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yard work out: Dig with a trowel

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Yard workout Digging in the dirt beats sweating in the gym any day By Diane Hart First published in Chatelaine's May 2003 issue. © Diane Hart

Dig with a trowel  

 Calories burned in 10 minutes: 50 You're down on your knees, prepping the soil for your tomato plants; you're also indulging in one of the best ways to get everything above the waist strong and lean. Digging with a trowel is as good as playing table tennis or paddling a canoe. What it works Your wrists, shoulders, arms and back How to do it Kneel on a garden pad to avoid hurting your knees and lower back. Make sure you don't overexert your wrists when digging. Stay close to your work to avoid injury by overreaching.

TIP Reposition yourself frequently to distribute the workload to different muscles. Stand up and stretch every 10 to 15 minutes.

 
  • Intro
  • Basic stretch
  • Lift a wheelbarrow
    Dig with a trowel
  • Mow the lawn
  • Prune a tree
  • Trim your hedges
  • Tips for working in your garden
     
 
  • Grow your own herbs
  • Pot luck
     
 
  • Your complete gardening guide
  • More workouts in Sweat Central
     
 
  • Swap gardening tips in our Home + garden forum
     
 
  • Garden guru Yvonne Cunnington: April 14 to 18
     
   

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