Is Cleaning Cardio?

[fitden]

Hi, Cathe and all!

I have a friend who owns her own cleaning business, and a couple of days a week she cleans houses for 4 hours straight. She says she's not a dawdler when she works--she's really getting down to business for that period of time. I have read in a couple of articles that just cleaning or gardening, or anything other than "official" cardiovascular exercise (step, running, etc.) for 30 minutes a day is beneficial.

She asked me if I thought it could count as a day of steady-state lower intensity cardio. My opinion is that it is (4 hours!). What do you think? I (and my friend) would love your input!

Thanks!
Denise

 

[DebbieH]

Hi Denise!

My opinion is that it IS beneficial, BUT... it still depends on what her heart rate is while she is cleaning whether or not it is cardio. Is she in her training heart rate zone? Also, for it to be true cardio, her heart rate must stay in that zone for some time. I'm sure there are certain things she is doing during the cleaning that elevates her HR higher then at other times during her 4 hours. Does she have a HR monitor? One that calculates "time in your zone" would be great. Then, she would see if she was benefitting her heart, lungs & circulation. All that aside, I am sure he is reaping good benefits from being so active. Hope this helps a lil'!

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[jgoycoolea]

RE: Hi Denise!

Funny you should ask because I left my heart rate monitor on last weekend while I did my cleaning (after my workout). I was wondering the same thing! My heart rate was about 100 or so, give or take. I was squatting and rising a lot with the vaccuum atttachments to suck up dust. I believe this put me at the low end of the "light intensity" as described in the booklet that came with the monitor. During cardio I usually aim to be at about 155 which is the middle of "moderate to strong intensity". (Not that I find it easy to keep my heart rate that high.) Jeanne

 

[fitden]

RE: Hi Denise!

Thanks, Debbie and Jeanne!

I'm going to let my friend borrow my heart rate monitor (aren't they great?) so she can check the rate periodically. Either way, she must be burning lots of calories! She also mentioned that she doesn't usually eat when she cleans because she finds that cleaning other people's houses doesn't exactly spark her appetite, and therefore ends up with a lower caloric intake on those days.

Jeanne, that's too funny that you just happened to try it yourself! I guess we could consider cleaning a "bonus" workout. A clean house and extra calorie burn--sounds good to me!

Denise