The summer is in full swing and there are lots of outdoor activities that can help you tone up and lose weight. I have been having weight loss success mowing lawns. It’s a great form of exercise. My husband has a lawn service and I help him cut grass and trim trees.
I am building the muscles in my arms and legs using the push mower (I’m scared of the riders) and the tree/bush trimmer. As the season progresses, I am able to push the mower at a faster pace and I’m not so exhausted when I’m done. I also don’t need to take as many breaks as I did when we first started cutting lawns this summer. The trimmers use to feel so heavy when I first started using them. I don’t notice the weight now when I use them.
I’m getting a great tan, losing weight, toning muscles while providing a service for people as well as earning extra money. It’s a win-win situation.
We have had to re-turf our garden this year, I don’t think I have ever worked so hard in the garden, I have sore bits all my hands. Will be worth it when I have done, garden will look good, not sure about the tan – always seems close to rain when we do it but hope I have managed to lose weight.
Great stuff, one of my friends once said, if you ever want to lose weight and get paid for it, get a job as a builders labourer – or any other manual labour job – here in the UK dry stone walling is a great one.
Ian
(Don’t forget to use sunscreen!)
Nothing beats working out, outdoors in nature.
Great post. I find myself washing and detailing my car for a few hours works up quite a sweat, while producing a lovely burn/tan at the same time.
Cheers!
Even people who work out and are in great shape usually find themselves getting even more fit in the summer time. This applies in particular to people who really get busy in the yard outside.
This is true – hard work outside is a REAL workout.
Along with all of the physical work, our bodies are fighting to stay cool in the heat, causing additional increases to our metabolism.
I agree that sometimes do-anywhere exercises are far more effective than trying to get to the gym all the time. 75 years ago the only people who went to the gym were boxers. If more people would do what you are doing, just be active, we would all have a good tan and maintain ideal weights.
It’s really not fun to lose weight and get tanned that way. Doing outdoor activities and sports would be a much better choice than mowing the lawn or gardening, that’s my take.
With it being so hot outside, mowing the lawn is usually the only outside exercise I get. Besides burning calories, I lose extra water weight and build up my endurance. I started by mowing 1/3 of the yard, then taking a 10 minute rest, up to mowing 90% of the yard or all the yard before I have to take a break. It is definitely a great weight loss activity.
My father is a living, breathing example of this being true. He was a contractor who always ate bad food all day, but he was always carrying boards, fixing a roof, and just working in the hot sun all day so he would be skinny in the summer, and then gain weight in the winter when there wasnt as much to do outside.
Its funny how everyone is looking for a “magic pill” when losing weight is easy and right in front of their face.
Jade, I enjoy mowing yards. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. I haven’t been living in this state for very long and it has given me the opportunity to meet so many people. There isn’t any sports activities available for people almost 60 years old in my area. Riding my bike is out….no trails or safe place to ride.
Good for you! Theres so many things that we do everyday without realising that we are getting a work out. Like cleaning. Tans are great for making you look slimmer as well, but be careful. I love using self tanners. Also a company called It Cosmetics.com created some awesome waterproof bronzers that you can use to make yourself darker and they last all day in the hot summer heat. I love to get a good tan, but my sister recently had skin cancer so I try to be careful not to spend an unhealty amount of time in the sun!
This is cool earning while losing weight! What can you suggest for those people with office jobs who can’t do this kind of workout?
I know it is harder to get exercise when you are working in an office all day. A few options are walk to work if possible or park farther from you office than you normally do. Take a healthy lunch to work with you and spend part of your lunch hour walking. Use the stairs instead of the elevator.