The Benefits of Gardening
Imagine being able to lose weight, get into shape, de-stress, beautify your garden, and prepare your own fresh fruits and vegetables, all at once...
Well, you need not imagine for too long; there is a way to accomplish this in one simple activity - gardening!
Take a moment to think...when was the last time you spent some quality time outdoors? Away from the rush of the office, the buzz of the telephones, or even the busy supermarket aisles?
Spring and summer gardening can be a great whole-body workout to shed extra winter weight. Weight-bearing activities such as digging and lifting can build muscle, and aerobic activities such as raking, mowing and hoeing can burn calories. According the National Gardening Association, a 180-pound person will use 202 calories during 30 minutes of digging, spading and tilling. Check out this list of gardening calorie-burners:
* Raking (30 minutes) 162
* Planting trees (30 minutes) 182
* Trimming shrubs, manually (30 minutes) 182
* Cutting grass on a riding mower (30 minutes) 101
* Laying sod (30 minutes) 202
* Weeding (30 minutes) 182
* Turning compost (30 minutes) 250
The benefits of gardening are not all in the body; they're also in the mind. Tending your garden is a real stress buster, helping relieve feelings of anxiety and providing a break from the general rush of life. Germaine Greer put it perfectly: "A garden is the best alternative therapy."
Whether you feel the blues coming on, or simply need some time to air out your mind, you will discover a great sense of healing by spending some quiet time in your own backyard. Use your hands, and get dirty. Pound out any anger or stress into the soil, and instead of pouting, use bottled-up energy to create beauty. You will release any negative emotion, but also gain a sense of real accomplishment in the process. Now that's what I call using your time and energy wisely!
The great thing about gardening is that the effects are long-lasting. You get to view your handiwork each time you step outside, and if you are planting fruits and vegetables, you actually get to eat the "fruits of your labor"! You've got to get in at least three to five servings of vegetables, and two to four servings of fruits each day...and there's nothing healthier than eating your own homegrown produce. Visit www.thegardenhelper.com for a great guide to getting started in the garden, and to find out which seasons are best for planting specific fruits and vegetables.
If you manage to get in a real good gardening session, you are sure to find truth in the words of John Erskine: I have never had so many good ideas day after day as when I worked in the garden."
To your health and success!
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© Valerie Orsoni-Vauthey, CEO & Founder
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Valerie Orsoni-Vauthey is a Certified Weight Loss Coach at My Private Coach.
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