The Wonderful World of Landscaping

As some of you may know, I arrived back Stateside in mid-July after traveling in Aussie and New Zealand. I have been visiting my girlfriends family as well as my family and haven’t really jumped back on the fitness horse. I have missed being ultra fit and conditioned, but not enough to completely give up my 12 hour-a-day internet addiction. I have had some practice runs of 5k, 10k and a few miles here and there. However, running hasn’t necessarily gotten me into shape.

Enter landscaping.

While working at the grocery store in college, my boss in the produce department started his own landscape company. He started having me work for him on my days off and I made some great money on the side. This work was full reconstruction of front or backyards or particular areas. When I arrived back Stateside, my grandmother asked if I would re-do her front and back yards. I had done it about 3 years ago, but it has become a forest again. Work means money. Money means living expenses paid for. I jumped at the opportunity.

Being that it is August in Sacramento, California, it is at or around 100 degrees. I love the heat. I trained in 110 degree weather for months in Arizona for 2 years. But I was definitely not in the kind of shape I was while in Arizona when I started the work Monday. I started sweating big time after about 20 minutes. I kept on going for about 2 hours, then went home for lunch and then went back to work for another hour or so. It wasn’t the toughest work to do, but definitely a workout in it’s own right. I felt exhausted, dirty, tired afterward, but it felt amazing too. I forgot how great I feel after a tough manual labor workout.

We tend to think we must have a gym membership or expensive at-home equipment. Such is not the case AT ALL. To stay healthy, you mainly need to eat right and not be sedentary.  On the other hand, to be fit, you need to do some more exercise. A cheap, productive workout is landscaping.

Here are a few reasons I love doing landscaping:

• Great workout
• Extra money
• Fulfilled seeing a job well done
• The finished product by man’s hands
• Grow your own produce

Those are just a few that come to mind. There are many more benefits.

Focusing on the workout aspect, you really can gain basic strength and balance while landscaping. I caution to stay hydrated and not lift unmanageable weight. The gym isn’t for everyone and this is a great way to get outdoors, be productive, and get fit.

Do you have some oddball ideas for workouts most people don’t think of that are cheap or FREE? Click here to let us all know.

Also, if you have 5 minutes, read this New York Times article on obesity and health care linked HERE. It is quite fitting for the health section and I would love to hear what you have to say about it so comment too please.

Have a good one…

Dave
LifeExcursion

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