Housework: The Hidden Workout Routine

          

So you have this CRAZY schedule and you don't have time to even think about working out!  Well have you ever thought about how many calories you may be burning and how much of a workout you might really be getting while doing your household chores?  Well let's think...what's you typical list of chores?


Vacuuming Livingroom/Diningroom/Hallways/Bedrooms
Unloading/Reloading the Dishwasher
Cleaning Kitchen
Cleaning the Bathroom/Linen Closet
Making the Beds
Laundry (washing, drying, folding, and putting away)
Dusting (I know!  I hate it too!  All Horizontal surfaces throughout home.)
Washing Windows
Rearranging Furniture
Picking Up Scattered Clothes/Toys
Grocery Shopping (including unloading car and putting away groceries)
Washing the Family Car
Sweeping

Now remember in a previous post I said to use a pedometer to track how far you actually go in a day?  Well wouldn't this be a perfect time to do that.  How many miles do you think you can rack up scurrying throughout your home on cleaning day?


Approximate Calories burned within a half hour of household activities:

Vaccuuming--119
 Dishes--78
Cleaning the Kitchen (deep cleaning..cupboards included)-179
Cleaning the Bathroom (scrubbing toilets and Showers)--Just a guess..Couldn't find it!!!-160
Making beds (I know that it doesn't take 30 mins)--63
Laundry-73 (This may not include the various trips to your kids' rooms and other areas to drop off clean clothing!!!)
Dusting(light)- 79 (so deep clean dusting could be more!!)
Washing Windows- 149 (WOW!!!)
Rearranging Furniture--204
Picking up scattered clothes/ toys--95
Grocery Shopping--167 (in one hour)....now you know that this takes longer than an hour!!!  :)
Washing the Family Car--102
Sweeping--79

Crazy right!!!???  Another good way to keep track of all the movement you are doing is to get a pedometer, and if you can afford the luxury, maybe a wrist watch that monitors your pulse can show you how much you are actually doing!!!

Funny all the ways we can get a workout in!!!  Remember before starting a big project like spring cleaning, to stretch and warm your muscles up to avoid a sprained or pulled mucle.  Remember when lifting heavy items such as furniture or heavy grocery bag, lift with you legs and not your back to avoid injuring your back.  This can take weeks or even months to heal and can put a serious cramp in your Spring Cleaning plans!!!