Information about housework for weight loss on the net

I have been spending some of the quiet periods at work researching the net for other people who have considered this concept of house cleaning as a viable exercise regimen.

I came across this video, which I found to be rather amusing in which a man claims that he lost 2,389 calories doing a 5 hour ceiling to floor scrub of his bathroom. Judging by his other videos, he seems to embark on a number of challenges in which attempts to "break records", so I'm guessing that was his goal. It's interesting though to see a man view housework in this way. I have memories of trying to "trick" my incredibly slovenly ex boyfriend to clean up, by telling him it would help him get rid of his gut (he was complaining about his gut at the time). He never even acknowledged the idea.

There's a lot of useful tips in this video segment from a British TV show Kerri-Anne. Tips include: squatting, exercise with a timer, use music. They also show floor scrubbing, which from my experience leaves me heaving and drenched in sweat, so I know that will be one of the things I try to shoot for on a regular basis.

This following user uploaded video on YouTube has some fun with the idea in a tongue and cheek dance infused cleaning "routine". I think it's great, because I plan on dancing while I clean as well.

Also on YouTube it appears someone has taken the time to create a "housework mixtape" of electronic music. Regardless of what you think of the music, I love the idea of making pre-set mixtapes for the cleaning sessions, the same way one would for a trip to the gym or a jog.

Here's a British Nivea skincare video recommending the housework workout method. I'm noticing a definite trend with the British and this idea.

This woman folds her laundry while on a recumbent exercise bike. I have an exercise bike, but mines not recumbent and that makes me bummed now.

Here is a list of other blog post and online articles:

A Clean Home = Exercise = Weight Loss By Jan Hayner

Tone up with the housework workout By Susannah Marriott

This claims that it takes "400 calories burned a day to stay in shape". It provides perspective by stating that 30 minutes of vacuuming can burn 105 calories. I've seen sites that list that number as closer to 200. If that's the case, then my planned household routine should burn more than enough, so I'm excited!

Keeping in Shape with Housework By The Fitness and Health Store

It makes reference to the fact that our society seems to like to make things difficult and to chase after things that are right in front of us. It's true that it is funny that we all pay for gym memberships and leave the house for a couple hours when we could be using that time and money towards running around with our kids, or walking the dog, or in my case improving our living conditions by taking care of the house. No need to make things more difficult.

The Housework Fitness Plan by Lana Hollwes

How to Turn your Housework into an Effective Full Body Workout By Astrid Bidanec

This article highlights using tools, such as ankle and wrist weights and resistance bands while cleaning. I don't think I'm there yet, but I will give it some thought.

Spring Cleaning for Fitness By Diet Pulpit

This article actually proposes some math to consider. According to the article, you need to burn 3,500 calories to burn a pound of fat. Additionally they say the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lists cleaning to burn up to 300 calories per hour (I will try to determine an accurate reading for actual calories lost in another post.) That means it would take 12 hours of cleaning a week to lose one pound. I was planning on doing about 9 hours a week of cleaning, so that is a bit discouraging, but then again... I am also planning on changing my diet, so fingers crossed.

Burn Calories Cleaning the House By Sarah Brown

Includes calorie chart.

Think Cleaning isn't Exercise? Think Again. By Brie Cadman

Fascinating article about a research study in which some housekeepers were told housework was exercise, and some were not. The group that THOUGHT of housework as exercise ended up losing more. The article does not explain why this is, but I am going to assume it's because the group that saw it as exercise probably used their bodies in different ways, maybe they held their muscles more tight, maybe they moved with concentrated effort, perhaps the flexed their glutes, or lunged and squatted as they scrubbed, because mentally, they were preparing themselves for this to be a workout. I think concentrated effort such as this will make a huge difference. I can see that actively squatting to pick things up off the floor for instance, would be, and feel mentally, more effective, than say, lazily bending forward. Also includes calorie chart.