They’re Gone! December 27, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Exercise & Fitness, Health & Wellness, Humor, People.trackback
Now that your houseguests have left the building, it’s time to put some order into the disorder.
On the bright side . . . cleaning up the chaos left behind by houseguests can help you lose any holiday weight you temporarily adopted . . . provided you don’t clean out the refrigerator by scarfing down all the leftovers in one sitting.
* Dusting, vacuuming, and mopping burn 150 calories an hour and allow you to exercise your whole body. Move briskly. Limit chocolate breaks.
* Reorganize the fridge with healthy snacks (hummus, fruit, raw veggies) kept front and center. Hide baked goods and chocolate in back behind the stuff that no one is interested in eating. Step away from the drumstick!
* Stripping beds and carting laundry helps tone arm muscles. Bending and stretching to pick up misplaced items and tidy up messes helps improve range of motion. Whistle while you work . . . “I like to move it, move it.”
* Sweeping up porches, patios, and driveways provides the bonus of fresh air and sunshine. Wait until Mother Nature offers up a sunny day.
What’s that? You didn’t have houseguests? Your house is immaculate? Not a dust bunny in sight? Holiday decorations packed away? In Martha Stewart approved ornament carriers? With Dyno labels for each carrier?
What’s your secret?
Aah . . . that’s better!
Spirit Lights The Way 
You lost me at “limit chocolate breaks”. No can do, missy. My brother came bearing gifts and the flu so my game plan is to just bleach everything.
The flu is a crappy Christmas present . . . no regifting!!!
When you’re feeling better, this might be a FUN experiment to do with your little guy:
http://52brandnew.com/2012/12/26/new-experience-51-ivory-soap-experiment/
Feel better soon!
I like it! I often think of jobs I need to do as providing me with some exercise I badly need.
It makes tidying up more of a Win~Win. 😀
If you find out that secret, Nancy, be sure to let us all know 😀
We’ll see if anyone weighs in on that score . . . I know that I have miles to go before I’m that organized. 😉
You lost me at limit chocolate breaks. That’s just not very Christmasy!
I thought that sentence might be a deal breaker! 😆
BTW: eating chocolate on New Year’s Eve is a “Good Luck” thing to do. So be sure to set some aside for 12/31.
Move briskly? h-e-l-l-oooo, too much whiskey leftover in my system. Chocolate will be good to soak up the malt.
Haha! Everyone is in worse shape than I thought. We don’t just need a “tidy up” . . . we need a “detox.” 😀
Interesting! I just finished cleaning out my fridge!
*burp*
Oh, excuse me! Did I mention I just finished cleaning out my fridge?!
🙂
Haha! We’re in the process of cleaning out the fridge . . . doing our best NOT to eat it all in one sitting. But we do have a delicious lunch planned from some of the leftovers. 😀
Then you get to work and find out that everyone brought in their leftover Christmas cookies to share.
Yes! They want to fatten YOU up so they don’t feel compelled to DIET in the New Year. 😆
Ours are still here and more are arriving tomorrow 🙆
Hang in there, BB . . . “this too shall pass.” 😎
As much as you enjoy the company, it’s always nice that they leave. I didn’t mind the clean up because it always left the house looking nice when I was done! Very gratifying!
I was forced to clean out my fridge because I purchased a new one just before Christmas. I was surprised that I didn’t have alot to throw out. Either I’m good at not having leftovers or the kids scoff the stuff up before it goes bad.
We are very good about not wasting food too, Irene . . . we “waist” it instead. 😉
We enjoy company. And then we enjoy having the house to ourselves when they leave.
When our house guests left yesterday, I gave them most of the left-overs to take home so I don’t need to clean the fridge! However, there is a lot of extra laundry and other cleaning up to do so I’ll keep your advice in mind whilst doing it – and try to whistle ♪♫• ♪♫ at the same time!
You are smart to send them home with leftovers . . . it’s a win for them, a win for the fridge, and a win for your waist. 😀
🙂 My plan worked!
Woo Hoo! t does depend on perspective, of course. Please see Comment #7. 😆
there’s something soothing about re-claiming one’s space.
Yes! There’s calm in reclaiming (and uncluttering).
Does it still count if I eat chocolate whilst vacuuming?
Sure . . . “in every job that must be done there is an element of fun . . . find the fun and *snap* the job’s a game.”
Of course, it might be a bit of a wash of calories in and energy out. 😉
My policy is to avoid home during the holidays. 🙂 Then, everything is in its right place when I return.
Stellar policy, Andra . . . except for the part where you head NORTH, instead of SOUTH, for the holidays. 😀
After a season of so much activity it takes me a while to gather enough steam to “dig out.” I sort and organize for a few minutes, sit for an hour, move another few items, sit for an hour…I’m afraid there is little calorie reduction going on either. Maybe tomorrow…
That’s what I was doing yesterday . . .
I put Christmas CD’s away . . . and took a break.
I straightened my desk . . . and took a break.
I went through the mail . . . and took a break.
Very little steam building up. 😆
Limit chocolate breaks? What kind of slave driver are you???
Yes. That sentence didn’t go over as well as my previous policy of “more chocolate . . . more better.” 😀
I’m not burning many calories mopping and dusting I can tell you that! And chocolate for the good luck thing for the New Year sounds much better than our long held family(mine)tradition of creamed herring. Ick. Teeny bit of herring on BIG cracker,hold nose and choke down.. 😯
Yes . . . pass the chocolate! And pass on the herring. 😀