I recently saw this little cartoon snippet and thought, now the Grandchildren will love this (and they do) BUT is this me when I get the hoover out?
Well I've got to be honest I'm a mean hand with the duster but it's always Eddie on the Hoover (aren't I lucky) but his apron isn't quite like that LOL !
Now you are probably wondering how on earth can you write a 'blog' post about the character in the cartoon ? Well it's quite easy ... I also recently read this article below, it started me thinking. Who needs the gym? Could This Be The New Keep Fit?
"You might not relish the idea of doing household chores, but new research claims that dusting, vacuuming and mopping with gusto are as good for you as any session at the gym.
So if you don't have time to pump weights at the gym or attend Pilates classes, then substitute them with everyday household tasks or jobs in the garden.
They will stretch and tone your muscles, and you'll burn up to 315 calories an hour - that's more than twice as many as you would sitting in front of the television.
Sounds unbelievable? We put it to the test. The results are a scientific estimate of what a ten-stone person would burn while doing the following activities at a comfortable pace, based on the calories burned in an hour per pound of body weight. If you push yourself very hard at, say, walking, add more calories.
And it should be remembered that since housework isn't a good form of cardiovascular exercise, you will still need to work your heart and lungs with walking, swimming or cycling.
315 CALORIES
30 minutes of digging, or 45 minutes of cycling on flat ground
Digging uses the thigh and calf muscles; it is also a good form of cardiovascular exercise if you can keep it up continuously for ten minutes or more.
285 CALORIES
30 minutes of climbing stairs, or 19.5 minutes of skipping
Climbing stairs is a great cardiopovascular activity. Do it several times a day and you are looking at a work-out equivalent to one you would get on the stepper at the gym.
225 CALORIES
30 minutes of raking leaves, or 37 minutes of ice-skating
Because you are pulling against a resistance (i.e. wet leaves), raking is a form of weight-training. It works all the major muscles in the legs and upper body.
200 CALORIES
30 minutes of scrubbing the bath, or 45 minutes of ballroom dancing
Getting rid of tide marks on the bath is not the most pleasant of household tasks, but it really works your bicep and tricep muscles in the arms. Particularly stubborn stains will guarantee you work up a sweat.
190 CALORIES
30 minutes of carrying shopping bags home, or 40 minutes of golf
Try to make sure you have evenly-weighted bags in each hand - or swop on the way home. Every now and then, rest the bags on the floor and then bend your knees before lifting them again. This simulates free weights at the gym.
160 CALORIES
30 minutes of painting and decorating, or 25 minutes of walking
Climbing up and down the step-ladder to reach nooks and crannies adds to the calories burned when you decorate. Wallpapering is an energetic activity too - applying paste and reaching up to put the paper on the walls works the upper body.
"You might not relish the idea of doing household chores, but new research claims that dusting, vacuuming and mopping with gusto are as good for you as any session at the gym.
So if you don't have time to pump weights at the gym or attend Pilates classes, then substitute them with everyday household tasks or jobs in the garden.
They will stretch and tone your muscles, and you'll burn up to 315 calories an hour - that's more than twice as many as you would sitting in front of the television.
Sounds unbelievable? We put it to the test. The results are a scientific estimate of what a ten-stone person would burn while doing the following activities at a comfortable pace, based on the calories burned in an hour per pound of body weight. If you push yourself very hard at, say, walking, add more calories.
And it should be remembered that since housework isn't a good form of cardiovascular exercise, you will still need to work your heart and lungs with walking, swimming or cycling.
315 CALORIES
30 minutes of digging, or 45 minutes of cycling on flat ground
Digging uses the thigh and calf muscles; it is also a good form of cardiovascular exercise if you can keep it up continuously for ten minutes or more.
285 CALORIES
30 minutes of climbing stairs, or 19.5 minutes of skipping
Climbing stairs is a great cardiopovascular activity. Do it several times a day and you are looking at a work-out equivalent to one you would get on the stepper at the gym.
225 CALORIES
30 minutes of raking leaves, or 37 minutes of ice-skating
Because you are pulling against a resistance (i.e. wet leaves), raking is a form of weight-training. It works all the major muscles in the legs and upper body.
200 CALORIES
30 minutes of scrubbing the bath, or 45 minutes of ballroom dancing
Getting rid of tide marks on the bath is not the most pleasant of household tasks, but it really works your bicep and tricep muscles in the arms. Particularly stubborn stains will guarantee you work up a sweat.
190 CALORIES
30 minutes of carrying shopping bags home, or 40 minutes of golf
Try to make sure you have evenly-weighted bags in each hand - or swop on the way home. Every now and then, rest the bags on the floor and then bend your knees before lifting them again. This simulates free weights at the gym.
160 CALORIES
30 minutes of painting and decorating, or 25 minutes of walking
Climbing up and down the step-ladder to reach nooks and crannies adds to the calories burned when you decorate. Wallpapering is an energetic activity too - applying paste and reaching up to put the paper on the walls works the upper body.
