Saturday, January 29, 2022

Saturday Shape Up-Cleaning for Calories

     


     I promised myself yesterday I was going to get my house cleaned. Now I do not have a Fit Bit or any other  wrist pedometer, and I can't see carrying my cell phone around all day. I'll just have to trust that many of the actions and movements that come with cleaning my house will also result in a a little calorie burning action as well. Just to try and  determine, I found this nifty article: Burn More Calories While Cleaning Your House. 


  • Vacuuming-Depending on my weight, I can burn between 99 calories and 166 for every 30 minute I push that sucker around on my carpets. Reaching for that cob web, stretching behind and underneath a couch in stretch and lunge positions, who needs a membership to a health club.
  • Sweeping and scrubbing the kitchen and entry floors- I couldn't specifically find this, but I'm going to assume this is on the same line as the vacuuming. I have a decent amount of floor space, and if I am really serious, I should get on my hands and knees and get those corners.
  • Those overdue bathrooms? I can count 4 calories burned for each minute I spend wiping counters and walls, scrubbing grout and toilet bowls, and again sweeping and mopping the floors. The bathrooms are usually a good 30 minute job each-so 240 calories. Whoo hoo!
  • Dusting the furniture will give me a return of 87 calories for every 30 minutes. I've got dusting area in the living room, dining room, entry, and family room.
  • Changing multiple bed lines- There goes another 167 calories when I strip both my bed, the extra room bed, wash and then remake them. We also get to sleep in fresh sheets and that's a bonus win.
     I'm going to stop there. I figure this is a good solid three hours of steady housework. That should get me closer to enjoying my house, and if my math is right, I'd have burned upwards of 900 calories. That's a nice way to think about the housework that I hate. It's likely much higher estimate than I'll actually burn, so I'm not going to be eating Snicker bars and ice cream for lunch, but it is motivation to build more movement whenever I can every day-and not let 
the dust bunnies build up.

I feel like I've been a bit salty in posts and comments. I'm feeling the January crabbiness and am hearing and reading passive agressive banter, whether there or not. I need a good work out to knock the mental cobwebs along with those in my house. Here's one final thought that ties a clean house to a clear mind. 

21 comments:

  1. That is a good way to look at housework. You can burn a lot of calories doing it. Good luck and enjoy your weekend.

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    1. I didn't get sheets stripped and beds redone so that'll be today's work out.

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  2. Anything that creates motivation to do housework is a win, in my book!

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    1. Motivation, not quite but helps the mindset. Cobweb is gone!

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  3. Perhaps I should start vacuuming every day. :) I do know that when I first retired (and after I returned from my vacation) I did a whole lot more housework and I did drop some weight so it obviously has an impact.

    As you say, the bonus is a clean house to enjoy. And who doesn't love fresh clean linens?

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    1. I ran out of time for linens so will extend my work out to today. I had errands to run that took longer than I intended.

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  4. That's great, exercise and your house looks all the better for it!
    I don't own a vacuum cleaner, getting on my knees with a dustpan and brush is the best workout going! xxx

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    1. Oh, my knees will tell if that was a regular way to clean. Things like better though when we really get into the corners.

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  5. well, I guess I burned about 100 calories vacuuming this morning, then!

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    1. I figure it adds up. I need to build more cleaning and more exercise into my life anyway.

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  6. Using your figures I reckon I burned a whole 10 calories today then!

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    1. Haha. I'm sure more than that, but maybe it's a start. What was your 10 calorie job?

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  7. I am not sure changing chores into calories expended is enough of a motivation for me.

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    1. It really was an excuse to say I worked out.

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  8. Hey, housework is a good workout.so is yard work and gardening. I have to admit that I don't like January. It is hard for me to stay up and with the virus on top of that, it has just been crap. But I bet your house is sparkly so that makes me happy for you!

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    1. I dislike both yardwork and gardening as much as housework! Sparkly is not the right word. Maybe passable.

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  9. Throw your phone in your back pocket - you'll probably be amazed at how many steps you take.

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    1. No back pocket in yoga pants, but I can estimate.

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  10. I read this post this morning and thought I really should join you and start a good deep clean. My house hasn't had a serious deep cleaning since I did my big deep clean and declutter last year. Well I wandered off to get some breakfast thinking I'd wait until after I'm done with this job before starting real a deep clean. I came back to comment and discovered my internet and cable were down, expected time of service restoration 1am! I joined you and did some good deep cleaning after all - and thankfully internet was restored about 15 minutes ago, just in time to call it quits and relax for the evening. I hope you got everything done that you wanted to do! Enjoy the rest of the weekend. :)

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    1. I got some things tackled, but there's always more. Bed linens got pushed to today.

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  11. I wear bright red lipstick on such days! Arilx

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