How to Lose Weight through Gardening

Losing weight can be tough, but have you ever considered that having your own garden could be the answer?  Gardeners benefit from getting outdoor exercise that burns calories and trims their waistlines. They also add a variety of their own homegrown produce to their diets, which can help promote weight loss.

If you’re tired of boring treadmill sessions or being cooped up inside with some free weights, consider the exercise benefits of gardening.  Depending on your activity level, you can burn up to 400 calories per hour in the garden.  The movements of raking, hoeing, digging, and weeding engage the major muscle groups.  Spread your gardening out over at least three 30 to 60 minute gardening sessions per week, and don’t forget to warm up and cool down to avoid muscle soreness.

If you’re looking to burn more calories, get out in your garden every day and work consistently.  You may have to work up to frequent sessions, because you may use muscles you didn’t even know you had!  Get into some simple stretching sessions for a few weeks before starting your gardening exercise routine.

One of the most satisfying aspects of gardening is being able to harvest and eat the produce you have grown.  So gather up an armful of fresh vegetables and a basket of ripe fruits to add low calorie impact to your meals.

Garden vegetables are not only low in calories, but have a high content of water and fiber, which make them a more filling food choice.  Filling up on these low calorie foods will provide you with a great source of vitamins and other nutrients as well.

Vegetables are tasty substitutions for foods higher in calories and fat.  Fresh vegetables should make up the major portion of your meal, along with small portions of lean protein and whole grains.

Add a fresh salad to your supper to satisfy your appetite without adding calories and fat. Make a veggie wrap or a steamed vegetable plate for a fresh and healthy lunch.  And don’t give in to the empty calories of vending machine snacks when you can bring some ripe berries or melon balls from your garden to snack on at work.

Look at the low calorie counts for one cup of these vegetables and fruits:

• Blueberries – 85
• Strawberries – 49
• Carrots – 45
• Broccoli – 30
• Bell Peppers – 30
• Green beans – 44

And that’s only a few of the tasty options you’ll have to choose from when planning your garden.

You can see how gardening can help you shed those extra pounds by allowing you to get out and be active, and add low calorie, nutritious foods to your daily meals.  You’ll feel great about your accomplishments when you can kick off your gardening shoes and slip into that new dress.