The next time you're doing the housework, try donning a tracksuit,
cranking up the Rocky sound-track and viewing the whole thing as an
exercise session – doing so could have a positive effect on your health.
[...]
A month
later the health of the cleaners was assessed again. Crucially, those
who had been reminded how much exercise they engage in at work, showed
health improvements in terms of weight, body mass index, body-fat,
waist-to-hip ratio and blood pressure. The control cleaners showed no
such improvements.
What caused this health boost? Those cleaners
reminded that their work counted as exercise didn't change their
smoking, drinking or eating habits over the month, nor did they start
exercising more in their spare time. However, as intended, the
intervention did lead them to perceive that they engaged in more
exercise at work.
Is the benefit of exercise a placebo effect? (via Kevan)
I miss cleaning. It was great exercise - at least I always thought so.