Since I’m trying to get into better shape I decided to try to keep a positive “whistle while you work” mind frame while getting the garden ready. Usually dirty fingers and physical labor make me mad but gardening is a workout which is good what with always trying to burn off something. If you’re gardening to lose weight check it out – I’ve estimated the calories you are likely to burn while performing standard gardening tasks.

Shoveling something or digging burns 340 calories per hour. I did it for 2 hours with periodic breaks for weeping.

I had to scrape off layers of sod. Many were repurposed in brown areas of my lawn. Others were flung into the woods. This burns 363 calories an hour. I flung sod for at least 1/2-an-hour with periodic breaks to tuck my spleen back into position.

Raking burns 292 calories per hour. I suppose I did it for 1/2 hour and then crawled into the kitchen trailing dirt. I put a fist full of Ibuprofen in my mouth, chewed, swallowed, and curled up on the kitchen throw rug and died.

I figure I burned 2,720 calories and I’m all set until Flag Day in terms of Weight Watchers activity points earned. And I did manage to turn boneyard white trash pit into patch of dirt. Now I’ve got to actually plant stuff, like turnips or something. I’ll think about that tomorrow.