Thirteen Steps to the Ultimate Workout
My husband and I rent, and a few months ago our landlords switched to a new real estate company. Last week they finally got around to calling us for an evaluation (to estimate how much the place is worth). My husband and I are anything but neat freaks. We’re not slobs, but we both get very busy and things ten to pile up.
In true procrastinator fashion, we left off cleaning until yesterday. The day before the evaluation.
I took the day off to haul right into the cleaning. I spent hours cleaning and then my husband came home and helped me finish the rest off, which took another hour or so. The flat is looking incredibly nice and tidy now…
…and my body is aching.
I’ve decided - because I have the authority to decide such things - that cleaning house, really cleaning house, is the ultimate workout in thirteen ways…
Thirteen Steps to the Ultimate Workout
1. All that walking! Before the night was through, my feet were quite sore. Mind you, I work at a desk, so I’m not used to being on my feet for hours at a time.
2. Vacuuming. Just one excellent form of weight training if you have a vac as heavy as mine is. Moving that thing back and forth all over the flat was a great workout for my arms and other areas.
3. Dusting. It may not be that work-intensive, but it can take a while. Plus, repetitive movement definitely counts in the burning calories arena.
4. Mopping. Similar to vacuuming, but it can be more intense if you have to really scrub at the floor.
5. Moving furniture. More weight training. Just be careful not to strain yourself.
6. Cleaning webs and ceiling corners. I’m not all that short, but I still have to stretch to get in all the corners.
7. Doing the laundry. Talk about an all-in-one workout. Especially if you don’t have a dryer and have to add in all the hanging things on the line movements.
8. Filing and organizing. Give your arms (and your feet in some cases) a nice workout with a lot of filing and organizing.
9. Making the bed. It’s not a lengthy workout unless you have to do it many times over, but it’s a nice stretching and lifting section of the housework workout.
10. Dancing. How does dancing work in? By having music on while you’re cleaning, of course!
11. Taking out the garbage. We didn’t have a large haul to take out, but we did make a few trips!
12. Regular stretching. Always a good idea. I should have done more of it yesterday…
13. Feeling great when it’s done. You have results internally and externally, which always makes me feel great.
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Check out my other Thursday Thirteen at Write Anyway
February 6th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Hahaha! After I let my maid go at the end of November, my weekly house cleaning would incapacitate me completely. I could barely get up from the couch or bed afterwards. Now, as I’m getting fitter, house work is becoming much less strenuous and much less time-consuming!
February 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am
Cleaning is a workout. Man, I do a deep clean about once a week (necessary with two little ones, a dog, and a trucker hubby) and I’m dead the day after.
February 7th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Hanlie - Yes, if you keep up with the maintenance, it’s a lot easier over all.
Jenera - I’m still sore. Oooowwwww.
May 16th, 2010 at 11:56 am
What a nice article! I’m so delighted you thought to write about it.