ACBEF Leisure Lab

Is raking leaves good exercise?

Raking leaves is more than just a chore – it’s a beneficial form of exercise that can benefit your overall health.

Engaging in the activity of raking leaves offers a full-body workout, targeting major muscle groups while also improving cardiovascular health. In just 30 minutes, you can burn approximately 150 calories, making it an effective way to stay active and fit during the fall season. So, next time you’re out in the yard with a rake, remember that you’re not just tidying up – you’re also giving your body a workout!

When you rake leaves, aside from filling your lungs with fresh air, you will also work the major muscle groups in your back, shoulders, arms and legs, as well as improving your cardiovascular health by raising your heart rate. In just 30 minutes of raking leaves, you can burn around 150 calories!

Is yardwork enough exercise?

Is yardwork enough exercise? Regular gardening can significantly benefit your physical fitness. Research shows that engaging in activities like mowing, digging, and planting for two to three hours can be equivalent to an hour of intense gym workout. Additionally, experts from Loughborough University suggest that dedicating three hours to gardening can help burn up to one pound per week. Engaging in yardwork can indeed serve as a valuable form of exercise.

Does weeding count as exercise?

Weeding can be considered exercise. Gardening can burn calories comparable to brisk walking. Even though yard work may not be viewed as a typical calorie-burning exercise, it can contribute to physical activity levels and overall fitness. To maximize the exercise benefits while weeding, incorporate different movements like squatting, bending, and stretching. Varying tasks and maintaining proper posture can also enhance the workout effect.

Is pulling weeds a workout?

Yes, pulling weeds is a workout. It can be a good form of exercise according to the AARP activity calculator. For a 175-pound person, activities like weeding can burn around 180 calories per half hour. Other gardening tasks like raking, planting, and pruning also provide physical activity and contribute to overall fitness levels.

Is pushing a wheelbarrow good exercise?


Yes, pushing a wheelbarrow is a beneficial form of exercise that engages various muscle groups and improves strength and cardiovascular fitness.

1. Pushing a wheelbarrow helps strengthen the upper body, including the arms, shoulders, and back muscles.
2. It also engages the core muscles and enhances stability and balance.
3. Pushing a wheelbarrow can be a great way to incorporate functional, full-body exercise into your routine.
4. This activity can improve overall fitness levels and provide a practical workout for everyday activities.

What is the No 1 exercise for aging?

The top exercise for aging is often overlooked – seasonal chores like raking leaves can burn more calories than typical workouts like walks or weight training. Incorporating functional exercises into daily routines can lead to significant calorie expenditure and overall fitness benefits. Lawn mowing, gardening, and snow shoveling are other examples of activities that provide a great workout for older adults.

How much weight can you lose gardening?

Gardening can help you lose weight. Activities like using a weighted wheelbarrow engage various muscle groups, including the biceps, abs, calves, chest, forearms, glutes, and more. This total body exercise can contribute to weight loss and overall fitness. Other gardening activities that promote weight loss include digging, planting, and weeding, which can burn calories and improve muscle tone. Regular gardening can be a beneficial addition to your fitness routine.

Which burns more calories walking or gardening?

Walking typically burns more calories than gardening. However, specific gardening activities like digging and shovelling can also be effective in burning calories. For example:
1. Digging and shovelling burns around 250 calories per half hour.
2. Lawn mowing can burn approximately 195 calories in the same time frame.
3. Weeding can help you burn about 105 calories in 30 minutes.

What burns more calories walking or raking leaves?

Raking leaves burns more calories than walking. Many are unaware that seasonal chores like raking leaves can burn more calories than common fitness activities. For example, in just an hour, raking leaves can burn more calories than a brisk walk or weight training session.

1. Raking leaves engages various muscle groups, providing a full-body workout.
2. Walking also has numerous health benefits, improving cardiovascular fitness and aiding weight management.
3. Both activities can be enjoyable ways to stay active and burn calories.

Is gardening bad for your knees?

Yes, gardening can be beneficial for your knees as it involves activities like raking, planting, weeding, and pruning that can burn around 180 calories per half hour for a 175-pound person, as per the AARP activity calculator.

1. Gardening can help improve knee strength and flexibility.
2. Staying active in the garden can contribute to overall joint health.
3. Proper gardening techniques can reduce the risk of knee strain or injury.

How many calories do you burn weeding the garden?

Weeding the garden burns around 350-450 calories per hour, engaging your legs, shoulders, and core. Additionally, a 150-pound individual can burn 408 calories per hour mowing the lawn. Activities like weeding, pruning, and digging effectively work various muscle groups in both the upper and lower body, providing a good overall workout.

Is raking leaves better than walking for exercise?


The National Institutes of Health classifies raking leaves as a “moderate intensity” aerobic activity, on par with walking at a brisk, 15-minute mile pace. According to the Surgeon General, a 150-pound person will burn 150 calories in 30 minutes of raking.

What exercise burns the most calories in 30 minutes?

What Cardio Burns the Most Calories?

Type of Activity Calories Burned per 30 Minutes
Jump roping 300
Kettlebell circuit with light weights 107
Rowing (moderate-intensity) 102–205
Running (5 miles per hour) 287

How many calories do you burn raking leaves for 30 minutes?

A half-hour of raking the lawn uses up 120 calories if you weigh 125 pounds and 178 calories if you weigh 200 pounds. Bag the leaves, too, and you’ll double the calories you burn per session.

How to burn 1,000 calories in an hour?

Run at a pace of 8 mph for 60 minutes during your cardio workout. Running for a whole hour at a speed of 8 mph burns around 1,000 calories if you weigh 200 pounds (91 kg). If you weigh less but still want to keep your time at the gym around an hour long, you may need to run a bit faster.

Can gardening replace exercise?

Yes, indeed. Gardening is similar to other moderate to strenuous forms of exercise like walking and bicycling.

What exercise burns the most calories in 30 minutes at home?

Jumping rope boasts the highest calorie burn. You can torch up to 495 calories jumping rope for 30 minutes. But, it’s not the only workout option. This list ranks the top 9 trainer-backed weight loss exercises by calories burn.

Does gardening help you lose weight?


Yes, indeed. Gardening is similar to other moderate to strenuous forms of exercise like walking and bicycling. Gardening works all the major muscle groups: legs, buttocks, arms, shoulders, neck, back and abdomen. Tasks that use these muscles build strength and burn calories.

In conclusion, raking leaves can indeed be a beneficial form of exercise that engages various muscle groups and promotes cardiovascular health. While it may not be as intense as other workouts, it can still provide significant physical benefits, especially when done regularly and with proper form. Additionally, the fresh air and outdoor environment can contribute to overall well-being and mental clarity. So, next time you’re faced with a pile of leaves to rake, consider it as an opportunity to sneak in a little workout and enjoy the natural surroundings at the same time.

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