Silly question for those of you in snowy climates...

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MarKayDee
MarKayDee Posts: 196
in Fitness and Exercise
Would you consider shoveling snow to be cardio or strength?

I live in Portland, Oregon and usually by the time you can find a snow shovel any "snow" has melted and a lot I disappointed school children are looking for the sad soggy remains under shady trees. This week however we have gotten six inches of the damn stuff. I work in a grocery store, and we have been understandably busy because I work near the valley and there are a lot of people who shop where I work that once the snow starts sticking can't make it anywhere. Needless to say I was elated to finally get to use a snow shovel for snow and not bottle caps (Oregon is weird) and volunteered to spend 6 hours of my day shoveling snow, after I had initially called in to work (our buses got up and running faster than I expected them to, and I like money)
Every single muscle in my body is sore, but I was working hard enough I was sweating and my boss regularly came out to see if I needed someone else to take over for a while. Just out of mild curiosity and for funzies I was wondering if it counted for cardio or strength training, either way I am going to go take a hot bath and eat as much food as I can fit in my super sore body.

Replies

  • alfiedn
    alfiedn Posts: 425 Member
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    I don't, but it is hard work!
  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
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    Another Origonian, fun! I'm close to Spirit Mountain Casino. I'm loving the snow but you guys have more hills than I have to deal with.
  • toadg53
    toadg53 Posts: 302 Member
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    Northern MN here ... it's definitely cardio. Once you are shoveling for even a few minutes, your heart rate goes up tremendously. Even people that are in top notch shape will have an increased heart rate. They always warn people with any heart issues or anyone that doesn't normally do any type of exercise to either NOT do any shoveling, or do just a few minutes at a time. Even snow blowing is a very rigorous exercise, just manhandling the machine is a real workout on the arms. I've shoveled for 20 or 30 minutes and come in dripping wet. And I exercise daily. There are always a few people every year that lose their lives from shoveling or especially from clearing their roof off, and not from falling either. It's a real workout. Actually, it would be both cardio and strength ... a heart and lung workout and definitely works out your arms, back muscles, stomach and legs as well. Hope that helps.
  • klkateri
    klkateri Posts: 432 Member
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    CARDIO!! LOL, But i'm willing to bet strength training too.

    I've been getting hit with lots of snow too and I count it on here in my cardio and it helps burn those calories so now I don't complain about going outside and shoveling!!
  • ProgressNotPerfection32
    ProgressNotPerfection32 Posts: 1,155 Member
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    Cardio. Huge burn and lots of muscles used. Awesome
  • KatherinesRiver
    KatherinesRiver Posts: 128
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    OH, God. It's a pain in the butt.

    I consider it both. Cardio and strength. For those of you who are not looking at 4 feet of new snow, listen up. You first must be instructed in HOW to shovel. Use your large muscles of the legs and back. I'd have to show you. Don't twist those knees! You will hurt yourself. Get in a rhythm and start at one point and work from there. Big shovelfuls, no little sissy two cup loads. Ha, ha! I'm a transplant from a tropical climate. Snow confused me at first. Now I get lots of exercise and wear myself out for five months out of the year!!

    Remember to drink lots of fluids and wear clothes that you can peel off because you will sweat!
  • PunkyRachel
    PunkyRachel Posts: 1,959 Member
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    cardio
  • daw0518
    daw0518 Posts: 459 Member
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    Hahaha. I laugh because I'm in Corvallis. We have over a foot of snow here & OSU has been closed for two days. So crazy! Where I come from [Eastern WA], no one blinks unless it snows like 3 feet. It's interesting to see how well [or NOT] the city handles it. Shoveling snow? Corvallis has no idea what that is.

    Anyways, I would totally count it as cardio. Especially since it's not something you normally do, & you did it most of the day. Most people who are shoveling snow are only shoveling their own sidewalks & driveways - but I know from experience, even THAT'S hard. I couldn't imagine 6 hours of it!

    EDIT to say I also totally understood your reference to shoveling bottle caps. From the people returning bottles/cans for refunds, right?
  • MarKayDee
    MarKayDee Posts: 196
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    Haha thanks guys! I'm (obviously) kinda chubby, which is probably why my manager kept coming out to see if I had given up yet. Luckily I just had to do the walks in front of both entrances and not the whole parking lot or I probably would have just given up. My hair actually frozen with huge long icicles, people kept offering me coats and gloves.
    My legs and arms are by far the most sore, along with my abs, the surprising sore was the top of my butt, I don't know how I pulled that off.
  • WoodenLamb
    WoodenLamb Posts: 21 Member
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    Hey, I would definitely count it as exercise! Here's a link to calulate how many cals you probably burned. Enter your weight and how many hours you worked at it! http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=85 I even saw a mom magazine listing it as an exercise.

    6 hours, girl you're tough. ;)
  • hozik
    hozik Posts: 369 Member
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    It is listed in the mfp cardio section as "shoveling snow". It burns more calories than you might think.

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