FitSugar

Do You Consider Raking Leaves Exercise?

FitSugar — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:45:00 PDT

I have a very large oak tree in my front yard, and it's dropping leaves by the bushel. While raking and bagging leaves is a bit strenuous, I have never really considered the activity exercise.

But when I calculated the calories burned for 30 minutes of gardening versus 30 minutes of walking at a 20 minute a mile pace, gardening wins by 50 calories. I know when I rake, I also do lost of squats while bagging the leaves. So I am starting to reconsider my position on raking, what about you . . .

Source

P.L.O.W. – Celebrating the Coming of Fall

FitSugar — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Although I'm sad that summer weather is waving us goodbye, autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. I love apple and pumpkin picking, jumping in piles of leaves with my girls, going on hikes to see the foliage, cool runs outdoors and bike rides in the park. This weather inspires me to get out and see nature.

Check out this playlist celebrating this wonderful season. Listen while you walk and these songs are sure to inspire the sense of coziness that autumn brings. To see it

read more "Leaves That are Green" - Simon & Garfunkel, 2:41 "California Dreamin' (All the Leaves are Brown)" - The Mamas & The Papas, 2:41 "Moondance" - Van Morrison, 4:36 "Harvest Moon" - Neil Young, 5:05 "October" - U2, 2:23 "Autumn Leaves" - Tony Bennett, 1:58 "Scattered Leaves" - The Be Good Tanyas, 4:46 "Forever Autumn" - The Moody Blues, 4:37 "Early Autumn" - Ella Fitzgerald, 3:16 "Evidence of Autumn" - Genesis, 5:22 "Autumn in New York" - Billie Holiday, 3:44 "Changes" - Davie Bowie, 3:35 "The Circle Game" - Joni Mitchell, 4:55 "October Road" - James Taylor, 3:56 Total P.L.O.W. – 53:35 Source

Fall Workout: Rake Some Leaves

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:30:00 PDT

If you have a yard and a tree, chances are high you will be spending some quality time this fall with a rake and your front lawn.

Raking leaves is not only necessary for keeping your grass alive, but the dried leaves are great to use as aeration in your compost pile or bin. As if that's not enough, it's also a great way to get some fresh air and exercise.

An hour of raking leaves burns about 290 calories. This is awesome, but it's tough work your muscles aren't used to doing. That means you can end up being completely sore the next day, in places you never knew existed. Since your body is not used to doing this type of motion, you could even risk throwing out your back.

Want to hear some tips for preventing strained muscles and next day soreness? Then

To prevent sore arms and an aching lower back the next day, be sure to stretch your arms, shoulders, hamstrings, and back before and after grabbing a rake. Wide Squat will stretch your hips and lower back, and Gate will stretch the sides of your body and your hamstrings. You can even use the rake to help you stretch. Do a Wide-Legged Forward Bend, and instead of holding your feet, hold onto a rake behind you. This will give the backs of your legs, lower back, and shoulders a killer stretch.
While you're raking, make sure to switch which arm is dominating so you work the muscles on both sides of your body equally. Switch sides often to prevent overworking a certain group of muscles.
Also be conscious every time you lean over to pick up piles of leaves to put in the brown bags. Use your very best squatting technique and bend your knees, don't round your back. This will seriously reduce the strain on your lower back while working out your legs. Try to bend at the knees to reduce the strain on your lower back.
There's nothing wrong with taking breaks often. Use your breaks to drink water and stretch your muscles.
Don't do too much. No one said you had to rake all 3 acres of your lawn in one day. Break it up over a few days, or better yet, get a friend to help.
After an afternoon of raking, take a nice hot shower or bath to loosen up your muscles. You can even do these shower stretches in the water. They feel amazing when your muscles are all warmed up.

Try Lea Michele's Old-Hollywood-Meets-New Waves

Jaime Richards — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:31:13 PST

Lea Michele should be the poster girl for gorgeous, flowing hair because when it comes to silky strands, the actress never skips a beat. "It was all about modern glamour for Lea's look at the New Year's Eve premiere," explained Dove celebrity stylist Mark Townsend, who created the actress's look last night. "Her Valentino dress reminded me of old Hollywood, so we wanted to play off that with a young, modern version." For a step-by-step breakdown on how Townsend achieved Lea's captivating coiffure, just keep reading.

