Calories Burned Around the House

We've been making a concerted effort to not neglect our physical health all this year...something all too easy with a job sitting in front of computer in a home office for most of the day. That means every hour or so, we get up and do some squats, dumbbell curls, or pull-ups.

But you don't have to limit your exercises to traditional gym moves or calisthenics to stay fit. Cleaning around the house burns calories too, and some of it more than a lot of traditional exercises. Check out how much you can burn off around the house without lifting a weight after the jump...

[chart: Daily Mail UK]

Household Activities and Calories Burned (30 minutes/140lbs person)

Rearranging Furniture: 210

Ironing: 71

Cooking: 84

Housework: 92

Raking lawn: 126

Mopping: 143

Painting House: 160

Garden: 172

Vacuuming: 119

Shovel Snow: 193

And we know you're curious, so we'll mention that sex burns 134 calories per half hour (46 during foreplay)...a little more if you're vacuuming at the same time.

Comments (9)

hahahha! her legs are photoshop funny..look how tiny her back leg is!

posted by sweetheart on April 24th 2008 at 8:24am
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I find it hard to believe that doing laundry burns the most calories per year. I just don't work up a sweat sorting whites and colors, pouring soap, turning dials, and moving wet clothes from washer to dryer.
...But, perhaps I'd feel differently if I lived in a 5-story walk-up and had a bunch of kids.

posted by emhoop on April 24th 2008 at 8:32am
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sweetheart: she's a petite lady with short legs, ok? :D

emhoop: I definitely burn those most calories doing laundry, but that's because I have to carry huge laundry bags down the street. Having a machine in the house seems like a wonderful dream.

posted by gregory on April 24th 2008 at 8:39am
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It does look like she has a pirate peg leg..haa..

posted by Sara_Hew on April 24th 2008 at 9:40am
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Painting my ceiling for The Cure gave me one of the best back workout ever ... AND backaches!

posted by OneWallKitchen on April 24th 2008 at 9:45am
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thanks for that image. ha!

posted by elizabet on April 24th 2008 at 10:08am
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Did she copy this trick from Max Radadada?

posted by Kate (NC) on April 24th 2008 at 12:11pm
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Professional stuntwoman. Don't do this at home :D

posted by Hasina on April 24th 2008 at 1:46pm
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I heard a great story on npr once about hotel maids, and how they didn't realize that they basically worked out all day while doing their jobs. Once they were educated on how many calories they were burning doing things like changing beds and hauling laundry around, they started losing weight without making any other changes to their lifestyle.

So now I try to think of vacuuming as cardio, rather than a chore!

posted by midmogirl on April 25th 2008 at 9:10am
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