Gardening – Garden workout

I still need to lose at least another 15kg and I know that people advancing into middle age also start to lose muscle mass, flexibility, aerobic capacity and may have increased stress levels due to their work situation or family life. Retaining muscle mass and reducing middle aged spread are two of the key components in slowing the aging process and improving quality of life. And this is where gardening comes in. Not the gentle amble around the garden with posies of flowers-type gardening, but solid, sweaty activity.

Anyone who doubts the benefits to flexibility needs to do a bit of weeding under low-hanging shrubbery! Likewise, pulling big weeds, pruning hedges, lifting root crops or digging a veggie bed are pretty effective at working those bigger muscle groups. For those with activity monitors (all the rage these days it seems) a good hour shifting and spreading mulch or mowing the lawn can easily rack up 10,000 steps, enough to keep you feeling rather pleased with yourself!

A good workout in the garden is a great way to start the day before breakfast or wind down after a stressful day at work. Relatively gentle but repetitive activities like weeding the veggie garden are surprisingly good for the mind. Rather than becoming bored, you’ll probably find your mind settles into a calmer state and what seemed like insurmountable problems are more easily overcome by the time you go back inside. You’ll sleep better, too!

An hour of work like this is as good as going to a gym, with the bonus of saving money on gym fees, cutting driving time, restoring your sanity in this busy world, appreciating nature, combatting global warming in your own small way, adding significant value to your property, gaining a sense of achievement, activating the artistic part of your brain, producing bountiful fruit and veggies which further improve your health and save money, all at the same time. Could there be any activity which is more of a win-win?Like any outdoor physical activity though, you need to start slowly and take care to stay safe. Stretch before any serious work, don’t work through the heat of the midday; work in the shade wherever possible; do the slip, slop, slap; and keep well hydrated. Stop for a snack if you’re feeling a little wobbly, avoid using sharp tools if you’re tired and be careful on slippery surfaces, ladders and slopes. ACC won’t thank you for becoming another statistic. Just the thought of all that activity exhausts me; I think I’ll stroll down the road for a swim!