Sneaky Exercise

I definitely count housecleaning as exercise, especially when I have to lug the vacuum upstairs. Scrubbing the tub enclosure definitely counts, what with all the stretching and bending. We have a 2 story house, and I am always going up and down the stairs.

I’m a waitress in a busy country pub, I spend my entire day doing this run- disguised- as- a- walk. That. Is. Exercise. I tell ya!

I would like to add sucking in your tummy, wearing high heels (good for calf muscles!) and putting on Spanx!

Running errands with two small kids, lifting them in and out of car seats. Kneading bread dough. Vacuuming the house. I feel like my life is a workout.

haha duvet cover and eating difficult food!!
http://www.thefunkybeans.com

Grinding coffee with a manual coffee grinder, for sure! Also: washing heavy baking dishes, and hanging out wet laundry to dry.

Parking at the other end of the parking lot when I go to work.

There is no shame in this illustration.

folding a fitted sheet!!

Changing duvet covers – YES!!!!

Breastfeeding!! Hundreds of calories burned without breaking a sweat? AND getting to snuggle the sweetest babe?! Yes, please!

Ha. I ALWAYS count a trip to Costco as part of my exercise. Two kids fit in the cart and than ALL those groceries. Definite work out. Pushing close to 100 lbs is no joke.

Putting on my winter boots. Instead of bending down or sitting down, i lift one leg up (exercise!)…balancing on the other (exercise!) and breathe (yoga!) while tying the laces. And then I think ‘switch sides’ – using exercise language also helps me feel legit. xo

Changing duvet covers is full on cardio!

Haha, there are some great comments here! I agree with duvet changing and doing lunges whilst vacuum cleaning :) Also, dinner duties such as potato mashing, egg whisking and gravy stirring!

I take the stairs daily and it just feels right to skip gim after that! I’ts a 9th floor!

I love this! My mom is a superstar at this–she works at Children’s Hospital in L.A. and always takes the stairs, even five floors up, and whenever we go somewhere she parks at the back of the lot. It kind of works for her, though–she’s tiny!

Last year I worked as a high school teacher and I was moving around in front of my classes all day, and I also lived in a walkable city where I walked a mile to work, walked to yoga, walked to dinner, etc. Since we moved (and I stopped teaching) I’ve noticed I’ve put on a few…even though I’m still exercising, I didn’t realize how much that “sneaky exercise” was paying off!

YES! They totally count. I mean, you’re burning calories right? It’s better than being sat on the sofa all day.

When I’m really short on time I usually do HIIT exercises.

V
L I F E + 1

Picking up my kids, and also picking up AFTER them. Bending over 200 times a night to pick up all of the toys/mess has got to count for something, right?!

Changing duvet covers IS actually exercise. I burn more calories doing that than running. Also, I live in a third floor and avoiding the elevator is also exercise to me. And of course carrying bags full of groceries is better than gym!

The only real exercise I do right now (I’m no longer going to the gym cause I got a surgery and I can’t do severe exercise as I was used to) is dancing like crazy (OK… like a b*tch) when I’m home alone. I’m counting the days till I could work out again (sadly, I get really tired now when doing “exercise”…)

changing duvets!! that’s the worst :)

The Taylor Swift dance parties I have in front of the mirror after three glasses of wine, and pacing around Target trying to decide what kind of new [sheets/nail polish/mouthwash/toilet paper] to buy.

Oh, and coughing! I have a respiratory infection and my abs are lookin’ fiiine.

LOL…but seriously, folks…I’ve been on Weight Watchers for a few years & yes, those things count (well, some of them) as activity points. I love to look at my WW app & see “low effort housework”, “carrying 1-24 pounds”, etc.

:)

Chubby babies (& cats/pups) count!

Changing the duvet for sure! Also, hanky panky with my man.

Driving a manual car during rush hour will give your calves an awesome workout.

Scrubbing the tub! If I’m sweating, it’s exercise.

Parking at the end of the parking lot so I have farther to walk. Feeling virtuous burns extra calories. :)

Carrying groceries! It’s always a goal to be able to carry every. single. bag at one time. My muscles are sore by the time I get to my apartment. Totally a workout. :)

http://www.kristajacobs.blogspot.com

yes, changing duvet covers made me laugh out loud.

This is the best. Makes me feel so much better for counting the time I walk around window shopping as exercise.

Vacuuming and cleaning in general and carrying groceries to the car (doing a few curls while you’re at it!).