Get fit while cleaning the house – sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? For some, it’s become a reality! You can burn calories and form buns of steel by putting the vacuum round, dusting the tops of bookcases, and bagging up trash to go outside. If you’re already spending a lot of time doing those things day by day, this could be very good news for you!
However, how much time and energy do you need to put into cleaning and maintaining your home before you see any results? It differs from person to person, and will also depend on your ultimate goal, but most people will notice their legs feeling stronger after a good few weeks of making a concerted effort.
But don’t just take our word for it here! Make sure you check out the points below to find out what it’ll take to get a bit fitter just from cleaning your house.
The Calories You Can Burn Doing House Work
Depending on your current weight, and how vigorously you’re taking part in ticking off that cleaning to-do list, you could burn around 100 or more calories an hour doing work around the house. Really! Once you eat your breakfast, which on average gives us about 300 calories to make use of, you can burn it all off again in about two to three hours.
Of course, if you’re trying to lose weight, it’s not going to be easy only doing house work to achieve your goal. However, it can help! If you want to know more, WebMD has a full list of household chores and how many calories you can burn doing them, so check out the list and see what you could be capable of shredding once you get going!
Give Yourself 10 Minutes to Put Your Heart Rate Up
Think of it as a HIIT circuit in disguise! Indeed, the less time you give yourself to get things done, the faster and more intensely you’re going to have to move. That means expending the same and/or more energy in a shorter amount of time, which is going to get your heart rate soaring.
When your heart rate is up, you’re going to be shedding calories all over the place, as well as protecting your heart health for the future – that’s a double whammy we’re a fan of! It also means you’re more likely to break a sweat, which is another good sign for your fitness level. Keep this in mind whenever you’ve got a microfiber cloth in hand – move fast for best results!
Disguise an Arm Workout with Clearing the Garden
If you’ve got a garden round the back of your home, why not get out there with a leaf blower or rake or even just a trowel and disguise an arm workout with a spot of backyard tidying? After all, you’re carrying around something with weight to it, which you’re then using while moving and stretching out, meaning you could very well count these activities as weightlifting sessions.
If you like you can add a bit more weight, once you find it easy to keep a hold of any tools you’re using. You can do this through attaching a bag of oranges or a carton of milk to the opposite end from where you’re holding it, and then try to carry out your usual tasks with this new resistance.
Disguise a Squat Routine by Tidying the Book Shelves
Another trusty way to disguise traditional fitness into your house cleaning routine. You can fit a few squats in if you need to bend down while organizing. Start at the bookshelves in the bedroom or living room with this one, but instead of actually bending, use your knees to squat and rise again in quick succession.
It might feel a bit weird to do at first, but squatting is a great thigh and backside shaper, and you’ll definitely start to see (and feel!) the results after a few mornings doing movements like these. Try to get as many as you can done in the time it takes you to dust or straighten up the shelves.
Just Being on Your Feet Can Create a Calorie Deficit
Did you know that the average person can burn over 75 calories just through standing up? It’ll take an hour of standing overall to do so, but that’s an amazing number for something you just have to get up to achieve. If you’re usually standing while cleaning, this is extra good news, as it means you’ve already spent all that time burning away calories without even realizing it. Now let’s keep that fitness momentum going!
So, Can You Get Fitter Cleaning the House?
That’s the big question, and for anyone who finds it hard to exercise otherwise, the idea can be quite hopeful. If you don’t have time to hit the gym or you’re even chronically ill or less able bodied, keeping your home clean and tidy might be the only type of exercise you’re able to do.
But long story short, it’s all about your current weight and fitness, what you’re doing, and how often you’re doing it. You can slim down a few pounds through repeated household activities, such as vacuuming, dusting, mopping, leaf blowing, raking, and clearing out under the bed, but you shouldn’t depend on these to achieve any fitness goals in the long run.
Getting fitter while cleaning your home is possible, but it’s going to take a bit longer than you’re used to to see any results. If you want to stay flexible and supple, and feel your heart pump harder on a regular basis, this could be a good outlet for you.
However, you’ll need to remember that there’s always going to be a limit to the amount of pounds you can shed or the muscle you can put on from house work alone. If you want to step things up, hit the gym and get a proper sweat on!
