Gardening as exercise?

oddbins
oddbins Posts: 4 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Sooo this gardening thing seems like pretty good for burning off the old calories but does anyone know what "gardening, general" actually constitutes? I've not really counted the time I've spent re-potting but have counted the lawn mowing, strimming, raking etc. As well as the hours spent digging up tonnes of clay soil and wheeling it to the back garden in an attempt to level it. What do YOU think it includes?

Replies

  • asaw00
    asaw00 Posts: 1,904 Member
    i've used it when i was weeding, and turning over soil, getting my garden ready to be planted.
  • krunchykat
    krunchykat Posts: 158 Member
    It also includes hoeing, raking, planting, harvesting, weeding, etc. If I spent an hour outside gardening and I know I haven't really worked that hard I may only count 30 mins of it. MFP gives you a pretty high burn for it.
  • Discoveri
    Discoveri Posts: 435 Member
    I include it if I am sweating. My yard is the size of a postage stamp so I don't include mowing or weedwhacking but I do include weeding as I usually spend about 45 minutes crouched over my garden. I only log it as 15 minutes because I don't have a HRM but I am definitely sweating. Sounds to me like you are really working hard so I would log a portion of it if I were you. BTW, I bet your yard is gorgeous with all that hard work you have put into it!
  • jonesdav254
    jonesdav254 Posts: 99 Member
    I have a HRM that I wear for activities. What I found it that while cutting grass, working in the yard, etc, I burn a significant amount of calories. So, I use the general gardening option and list the calories off of my HRM that I've collected to show the effort.
  • BringingSherriBack
    BringingSherriBack Posts: 607 Member
    I think it includes hoeing, weeding, planting, harvesting, and actualy physical work that is generally done standing up and walking with a tool or carrying a bucket (harvesting) or hunched over (such as pulling weeds or picking lower veggies).
    I don't count repotting plants in pots or pulling dead blooms as I generally sit to do this. I do count carrying or hauling soil and transporting harvested vegetables/fruit from the garden to the house.
    This could be used to count raking the yard and trimming/pruning trees, too.
    I count push mowing and trimming (with a weedeater) as Mowing lawn, general.
  • oddbins
    oddbins Posts: 4 Member
    That's great thanks for the replies, it looks like we are all singing from the same song sheet then :o)

    I'm enjoying it actually it's hardwork but it does mean I can use the calories towards a well deserved glass of something at the end of the day and of course my garden is progressing nicely.

    I do get bored doing regular exercise but because this is constructive it's great :)
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