I think I've taken this as far as I dare...
Then allow me, Sir. The answer to Mince's statement, whoever he is, is yes and no.
Yes, because ironing can burn up to an estimated 140 calories per hour. Therefore the longer you leave your sweetheart ironing, the better it is for them. I mean, I don't really need my socks ironed both sides, but if it helps, then I'll do my bit. If you look at it long term, by the time you've allowed them to iron and add in the calories from cooking for you and fetching a few beers of a night, it nearly adds up to that gym workout that they always complain they don't have time for.
No, because along the way, some misguided male inventor decided that the heavy irons that were hearth heated, could be bettered by making them electric and lighter. Ladies of the board, no offence, but this hasn't helped you. I reckon you could almost have doubled the calories burned if the old traditional irons had been kept.
(I'm off to hide in a cave for few years...I'll leave my ironing outside if anyone wants to pick it up)