# How come my cleaning lady isn't in better shape? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 2, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701 "2010-12-02T19:34:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/1 "2010-12-02T19:34:50Z")
I was walking down the street today and noticed 2 overweight postal carriers walking side by side. These are postal carriers in Manhattan, and I can only imagine the amount of walking that they must do every single day. I wondered how they could appear to be so out of shape. I understand that _looking_ out of shape is different than _being_ out of shape. But I think it’s safe to say that there’s strong correlation between the two. I look and am in very good shape, at least according to my doctor. I work out maybe 2-3 times a week, although take months off from the gym when I’m being lazy. I work in corporate finance, so I’m pretty much in a chair all day. I eat healthy meals from time-to-time, but being single and not cooking, I tend to have a pretty bad diet. Almost every meal I eat is outside or pickup or frozen. When I clean my house, and it’s a pretty big house, it normally takes me about 3 hours. This includes 3 bathrooms, plus a good amount of vacuuming and mopping. And when I’m done, I am exhausted and sore. Sometimes, I ask my cleaning lady to come over and do the cleaning. She takes the same amount of time, but does a much better job than me. She cleans houses every day and all day long. I wonder how it’s possible that, like the postal carriers, she could appear to be so out of shape? These folks probably burn more calories from exercise in a day than I burn in a week. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/2 "2010-12-02T19:38:49Z")
The must consume more calories than they burn. Have you ever been to dinner with your cleaning lady? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/3 "2010-12-02T19:42:24Z")
They eat too much. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/4 "2010-12-02T19:56:24Z")
She’s not cleaning that hard. You should see what she’s swept under your rugs. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/5 "2010-12-02T20:03:23Z")
Although she does a better job, she is probably way more efficient through practice so burns fewer calories doing her job. She also probably eats way more than you. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/6 "2010-12-02T20:03:47Z")
As others have said, they eat more than they expend each day. You probably are overestimating the amount of calories burned by walking or cleaning house all day. Those activities, while not insignificant, are easily overwhelmed by poor eating habits. I don’t know if people recognize how few calories light exercise really burns compared to having a bad meal. Eating habits will always out weigh (pardon the pun) exercise when trying to control your weight. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/7 "2010-12-02T20:07:50Z")
It just seems counter-intuitive to me to find so many out-of-shape people in professions that involve lots of physical exertion. Even on average, I would expect that mail carriers, cleaning people, construction workers, etc. would be in better share than bankers, financial workers, IT, etc. The diet part should even out amongst the populations. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/8 "2010-12-02T20:09:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Although she does a better job, she is probably way more efficient through practice so burns fewer calories doing her job… This probably explains it. If they’ve trained themselves to be more efficient, perhaps they’re not burning as many calories over the course of a day. ---
**Author:** ![Kelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a587f6/32.png) [@Kelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelby)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/9 "2010-12-02T20:10:56Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > It just seems counter-intuitive to me to find so many out-of-shape people in professions that involve lots of physical exertion. Even on average, I would expect that mail carriers, cleaning people, construction workers, etc. would be in better share than bankers, financial workers, IT, etc. The diet part should even out amongst the populations. Are you of or near the same age as the people you describe? I know I’ve had a much more difficulty time keeping weight off as an older adult than I did as a younger stud muffin. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/10 "2010-12-02T20:12:35Z")
How do you know she’s not in good shape just overweight? I remember a case of a guy who does double/triple Ironman triathlons but weighs near 275 and that’s not all muscle, he was quite round. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/11 "2010-12-02T20:15:31Z")
