I bet you’re the type that hates doing weeds. I mean that back-bending kind of work with landscaping that is sweaty, hard, takes hours and you feel it in your lower back and knees when you get back up. And then, you have to do the same thing over with the next weeds or plants or whatever a few feet over.

Manual Work is Underrated for Exercise

The interesting thing is, a good day’s worth of landscaping work with weeding, raking, cleaning up, tree-trimming and getting everything in the green bin takes up a tremendous amount of energy. Ever since I started using a fitness tracker, I’ve been conscious of my activity. A good day’s worth of landscaping easily puts in anywhere between 5,000 and 7,500 steps of activity, which is about close to or half of what one needs for healthy blood pressure, calories consumption and movement. Add in any kind of aspect of moving heavy stuff, like 50 lb bags of dirt or sand, and you’ve got some extra calorie-burn involved as well.

Trees are Good for Those Who Hate Weeding

Personally, I hate being bent over on the ground doing weeds, but tree-trimming will definitely give you a workout as well. In addition to all the moving around, your arms are going to get some solid exercise sawing, whether you use a branch trimmer with an extension holding it over your head or a basic saw. A couple hours of that and you’re going to feel it in your forearms, elbows and shoulders.

Make Your Food Work for You

In addition, all those micro-tears to your muscles gives some purpose to all the food you’re going to eat later on having worked up a serious appetite. If you combine it with good hydration and some basic even fasting (i.e. 8pm — 8am), your body is going to run extremely efficient in your food consumption, assuming you don’t stuff yourself with chocolate chip cookies. Focus on some clean protein like chicken or tuna on a big salad for dinner, and you’ll sleep like a baby.

So next time that lawn or backyard is hurting for maintenance, don’t think of it as a chore. Instead, consider the work an alternative to a day at the gym. The variety will probably give your body a serious energy burn, evidenced by honest soreness at the end of the day. Speaking of which, it’s time for some ibuprofen; my back is killing me!