143 CALORIES
30 minutes of washing the car, or 32 minutes of yoga
It might take longer than whizzing your motor through the car wash at the local garage, but the advantages are that you will work you arms and abdominal muscles as you reach to clean the roof and other awkward places.
130 CALORIES
30 minutes of making beds, or 12 minutes of jogging on the treadmill
Although sheets and blankets tend to make for harder work, even shaking out a few continental quilts and puffing up pillows will add to your energy expenditure.
30 minutes of cleaning windows, or 21 minutes of power yoga
Obviously, the size and position of your windows has a big part to play in determining quite how effective this workout will be. If you are using a bucket, don't put it on the floor next to you, but leave it a slight distance away so that you have to reach to get it every time you need water.
115 CALORIES
30 minutes of weeding, or 13 minutes of weight training
All the bending down to pick out weeds from the garden means that you are working your thighs and buttock muscles. Try to make sure you don't bend from the waist down, as it can strain your lower back.
110 CALORIES
30 minutes of shelving groceries, or 18 minutes of badminton
Tins of food can be replacement weights for a home workout, so understandably this chore will be taxing if you have shopped for heavy items.
105 CALORIES
30 minutes of loading the dishwasher, or 30 minutes of light stretching
OK, so putting your dirty dishes in a machine rather than washing them by hand is the easy way out, but believe it or not, the bending and reaching action will help you fight off the flab.
90 CALORIES
30 minutes of vacuuming, or 15 minutes of kick-boxing
Vacuuming works your arms because of the pushing and pulling it entails. Do the entire house in one go rather than one room at a time - it will mean that you work up a real sweat.
80 CALORIES
30 minutes of preparing the dinner, or nine minutes of tennis
Chopping, grating and lifting dishes in and out of the oven in a steamy kitchen will burn calories. Follow with washing up and you have a work-out without leaving the kitchen.
71 CALORIES
30 minutes of ironing, or 11 minutes of step aerobics
Think of ironing as weight-training for the upper body. Make sure that you stand up straight and work your arm muscles hard as you press down. And remember to change hands regularly, so that you don't end up with one arm more muscular than the other.
50 CALORIES
30 minutes of dusting, or 10 minutes of salsa dancing
It may be less taxing than a lot of chores, but if you have a lot of high shelves or trinkets to be moved, then the calories burned will mount up. Much of the benefit is in the stretching actions as you reach out with your duster. "
71 CALORIES
30 minutes of ironing, or 11 minutes of step aerobics
Think of ironing as weight-training for the upper body. Make sure that you stand up straight and work your arm muscles hard as you press down. And remember to change hands regularly, so that you don't end up with one arm more muscular than the other.
50 CALORIES
30 minutes of dusting, or 10 minutes of salsa dancing
It may be less taxing than a lot of chores, but if you have a lot of high shelves or trinkets to be moved, then the calories burned will mount up. Much of the benefit is in the stretching actions as you reach out with your duster. "
Words from article here
Well after all that 'work out' it must be time to sit down and enjoy a refreshing cup of tea ... or would you prefer coffee?
All the best Jan
4 comments:
I have music on when dusting so if I do a little dance too maybe I can burn off a few more calories?
Roz x
Hi Roz - many thanks for your comment.
Music and dusting just makes the 'work' go quicker ...and who knows you may sing to the music too!
Thanks for your comment
All the best Jan
Why to choose washing car over doing Pilates? Both activities are beneficial. You may do both, but the person who is trained in Pilates class will move better while washing a car, however opposite is not true - I am afraid that car washing will not prepare anyone for Pilates or Yoga. Sorry, but no, 30 minutes of weeding doesn't equal to 13 minutes of weight training, and 30 minutes of shelving groceries to 18 minutes of badminton , besides hardly anyone playing such a short time, and fun is an uncounted part of the picture. May be when calories are the measure of activity it is hard to count the whole impact properly. I am for all forms of activities - moving more during everyday life, doing exercising for entertainment, training in a gym or at home with weights or exercise bands to do things not covered by everyday housekeeping routine. It is hard to choose what is better. Some people are so warn out by their gym time, that they sit at home all the time, others could be so tired from gardening, that they don't have energy to train their muscles.
My mom recently became a gym member first time in her life at almost 78 years old.
Hi Galina - great to read your thoughts here.
I think it is important for us all to move more ... sometimes it is all too easy not too!
Some people love going down the gym, whist others prefer a run or attending a 'keep fit' class.
However, anyone chooses to exercise or move more is fine by me.
I think your mom, at 78yrs, is brilliant in choosing to become a gym member.
In many of our local 'old folks homes' they do have 'keep fit' sessions to encourage the residents to move. They play music, they have general chat sessions ... life has got to be enjoyed. Sure at times other matters get in the way.
Lets all do our best to get healthy and stay as healthy as we can.
All the best Jan
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