"Sweep" Away Extra Calories

     Are you looking for an efficient and effective way to burn extra calories throughout the day?  Why not engage in a little "double duty" as you spring clean?  Get the satisfaction of having a clean home while accumulating minutes to meet the federal government's recommendations for physical activity (www.health.gov/paguidelines).  Take a look below to see the amount of calories you can burn while engaging in these common spring cleaning tasks.

Calories Burned in 30 minutes (totals are calculated for an individual weighing 150 pounds)

Vacuuming:  125 kcals

Mopping:  125 kcals

Scrubbing Bathroom/Bath Tub:  136 kcals

General Household Cleaning:  107 kcals

Washing Windows:  107 kcals

Moving Household Items (such as furniture and carrying boxes):  215 kcals

Cleaning Garage (general):  107 kcals

Sweeping Garage/Sidewalk/Driveway:  143 kcals

Cleaning Gutters:  179 kcals

Note:  Before beginning an exercise program or increasing the intensity level of a current routine, a physician's approval should be obtained, especially for older adults and those at risk for or who currently have chronic health conditions.

Resources:

The Compendium of Physical Activities Tracking Guide www.prevention.sph.sc.edu/tools/docs/documents_compendium.pdf