Because exercise is not effiecent to burn calories. Without a change in diet you’d be lucky to burn of 10 pounds through exercise alone. The problem is you feel like you’re doing more work and you are, but the extra amount is really not enough to warrant an increase in calories. For instance, the average person burns about 11 calories per pound per day, doing nothing. So if I weigh 170 pounds I burn 1,870 a day doing nothing. So that is about 78 calories per hour Now I burn that if I sit at a desk or sleep. Now if I walk I may burn a bit more calories maybe 80 or 85 calories an hour. That’s about 7 calories more per hour 7 times 24 is 168 calories. Well a candy bar averages between 230 and 280 calories. The thing people forget is they burn calories to stay alive. When you read walking burns off 85 calories per hour, since you’re going to burn 78 calories (in my example) anyway that’s only 7 more calories. Also the fitter you are the less you burn. A person sitting in a chair with an average heart rate of 70 and a person performing manual labor but also having a basic pulse rate of 70 is going to burn the same amount even though they do different work. This is why as Olympic athletes become fitter they have to train harder and harder. The bottom line is exercise is for building your heart up. To make you fitter, to help you with your bone density and flexibility, but it’s not much help as a weight loss technique ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/12 "2010-12-02T20:18:30Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > The diet part should even out amongst the populations. One thing that probably keeps this from being the case is that when they (or any of us) perform activities that burn calories, the instinctive reaction goes ‘oh, no, gotta refuel’ and triggers a craving for high-calorie food. If you’re paying your cleaning lady enough that she can afford snacks (or there’s anything in your kitchen cupboard she could sneak when you’re not looking, 😉 ) she could easily be ‘over-refueling’. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/13 "2010-12-02T20:39:37Z")
Sorry, but while reading this I can’t help but think, WTF is it to you? Who died and put you in charge of evaluating other’s shape/physical conditioning? Interesting that not once did you mention if any of the poor folks you’ve decided don’t meet up to your standards, seem happy & satisfied, or if they also are worrying about crap that’s really none of their business… ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/14 "2010-12-02T20:46:25Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Who died and put you in charge of evaluating other’s shape/physical conditioning? I bet you say that to all the doctors. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/15 "2010-12-02T20:51:34Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I bet you say that to all the doctors. the OP’s topic is far from doctor/patient interaction Sorry he/she has to live in a world with _gasp_ people that may not be young/thin/attractive members of the GQ set ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/16 "2010-12-02T20:53:57Z")
**flixter** , nobody said anything about being young, or attractive, or even thin. Topics like these are volatile enough. Let’s not confuse the issue any further with these irrelevant side points. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/17 "2010-12-02T21:02:23Z")
The tone of the OP just seemed condescending to me ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/18 "2010-12-02T21:05:06Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Sorry, but while reading this I can’t help but think, WTF is it to you? Who died and put you in charge of evaluating other’s shape/physical conditioning? > > Interesting that not once did you mention if any of the poor folks you’ve decided don’t meet up to your standards, seem happy & satisfied, or if they also are worrying about crap that’s really none of their business… At the risk that I’m being “whooshed” here, I’ll attempt to answer you. For one thing, poor physical fitness has widespread social implications. If the US is eventually going to migrate to socialized medicine, then we will all be affected financially by the aggregate health of our population. Even without socialized medicine, we and our employers pay insurance premiums in a manner in which the healthy subsidize the unhealthy. So, IMHO, the better that we’re all educated on it, the better off society is. At no point, did I imply that I’m “in charge” of all this. But satisfying curiosities is one of the longstanding objectives of these boards. Just in case you didn’t notice in your time here. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/19 "2010-12-02T21:07:07Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > The tone of the OP just seemed condescending to me I didn’t get that at all. Anyhoo - OP - I think **hajario** is correct - your cleaning lady does this all the time - she knows every secret, short cut, work around to make the job more efficient for her. I’m sure if she tried sitting at a desk all day typing her arms and wrists would be sore by the end of the day, or if she tired digging ditches her shoulders/back would be aching. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701/20 "2010-12-02T21:09:09Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > The tone of the OP just seemed condescending to me It may have come off as condescending to you, but the gist of the OP is: these people have active jobs that \*presumably \*burn a buncha calories, yet they don’t outwardly seem like they do so. Wassupwitdat? It actually seems more GQ than IMHO to me anyway. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-my-cleaning-lady-isnt-in-better-shape/562701.md?page=2)