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Get Your Weekend Warrior Moving
Posted on Nov 13th 2009 10:00AM by Lisa JohnsonFiled Under: Fitness
Photo: Lisa Wymer
It's Friday and you're starting to think about your weekend plans. As always, there are lots of choices. Do you go shopping at the mall or hike a scenic mountain? Do you assume the couch potato position next to your spouse or whisk your partner across a dance floor? Here's what will happen if you put down that remote and lace up a pair of sneakers ...
- Flag Football vs. Tailgating. Flag Football is a great and energizing way to spend an hour or two with friends and family zooming around a park while living out your quarterback fantasies. It also burns lots of calories; on average about 570 per hour!
Tailgating? Well, standing around with your buddies, drinking beer and chomping on fattening comfort food, not so much. A hamburger, chips and a beer are about 650 calories while standing around for an hour and maybe tossing a ball back and forth burns a measly 170 calories. This puts you behind about 480 calories so its better to head for the nearest park over the rear bumper of your mini-van.
- Hiking a Mountain vs. Strolling the Mall. In much of the country, the foliage is beautiful this time of year and it feels great to go for a hike in the fresh clean air. Of course, you could get a jump on your holiday shopping at the mall or see what kind of recession deals are lurking in the racks. Hiking burns 535 calories per hour. Strolling the mall burns 175 and a hole in your wallet. Save some money and get in touch with Mother Nature.
- Raking Leaves vs. Leaf Blower. Raking leaves will have you feeling virtuous in two ways: you'll be burning about 305 calories per hour and it's healthier for the planet. In contrast, using the leaf blower burns about 100 less calories with the added benefit of annoying your neighbors and dumping tons of toxins into the air over your house. Yes, hauling the added weight of the blower around the yard will net you some physical benefits, but not as much as raking will. Pick up the rake and treat yourself and the planet to healthier living.
For other calorie blasting ideas, check out these Fall fitness trends.
