How to Lose Weight While Gardening

Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting a tree, or pushing a lawn mower around the yard?

Does just thinking about it make you sweat? I am sure the majority of are nodding your heads in agreement. What I am about to suggest only takes a slight change in your thinking and a bit of planning and you can learn how to lose weight and get in better shape while gardening this year.

For those of you that are already gardeners, you know that gardening is one of the best ways to get exercise because it involves all of the muscle groups in your body.

Like I mentioned earlier, we only need to change the way you think about outside chores. See I am falling into the trap too, I just called them chores. Instead, you should think of them as outdoor exercises that are designed to enhance the condition of your body and help you lose weight.

As with any exercise program, check with your doctor before starting. Make sure you are dressed properly and that you stretch before beginning.

If you aren't used to exercising in the garden or have been relatively inactive all winter, start slowly. Start with weeding, watering, and planting seeds.

As you feel yourself getting stronger you can increase your gardening repertoire to include: pruning, heavy digging, hoeing, pushing a loaded wheelbarrow, or mowing the lawn. I think you get the idea because the list of outdoor gardening exercise ideas is endless!

Even carrying plants or a bag of potting soil to the car from the store and then out into the yard is exercise! You can potentially burn up to 300-600 calories per hour depending on your intensity and which gardening exercises you engage in.

You CAN lose weight by gardening ~ eat less and move more! The following list shows what a typical man weighing 180 pounds will burn in 30 minutes of activity. If you weigh more you can burn even more calories!

• Watering lawn/garden~ 61
• Raking~ 162
• Bagging leaves~ 162
• Planting seeds/seedlings~ 162
• Planting trees~ 182
• Weeding ~ 182
• Clearing Land ~ 202
• Digging, spading, tilling~ 202
• Laying Sod~202
• General gardening~ 202
• Chopping wood~ 243
• Gardening with heavy power tools~ 243
• Mowing the lawn with a push mower~ 243
• Shoveling snow~ 243
• Shoveling heavy snow~ 364 cals

Tips for your success:

1. Don't over do it~ one or two hours of gardening is plenty, especially when you are beginning!
2. Don't lift objects that are too heavy for you. If you injure yourself, chances are that you won't be able to continue to garden for exercise and weight loss.
3. Stretch before, during and after gardening. Don't stay down on your knees while weeding or planting for extended periods of time~ get up and move!
4. Get out in your garden and exercise at least 3-4 times a week.
5. Continue your outdoor exercise routine even after you last blooms have faded. Shoveling the snow, raking leaves, and splitting wood are great calorie burners that will lead to weight loss!
6. Don't forget the added benefit of growing your own healthy fruits and vegetables and your yard will look beautiful from all of your hard work!
7. Have Fun and "Just do it"!

Once you get into the habit of viewing gardening as an excellent way to lose weight and stay in shape, you may never go back to the gym again!

© 2005, Candee Stark and GoingAllTheWeigh.com

This article is provided courtesy of Candee's Weight Loss Success - You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.

---

Weight Loss, Fitness, and a Peace of Mind for Life! The Secret is NOT in the Charts!

I am Greg Ryan, a high profile fitness expert with... Read More

Overweight - Control Your Eating Habits

Weighing more than is normal, necessary, or allowed, especially having... Read More

The Diet Demons

As the dieting phenomenon grows, with a new "diet guru"... Read More

The Magic Formula Works its Wonder Today Part 4

The people of earlier times depended on the rich resource... Read More

Top 10 Points of Encouragement for Weight Loss

On the road to weight loss, fitness, and health,... Read More

The #1 Key to Weight Loss ? What You DON?T Want to Know and Most Won?t Tell You!

You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More

The One and Only Way to Lose Weight

There is only one way to lose weightThere really is... Read More

How to Select the Best Diet for You?

In the old West tricksters sold a snake oil to... Read More

Are Weight Loss Supplements Worth It?

What do you think of the hundreds of weight loss... Read More

Maximize Your Fat Burning Potential

Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More

Catching Yourself In A Binge or Compulsive Eating: Stopping Behaviors

Oh, no . . . You suddenly realize that you... Read More

Get NeanderThin on the Cave Man Diet

Are you up to a cave man diet? You won't... Read More

Running from the Fat Monster after Gastric Bypass

Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding... Read More

Why Are There Different Diet Types?

Diet is a dreadful word for most of us because... Read More

Questioning Cardio for Weight Loss?

Q: I've heard you mention that you don't need tons... Read More

4 Surefire Ways NOT To Lose Weight At Your Health Club

Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More

How Not To Lose Weight

Who really wants to lose weight? None of us, right?... Read More

The Lies You May Have Been Told About Ephedra, and How They May End Up Improving Your Life

Losing Weight quickly and easily has become one of the... Read More

After WLS Patients Must Give-up Coffee, Tea, Soda and Alcohol to Sustain Weight Loss

Dieters are often told ? drink water. Drink a minimum... Read More

Dieting? You Must Reset Your Weight-o-stat

You need to reset your weight-o-stat. No matter how much... Read More

Little Known Facts About Changes In Our Diet

To say that Americans are obsessed with dieting is an... Read More

Weight Loss Methods

On the market at any given time, there are hundreds... Read More

The Natural Truth About Quick Weight Loss

Actually, I was reading about fad diet and suddenly I... Read More

Weight Loss Tip ? The Importance of Lowering Your Body-Fat!

When you hear a doctor or a personal trainer say,... Read More

The Psychology of Weight Loss: Part 3 ? Lose the Hang Ups!

We have missed the boat and your boat is sinking... Read More

Effects of Exercise on the Relationship Between Low Self-Esteem and Obesity in Children (May 2000)

IntroductionObesity is the most common health problem facing children today.... Read More

Weight Loss for Life ? How to Overcome Speed Bumps!

Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the... Read More

Gastric Bypass Myth ? All Patients Stretch their Stomachs and Regain Weight

Have a conversation about gastric bypass surgery with just about... Read More

The Dangers of Liposuction

One Reality TV show, The Swan, thrives on makeovers. Often... Read More

Why Did I Do That? How to Deal with a Lapse in Your Weight Loss Efforts

A bad day or even a bad week is not... Read More

How to Buy Chocolate Then Forget to Eat It

Some Say I'm Strange. I Prefer to Think of Myself... Read More

Close Kept Secrets to Weight Loss Lesson #13

Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More

Want Power Before Will Power

The problem isn't that you don't have enough will power... Read More