Monday, February 16, 2009

Gardening, Your Health And Getting In Shape

By Steve Grenny

Gardening is usually thought of as just a way to grow beautiful plants and great tasting fruits and vegetables. Most of us have never considered the immense amounts of exercise one can get in the process of gardening.

You might be asking yourself, how much exercise can really be gained from gardening? When you begin to think about all of the work that goes into preparing a garden you come to the realization that gardening can be quite rigorous. From digging holes to pulling weeds, a lot of exercise can occur from daily gardening.

You may not be an exercise fanatic. In fact, you may dread the gym and hate the sight of a treadmill. The good news is that you don't have to be at the gym to exercise. Take up gardening. The great thing about getting your exercise from gardening is that you will not only see physical results, but you will also reap the benefits of what you have planted.

Because gardening can be strenuous make sure you stretch before working that green thumb. Many gardeners make the mistake of spending too much time hunched over. This is very bad for your back. Many times in the garden you will be lifting potting soil and other heavy objects. That's why it's imperative that you stratch so as not to hurt yourself.

With the constant standing and crouching, weeding and pruning are some of the best workouts a gardener can get. Some weeds are very resistant. As a result your arms will become particularly toned just from the effort required to remove them from the ground. Again, make sure you are paying attention to your back. Don't overdue it.

Exercise can also happen in the lawn. Mowing the grass is a great way to get some exercise. If out have a self-propelled mower try to just push the mower instead. Push mowing is wonderful exercise. If you are seeking a cardio workout, pushing a lawn mower for an hour or so will really get the heart pumping. You will also feel the burn in you arms, legs and chest.

You can't go wrong using gardening as a way to get in shape or lose some weight. You will have a great time and end up being a healthier person because of it. And before you know it, you'll have a healthy lush landscape to be proud of, along with your new waistline. - 15438

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