Morning,
So! It’s the wintertime…and if you live where bunches of white fluffy stuff falls, you’ll probably have to haul your cheerful self outside every now and then to shovel off your driveway.
First off, did you know that you burn around 408 calories every hour you shovel snow (assuming you weigh 150 pounds and that Calories Burned for Activity: Shoveling Snow is accurate)? And that that is equal to eating:
Quantity – Description – Calories
| 1.6 | Grande Starbucks Caffe Latte – Made with whole milk | 260 |
But I digress. 
Shoveling snow, while being a great exercise for some, can cause overexertion in others. So, here are some useful tips you can follow to make sure you get the best out of your exercise.
From the National Safety Council:
- Individuals over the age of 40, or those who are relatively inactive, should be especially careful.
- If you have a history of heart trouble, do not shovel without a doctor’s permission.
- Do not shovel after eating or while smoking.
- Take it slow! Shoveling (like lifting weights) can raise your heart rate and blood pressure dramatically; so pace yourself. Be sure to stretch out and warm up before taking on the task….MORE….
Snow Shoveling Techniques from the Toronto EMS:
- Always try to push snow rather than lifting it.
- Protect your back by lifting properly and safely
- stand with feet at hip width for balance
- hold the shovel close to your body
- space hands apart to increase leverage
- bend from your knees not your back
- tighten your stomach muscles while lifting
- avoid twisting while lifting
- walk to dump snow rather than throwing it.
- When snow is deep, shovel small amounts (1-2 inches at a time) at a time….MORE…
Me, I love shoveling snow – I figure it’s a wonderful workout that really gets my muscles moving. My favorite part of snow shoveling is when I have to chop away the ice/packed snow in front of my driveway (you know, the 32 foot tall pile always left there by snowplows), because I’ll pretend to be Gandalf and declare to the world, You! Shall! Not! Pass! HERE! and then cut down smoothly on the snowy mass. My kids adore watching me act it out.
So….if you can move the snow, become one with it! Your weight loss will thank you for it.
Enjoy,
Barbara
ps – need a snow shovel?