Exercise: Housework?

I have not been able to exercise for a few days, medical reasons. But I have been doing a lot of cleaning today. I have done some light lifting and some sweeping and cleaning. My arms are sore and my waist has moved more than in some exercise routines. I am wondering, why do some stay at home women overweight if they spend their whole week doing this? Probably because they are also emptying their kid's plates and snacking instead of eating. I know when my daughter was really young, I did the same thing.
Trust me, heavy house cleaning is exercise. If you clean all day long and you watch what you eat you will see a difference. Remember: every little bit helps.