Once you reach retirement age, well meaning family and friends urge you to make some important life changes: They say you should move to a one story house and hire a cleaning lady. A few years later, you’re advised to prepare for the inevitable realities of aging, and move to a retirement community where you will be relieved of most household chores. You’re assured that a workout room is usually available if you’re concerned about your health and want some exercise. But which is best? Housework or workouts?

How many healthy seniors do you know who have followed the conventional wisdom of forfeiting their privacy and independence? Even though they are in good health , half of my contemporaries have moved on. Those who’ve moved to smaller homes or apartments may hire cleaning women while they go to Planet Fitness. Those who live in retirement communities have few household chores. They can spend the winter months playing bridge, reading books, and other sedentary activities. When spring arrives, and they find their clothes are too snug , they resolve to work out on the treadmill or do some stair steps.

Seniors are often advise to move to retirement communities where they do no housework. But is that healthy? — HOUSEWORK TRUMPS WORKOUTS FOR DOUBLE BENEFITS

Did you know that vacuuming floors burns 170 calories per hour? The good news about housework is the satisfaction you get from not only getting exercise, but the feeling that you’ve done something productive. I know, it’s not very classy to admit you spent the morning cleaning the bathroom. But scrubbing down a bathroom for 35 minutes burns more calories than 35 minutes on a treadmill.

So, you don’t have to tell anyone your dirty little secret to avoid gaining weight You can pretend you spent the morning doing pilates before having lunch at the Panda Garden. No one needs to know you cleaned your bathroom , but you!

One more reason to stay in a two story house : stair climbing burns calories at a faster rate than many other forms of exercise, It builds muscles, strengthens bones and leads to greater cardiovascular health.

For a complete list of calories burned doing various household chores, follow this link: http://calorielab.com/

Tag: workouts

WHICH IS BEST? HOUSEWORK OR WORKOUTS?

So, you don’t have to tell anyone your dirty little secret to avoid gaining weight You can pretend you spent the morning doing pilates before having lunch at the Panda Garden. No one needs to know you cleaned your bathroom , but you!