TRIM THE LAWN WHILE TONING YOUR LEGS
You already know that raking leaves burns lots of calories (about 192 per hour for a 130-pound woman, according to Fitness magazine).
And other fall endeavors also have considerable calorie-burning benefits:
– Painting a fence for an hour burns 252 calories.
– Sixty minutes of playing touch football burns 468 calories.
– Stacking firewood for the same amount of time burns 312 calories.
Now there’s a way to boost the cardiovascular and firming quotient of another outdoor chore: mowing the lawn.
BodyTimes, a Wheaton-based fitness newsletter, reports that a new reel mower supplies a pedal-powered lower-body workout while you groom your grass. The manual mower comes with a detachable push handle and an adaptor for your bicycle.
The resistance is perfect for toning thighs and calves, the newsletter, which bills itself as a resource for “simple fitness tips for complicated times.” (For more information on the publication call 630-466-0339, write to P.O. Box 4773, Wheaton, Ill. 60189, or send e-mail to [email protected].)
The mower with bicycle adaptor cost $225 plus shipping and handling. To order call Gardener’s Supply at 800-863-1700.