Everyday Household Chores Burn Calories and Help Weightloss - Better Than Going to the Gym?

Why go to the gym when there are plenty of effective weight loss options at home? Doing one's household chores not only saves a lot of money on procuring help but also improves one's feelings of self-worth, gives satisfaction and cleaner looking house. It also improves one's relationship with the spouse/partner I am sure if one is in a relationship! Oh, it saves on the gym costs too. 

Here's what you can expect to lose in calories if you start doing some basic chores

• Vacuuming: Vacuuming your carpets and floors for an hour can burn roughly 100-200 calories1. The more rooms you tackle, the more calories you’ll burn.

• Laundry: Loading and unloading the washer and dryer, putting away clothes, and transporting loads around the house can burn about 50-100 calories per hour1.

• Mopping: Mopping your floors can burn 100-200 calories in an hour.

• Scrubbing the Bathroom: An hour of scrubbing the bathroom can burn 180-300 calories.

• Rearranging Furniture: This activity can burn 400-500 calories per hour.

• Changing the Beds: Stripping and remaking beds for 30 minutes torches 180 - 300 calories. 

• Dusting High Fixtures: Dusting can burn about 180 calories per hour.

• Reorganizing the Pantry or Fridge: This task can use 50-200 calories.

• Cleaning Up After a Meal: Don’t just hit the sofa after a home-cooked meal. Spend 30 minutes washing dishes by hand and cleaning up the kitchen with moderate intensity to get rid of 180-300 calories depending on your weight and metabolism!

Outdoor chores also provide an opportunity to burn calories:

• Mowing the Lawn: Using a push mower for 30 minutes burns about 135 calories (for a 125-pound person) to 200 calories (for a 185-pound person)2.

• Gardening: An hour of gardening burns the same as mowing the lawn—350-500 calories2.

• Cleaning the Pool: Cleaning the pool can require anywhere from 300 to 500 calories1.

• Pressure-Washing: This activity burns 250-300 calories per hour1.

• Painting the Outside of the Home: Painting can use between 250 and 300 calories in an hour1.

• Washing the Car: Skip the drive-thru car wash and give your ride’s exterior and windows a thorough cleaning by hand. Washing the car for 30 minutes burns about 135 - 200 calories.

Remember, these estimates are general guidelines, and individual variations apply. The key is to stay active and incorporate movement into your daily routine.

#savingmoney #householdchores #effectiveweightloss

References

https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/ss/slideshow-calories-burned-by-household-chores

https://www.fitandwell.com/news/lose-weight-household-chores

https://www.eatingwell.com/article/7832851/household-chores-calorie-burn/

https://www.wrenkitchens.com/blog/revealed-the-number-of-calories-household-chores-burn

Top 5 Breakfast Options by Nutrition Expert

Dr. Uma Naidoo, a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and nutrition expert, has shared her top 5 breakfast options that are not only healthy but also beneficial for mental fitness. Here’s a summary of her recommendations:

Chia Pudding: A homemade chia seed pudding is one of her go-to breakfasts. It’s high in fiber, which supports a healthy gut microbiome and brain communication, and contains omega-3 fatty acids that have anti-inflammatory effects on the brain¹. 

Scramble, Omelet, or Baked Frittata: Eggs are a great source of healthy fats, proteins, and vitamins. The yolks are rich in vitamin D and serotonin, which help regulate mood. Dr. Naidoo suggests choosing eggs from pasture-raised, cage-free chickens for the best quality¹.

Savory Tofu Scramble: For those who prefer a plant-based option, a savory tofu scramble is an excellent choice. Tofu is rich in tryptophan and soy isoflavones, which are associated with reduced symptoms of depression¹.

Green Smoothie: A blend of leafy greens, berries, clean protein powder or silken tofu, and a bit of fat from hemp seeds or almond butter makes for a nutritious smoothie that’s easy to take on the go¹.

Nuts and Berries: Topping your breakfast with nuts and berries adds essential nutrients and functional compounds that promote better energy, clarity, and mental health¹.

These options are designed to provide key nutrients and functional compounds that enhance energy, clarity, and overall mental health. Enjoy your nutritious breakfast! 

1. https://www.msn.com/en-in/foodanddrink/other/harvard-expert-uma-naidoo-studied-brain-foods-for-over-20-years-heres-her-top-5-breakfast-options/ar-BB1lBbFV