CLEAN EATING Brits burn a HUGE amount of calories every day – just by cleaning their house

HOUSEPROUD adults burn a whopping 2,690 calories per week, which equates to 139,898 calories per year – just by cleaning their home.

The survey of 2,000 adults who clean more than once a week found that they will spend a total of 30 hours a year ironing – the equivalent of more than a full day, burning 9,277 calories.

And while gardening may be considered a less rigorous household chore, adults lose 142 calories during the 38 minutes they spend digging in the soil each week.

Vacuuming is also good exercise; adults do this chore four times a week, burning up to 8,747 calories annually.

But besides losing weight, 60 percent think there are other benefits to cleaning: they find it a great way to de-stress after work and unwind after a busy day.

A further 59 per cent believe it helps them live a healthier lifestyle, with clean kitchens resulting in fewer takeaways.

HOW LONG BRITISH SPEND IN MINUTES DOING THESE HOUSEHOLD CHEWING PER WEEK AND CALORIES BURNED:

Even lighter tasks, like wiping the counters and dusting the lights, can help burn those extra calories

1. Lawn mowing/gardening – 38.1 minutes = 142 calories burned
2. Washing and drying – 36.4 minutes = 186 calories burned
3. Ironing – 35.4 minutes = 180 calories burned
4. Vacuuming – 33.4 minutes = 170 calories burned
5. Cleanup – 32.2 minutes = 164 calories burned
6. Cleaning the bathroom – 32.2 minutes = 164 calories burned
7. Loading dishwasher/unloading dishwasher – 29.3 minutes = 149 calories burned
8. Cleaning kitchen surfaces – 28.5 minutes = 145 calories burned
9. Folding the clean laundry / putting away the clean laundry – 28.5 minutes = 145 calories burned
10. Cleaning windows – 26.8 minutes = 137 calories burned
11. Cleaning the oven – 27.2 minutes = 139 calories burned
12. Dusting/polishing furniture – 27.1 minutes = 138 calories burned
13. Making the bed/making the bed – 27.2 minutes = 139 calories burned
14. Mop the floor / steam the floor – 26.7 minutes = 122 calories burned
15. Organizing cupboards and drawers – 25.2 minutes = 128 calories burned

The few house-proud people who usually clean their homes say it puts them in a better mood (77 percent), while more than half say they enjoy cleaning their homes.

But that is not everything. A regular cleaning schedule was found to help people implement a good sleep routine, a healthy eating routine, and a good fitness routine.

Brooke Marchand, coach at behavior change company Noom, which commissioned the research, said: “The number of calories you can burn while cleaning certainly adds up and can be a valuable way to move your body every day.

“If you like a clean and quiet home but don't like exercise, then a little housework might be a healthy habit for you, as reaching for dusty corners or high shelves can be a full-body workout.

“When we clean our homes it helps improve our mood – and when we're in a good mood this can have a huge impact on factors such as what we eat, how motivated we feel to exercise and how often we go outside go for fresh air.

'All this in turn affects our physical health.

“Even the addition of a few small chores throughout the week can put you on the path to a healthier lifestyle and a clearer mindset.”

NOOM'S CHIEF PSYCHOLOGY ANDREAS MICHAELIDES PHD'S TOP TIPS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND WELLBEING:

Try these four expert tips to reinvigorate your routine

1. Refresh your routine

Identify the specific behavior you want to change and then focus on the “why.” What is the main reason you want to make this change?
Start with achievable and realistic goals. Small changes to your daily routine are a great way to build long-term healthy habits, such as increasing your step count at lunch, choosing a nutritious snack, or moving your bedtime forward.

2. Dust off the cobwebs (aka trainers)

Mindful workouts and walks are designed to bring body and mind together. While you're outside, focus on the signs of spring around you and take in all the sights, sounds and smells.
Pay attention to the rhythm of your movements and the regularity of your breathing. These processes anchor you in the present moment and can make exercising much more fun.

3. Fuel your body

Review your eating habits and determine what changes may need to be made to help you achieve your health goals.

Can you incorporate new, healthy recipes into your meals? Do you choose food that serves you?

4. Develop a relationship with your thoughts

Your thinking influences your behavior, and vice versa.
This spring, try replacing gloomy thoughts with more positive statements, for example, “I didn't exercise today, I'm useless,” with “It's okay that I haven't exercised yet, I've been busy, but After dinner I can make time for a walk.”

The findings show that a third of people get sweaty cleaning the windows, cleaning the bathroom and making and taking down the bed, while one in four say their muscles hurt after mowing the lawn .

Gardening, vacuuming and tidying up were the most popular chores, while cleaning the oven, ironing and putting away clean laundry were the most undesirable, the survey found.

Brooke Marchand added: “When people think about their health, they rarely think about their home.

'But the reality is that our physical environment can have a huge impact on both our mood and our behaviour.

“The findings show that having a regular cleaning schedule can help Brits develop healthy habits in other aspects of their lives, improving their overall wellbeing and mindset.

“Simple changes in daily habits, such as doing regular chores, climbing escalators or sticking to a regular bedtime routine, can be the small steps that lead to long-term behavior change.

“At Noom we want to help people live healthier and happier lives.

“For those who may be daunted by the thought of changing their lifestyle to improve their health, it's reassuring to see that even daily chores can help them adopt long-term healthy habits and achieve their goals.”