Fall Fitness Without the Gym

Think that you can't lose weight this Fall? Think again. Below is a list of 10 fun Fall activities you can participate in and burn calories!! Start with one activity and then think about how you might add another or combine them.

1. Cleaning Gutters - It's that time of year just before the winter rains arrive. For 30 minutes of gutter gunk you can burn 170 calories. If you have two stories on your house, add another 10 calories for climbing up and down your latter.

2. Driving in Traffic - While you are sitting behind the wheel of your car in holiday traffic or looking for that parking space you are burning 120 calories an hour. (Park far away from the store and you can add a few more calories to this!)

3. Raking Leaves - Falling under the category of gardening, raking and digging can provide some great fitness benefits. Besides being in the great outdoors, 30 minutes of raking can burn up to 200 calories! So, don't ask the kids to do it. Do it yourself for the health benefits.

4. Vacuuming - Cleaning up before your guests arrive? You can spend 100 calories for 25 minutes of vacuuming. If you have a really old vacuum, maybe even a few more!

5. Waxing your car, boat, or plane - Before winter arrives, be sure to wax your car, boat, or plane and after 20 minutes, you'll have burned 100 calories or more. Wax on... Wax off...

6. Take the stairs - Those office parties will be much more fun and healthy if you take the stairs to get there. Up or down, stair climbing burns about 100 calories in 20 minutes.

7. Cooking - Yes, even as you cook you're burning calories! After 35 minutes, you'll have burned about 100 calories. Making and baking cookies for a couple hours means you'll have used about 400 calories (that is if you haven't eaten any cookies along the way).

8. Mall Shopping - Shopping at the mall for your favorite sweater can burn anywhere between 120 and 150 for 30 minutes. Skip the escalators and take the stairs for added benefits.

9. Dancing - Every holiday party has the potential for dancing... so break out the iPod™ or CDs and kick up your heels! Dancing for just 20 minutes can burn up to 100 calories. That's 300 an hour!

10. Ice Fishing - For those of you in colder climates, a fun way to pass the time is ice fishing. One hour can burn up to 170 calories.

The estimates provided are based on a 150 pound person. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting this or any exercise program. Enjoy!!

"Get Fit Without the Gym," Medicinenet.com. Web. October 12, 2009.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56726

http://www.caloriecount.about.com Web. October 12, 2009.

http://www.tooelehealth.org Web. October 12, 2009.