Celebrate Daylight Saving: Calories Burned in an Hour of Exercise

Jenny Sugar — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:07:00 PDT

It's that time of year again, when we "fall back," and turn our clocks back one hour. I love adding 60 minutes to my Sunday, so make the most of it - don't just go about your day as usual. My advice is to wake up in the morning when you normally would and spend your freebie hour working out. Gone is your excuse about not having enough time to exercise. Check out how many calories you'll burn sweating it out for an hour.

Cardio kickboxing class: 597 calories*
Cycling at a moderate pace (14 to 15.9 mph): 540 calories
Elliptical: 486 calories
Hiking: 387 calories
Mowing the lawn: 243 calories
Raking leaves: 216 calories
Pilates: 144 calories
Running at a 10-minute-per-mile pace (6 mph): 540 calories
Soccer: 378 calories
Spin class: 413 calories
Strength training (vigorous): 359 calories
Swimming: 594 calories
Walking at a 15-minute-per-mile pace (4 mph): 243 calories
Yoga class (fast-paced): 403 calories

Don't forget to change your clocks before you go to bed tonight. Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011. Enjoy your hour!

*All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

6 Sites That Will Turn Your Hobby Into a Moneymaker

Emily Co — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:00:57 PDT

You've got a hobby on the side that you spend hours on, so why not start raking in some dough for your efforts. Generating a side income will be a great safety net if you ever (knock on wood) find yourself unemployed. And who knows, work hard enough to grow your side biz, and you might actually get to leave your day job for it. Here are some sites that will help you get a head start on making extra cash.

Wall Play Mounts Offer Vertical Storage Space and Double as Art

Elka Karl — Mon, 09 May 2011 13:04:36 PDT

I'm always leaving my gardening tools in random spots - leaned against the trees, tucked onto a bench, or abandoned in an actual garden bed. I know, not cool. Even though we have a gardening shed, it's rarely used for actual tool storage.

I have a sneaking suspicion that if I invested in a few of these Flora Grubb Wall Ornaments ($9 each), I'd get organized in a flash. Easy to mount and absolutely eye catching, they serve as wall art that functions as hangers for anything from your gardening hat to your rake or pitchfork. Available in gold, lime, orange, and red, you can easily coordinate them with the color of your home or even your garden's primary or contrasting colors. Keep reading to take a closer look!

NFL Players Need Personal Finance Help, Too

Emily Co — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:32:06 PST

Although NFL players have salaries that range from a minimum of $325,000 to $25.5 million and beyond, they desperately need financial tips, because a lot of them are living paycheck to paycheck. The NFL players are currently in negotiations for their salary, so in the spirit of the Friday deadline, in which the bargaining must come to an agreement, the NLF Players Association issued a 64-page personal finance manual, USA Today reports. The advice includes everything from the practical "save 25 percent of your salary" to the absurd. Here are some of the funny ones:

Socialize "with a purpose." For example, it's OK to spend when you're networking to prep yourself for life after football.
Never "pay friends to perform work that you can easily do." Seriously, it's not that hard to reply your own emails or text girls.
When you're hitting up the clubs, make sure to "leave the club with your wallet and budget intact." Being drunk is not an excuse for popping too many Cristal bottles or misplacing your Louis Vuitton wallet.
When pals and family ask you for money, reply "no" or "not now." Just because you are raking in the dough doesn't mean you have to become the Bank of America for your entire family.

Tips For Cleaning the Yard Without Breaking Your Back

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:30:53 PST

The cool temps of Fall mean yard work for me. How about you? There are piles of fallen leaves to rake, and I also like to plant colorful flowers to brighten up the upcoming rainy Winter.

I'm sure many of you are knee-deep in yard work as well, and while it's a great way to burn some calories, you want to do it safely so you don't end up injuring your bod. Here are some tips.

Purchase a lightweight rake made out of plastic instead of metal. The plastic glides more easily on the grass compared to the metal, making less effort needed on your part.
When raking, keep your core stable and upright, and use your arms to pull the leaves toward you instead of hunching over. It'll tone your upper body and prevent pain in your back and neck.
If you have woods on your property, rake leaves into small piles that you carry away on a tarp. Don't try to pull too much at once, as that's a good way to strain a muscle. If you have to bag your leaves, bend your knees out to the sides and squat down to pick up piles instead of bending at your waist. This will work your booty and also prevent lower back pain.
If you have heavy things like tree stumps and rocks to clear off your lawn, use a wheelbarrow instead of carrying them yourself.
Bring a bottle of water outside and drink often. Even though you may not be at your gym, it's still a good workout.
Take breaks often. No need to do all three hours of lawn work at once. Do 20 minutes and then stretch for five. Also know when to call it a day. You can always do more yard work tomorrow.