Researchers are claiming gardening is just like going to the gym and set up a study set to prove that gardening can provide health benefits for young adults.
Researchers from Konkuk University and Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea, claim gardening is just like going to the gym.
Here’s how:
- Turning compost is like lifting weights.
- Raking is like using the rowing machine.
- Pushing a mower is like walking on a treadmill.
In fact, in measuring 10 gardening tasks against gym favorites for men and women in their 20s, their research classified planting transplants, mixing growing medium, watering, harvesting, sowing, hoeing, mulching, raking and weeding as moderate-intensity activities and digging as a high-intensity activity.
Looking at specific calorie burn, the Royal Horticultural Society calculates that a half an hour of digging burns 150 calories, raking a lawn burns 120 calories and pushing a lawn mower burns 165 calories.
While past studies have focused on the health benefits of gardening for older adults, this study set to prove that gardening can provide similar benefits for younger adults.
Original article source : Nicole Wisniewski @ TDB Mag
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Replies
I think the difference is that these gardening jobs are rarely pushing yourself to the max....... unlike at the gym where, according to my son who goes there regularly, you're lifting heavy weights... in fact the heaviest you can manage for the max number of times before you collapse. Apparently, it's this pushing yourself to the limit, that actually builds the muscles up....... gardening work apparently has more effect on increasing your stamina. I can see his point...... we never get out of breath or push ourselves to the maximum effort... well I don't anyway..... and I've never developed big muscles... its just not necessary. On the plus side, I can keep going all day with quite hard gardening work when my son is knackered after a few hours!!
Certainly not working here :-(
I do both and agree with Graham.I think the gym hits the spots where gardening doesn't reach. I assumed I was pretty fit being in the this line of work but then when I started at the gym I realised there were lots of areas that needed some work.