Snow Can Be Good

     We complain about the snow, about how much we hate winter and we want to move.  It's hard to get out, get to work and keep active.  The cold air burns our faces and it hurts to take a deep breath sometimes.
     However, if you are looking at it from a fitness angle, you can burn 400 calories an hour shoveling snow.  If I walk for an hour I only burn 225 calories.  So, by comparison, it is a much better workout.  You are also working your arms, shoulders and legs.  You have to be careful, though, that you are doing this correctly.  You can't use your back to lift, you have to lift with your legs.  You should be pushing more than you are lifting and you shouldn't be twisting at all to throw snow.
     My wife reminds me all of the time that walking on the beach through the sand. requires 2.1 to 2.7 times more energy than walking on hard surfaces and soaking up some sun helps us to acquire the  Vitamin D that we are all so craving desperately in the winter. Obviously, you now know that she would like to move so that winter never happens again.
       It doesn't matter if you are shoveling, having a snowball fight, pushing a broom to clean your steps or just pushing the snow off of your car, you are moving.  Get out there, clean your walks, help your neighbor and burn those calories!

Let's be careful out there...but let's get out there...