I don't let it bother me because each to their own.
I only log cleaning if I have really built up a sweat and feel like I've worked out.
And I don't think that everyone would log it just so they can eat more. I never exercise just so i can eat more, i like to exercise to keep fit and healthy. x0 -
In my mind set cleaning, yard work, play with the kids,going to costco is just living life not considered exercise. The list of exuses to eat more and not go over the calorie count and then wine about not lossing weight goes on forever. If your hungry truely hungry eat more so you go over your calories for the day, just keep it real.
Have you even read the other responses? So, no-one that logs, and 'eats those calories back" it is actually losing weight? Right!0 -
Well if it's an occasional "hard" cleaning, I think it could be counted. For instance the other week I clay barred, polished and sealed my van which took 3 hours to do. All that "wax on wax off" takes a toll on the the body and based on effort, I KNOW I burned at least 300 calories if not a little more doing it.It irks me when people post "cleaning" as their only workout for the day. It just seems like the exercise that should be logged is that intended for the purpose of... exercise? Anyone agree?
I dunno.... I managed to clean my house and work in my yard and remain fat.... Haha. Just a thought. Totally not ridiculing anyone or anything!!
But if it's DAILY cleaning, then it's part of daily life. Like a mailman who walks to deliver mail. He can't count his job that he does as extra exercise.
A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Instructor
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
I agree with you angelazurcher, and most of the time it's those same people that wonder why after x number of months of being on MFP they're not losing any weight? Hello!!! Just because you burned a few more calories than you would have doing nothing doesn't make it exercise, and if this is the only "exercise" your doing then that's probably why your not losing anything. One of my friends logs EVERYTHING outside of sitting on the couch and has only lost about 10 pounds in almost a year, but can't seem to figure out why, but when you suggest the idea that getting up and walking to the fridge is not exercise everyone jumps all over you for being insensitive or something. REALLY?!?!?!?! If you don't want to hear it then don't complain because you're not losing weight!!!!! Just my 2 cents!!!!!
There are a LOT of people who have lost weight doing exactly that. I wear a BMF and I can tell you that cleaning for any decent amount of time burns more than a few calories. I do not log it as I use my BMF - but what on earth does it matter to anyone if someone does. The sedentary settings on MFP give a ridiculously low energy expenditure and most people set them at this. For me, even though I have a desk job, it is under by by a few hundred. Combine that with the usual 1lb a week weight loss goal folks usually have more than 700 calories before they should be gaining weight - do people really log 700 calories a day for cleaning in excess of what they actually do? Because that is what they would need to do for it to be the reason for them not losing weight. The main reason people actually go over is because of not logging food properly - not because of a few hundred calories here and there of cleaning. You have an example of one person who may be being excessive about logging it - but there are a lot of examples of people who are succesful and are doing it. Also, do you really think it is appropriate for the OP or you to complain about it on a public forum. If the 'friend' irritates you by doing it, delete them. Do not call them out on it - that is incredibly rude and unsupportive.0 -
I work as a waiter and chose the appropriate setting (active) and was just wondering if us innately calculates the calories I burn via my job. So I don't log that right?)))))
Thanks guys.0 -
In my mind set cleaning, yard work, play with the kids,going to costco is just living life not considered exercise. The list of exuses to eat more and not go over the calorie count and then wine about not lossing weight goes on forever. If your hungry truely hungry eat more so you go over your calories for the day, just keep it real.
Have you even read the other responses? So, no-one that logs, and 'eats those calories back" it is actually losing weight? Right!
No I haven’t read everyones respons, was only responding to the OP and my experience with those who add every little thing
as calories burned. I do have MFP friend that do exactly what I wrote and when they don’t lose weight they whine about it and
say they might as well quit. Like I said keep it real and log exercise calorie.
I have to say every time I have seen your writings you have been dogmatic and are begening to sound like a
Troll.0 -
I don't log everyday light cleaning, I only log deep cleaning, or moving around furniture. Stuff that makes me sweat.0
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In my mind set cleaning, yard work, play with the kids,going to costco is just living life not considered exercise. The list of exuses to eat more and not go over the calorie count and then wine about not lossing weight goes on forever. If your hungry truely hungry eat more so you go over your calories for the day, just keep it real.
Have you even read the other responses? So, no-one that logs, and 'eats those calories back" it is actually losing weight? Right!
No I haven’t read everyones respons, was only responding to the OP and my experience with those who add every little thing
as calories burned. I do have MFP friend that do exactly what I wrote and when they don’t lose weight they whine about it and
say they might as well quit. Like I said keep it real and log exercise calorie.
I have to say every time I have seen your writings you have been dogmatic and are begening to sound like a
Troll.
You gotta love people that respond to posts disagreeing with them by accusing them of being a troll. Apparently anyone who does not agree with you must be a troll. Do you even know what a troll means? Apparently not - I would suggest you look it up.
So, you friends must really like your comment on a public forum - way to go with the support.0
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