Yummie Mummie

Everything Counts

Think about this: no-one is stationery all the time. We are all moving constantly so if you are counting calories as you get back into the shape you want, here is something to keep in mind. All the things that make up your day count as activity and burn calories! See, it's easier than you thought.

Ok maybe your DD [delicious daddy] should wash the car, do the yard and mow the lawn, but a lot of the rest of it is undertaken by you yummiemummies!

This might throw a new light on what you used to think were chores but now see as fun activities. Well maybe not FUN but certainly helpful in your fitness quest.

Type of housework

Calories burned per half-hour

Add light calisthenics (119 cal.)

Add disco dancing (153 cal.)

Add jogging in place (272 cal.)

Doing laundry

73

192

226

345

Making the bed

68

187

221

340

Cooking

85

204

238

357

Washing the dishes

78

197

231

350

Ironing

78

197

231

350

Dusting

85

204

238

357

Sweeping

112

231

265

384

Vacuuming

119

238

272

391

Scrubbing the floors

129

248

282

401

Rearranging furniture

204

323

357

476

Yard work

170

289

323

442

Washing windows

102

221

255

374

Washing the car

102

221

255

374

Gardening

136

255

289

408

Mowing the lawn

187

306

340

459

Raking

146

265

299

418

Carrying a small child (up to 7kg) up and down stairs

289

408

442

561

So how many calories does grocery shopping burn? No-one really knows but I think it must be up there with carrying a child!

I am not sure how disco dance grocery shopping would be viewed by the shop owner but it sounds like it might be a fun way to de-stress! If you intend speed shopping then you just increased the number of calories you have used. Plus you can home earlier for a well earned coffee!

Chasing your kids through the house or the back yard (and what about the shopping centre?) all count as exercise as long as you are active! How fast can you get the groceries done?

Delicious Daddie Jeff May runs a successful Fitness Centre on the Sunshine Coast of Australia. He maintains his fitness by trying to keep up with his wife (a yummiemummie extraordinaire) and his two step-daughters with a mixture of martial arts and gym work. Contact him at jeff@yummiemummies.com.au

 

 

Recent Articles

 

 
You are on the page: Everything Counts