Fit Mommy: Sweaty without any equity - house and yard chores can help you burn calories
![snowshoveling-flickr-[salsus].jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2011/01/snowshoveling-flickr-[salsus]-thumb-200x266-66547.jpg)
Snow shoveling is a workout, but not my idea of a fun one!
Photo by flickr user [salsus]
What I do like about homeowned life is that I do burn calories and stay healthier because of the benefits of the house and land. When I shovel snow or mow the lawn, I consider that a decent cardio workout. When we garden, we work ourselves physically and reap the benefits of a healthy harvest. When I paint, I use my upper back and arm muscles, as well as my balancing skills on a ladder. And so the list of chores and calorie burn continues on...
How does your house 'torture,' I mean, 'help' you stay in shape? Do you scrub on your hands and knees like Cinderella for a good workout? Do you haul huge bags of salt down to the water softener? Do you rake huge piles of mulch over your landscaping in the summer? Do you drag yourself up ladders to clean the gutters? Let me know your favorite household calorie burners!
Heigh ho, heigh ho, its off to snow blow I go....
Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who seriously needs to clear some snow from her driveway. She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.
Comments
Tom Harrison
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 2:53 p.m.
Personally, I think that climbing ladders is excellent exercise! Ladders may be the perfect piece of exercise equipment: you can vary your speed to benefit your cardio, work leg and arm muscles, balance, etc.
Sarah Rigg
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
I actually don't mind snow shoveling for exercise, as long as it isn't bitterly cold and windy. And, I know this probably sounds odd, but I find mowing (NOT self-propelled mower) to be both exercise AND a sort of meditative time. I get some of my best thinking done while I'm mowing the lawn. I find cleaning the bathroom thoroughly and hauling big baskets of laundry around work up a sweat, but garden and yard work really gives you the extended cardio workout.
Melissa Boehling
Fri, Jan 7, 2011 : 10:33 a.m.
Great points. Mine is vacuuming especially if doing most or all of the house. The other one is when I'm storing or bringing things out of the attic which is part of our second floor. Half is a room and the other half is storage but needless to go up there can mean multiple trips up and down the stairs. I can definintely feel it when I make more then a couple trips. =) Also mowing the lawn. Its not fun BUT definintely burns the calories. I wore a pedometer once for a woman's health challenge and it was amazing to see how many extra steps that added to my day.