365 Ways to Live Happy (23 page)

Gardening gives you the opportunity to work out in the fresh air. And nothing beats fresh-picked herbs when you want to intensify the taste of salsas, sauces, and savory dishes. Using a spade to turn over dirt and dig in fertilizers and soil amendments can give you a workout. The number of calories burned while gardening, according to a variety of Internet sites about fitness, ranges between 250 and 272 per hour. That's roughly one Starbucks grande Caffè Latte made with milk, or one Snickers bar. You can get a bit more of a workout if you use heavy equipment during your time in the garden, for example, a rototiller or cutting trees with a chain saw. The calories then add up to around 400 to 405 per hour. But if you love to cook and also appreciate having fresh herbs as well as fruits and vegetables packed with vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, consider designing and planting a garden and then combine the gardening with cooking for a healthier you.

Start your day with a little salsa, mambo, cha cha, or your favorite dance steps as you make your way over to measure the coffee, add the water, and turn on the pot. Dance until the coffee is ready, have a cup, and dance some more. Start your fancy footwork in your kitchen and jig throughout your house. If you have to leave for work, dance your way to your dressing room, keep moving while you do your makeup, dance over to pick up your purse, briefcase, and car keys … and dance right into the garage. Keep moving and watch the pounds melt away.

Have you tried skating lately? You can still rent skates and get a workout in a roller skating rink or ice skating facility. Ice skating is particularly fun when done in the winter in an outdoor rink. Roller rinks still offer the young and young-at-heart places to get a workout, complete with music and a light show. Another option is to buy some inline skates designed for skating on paved surfaces such as streets and sidewalks. Inline skates are sleeker and more stable and lightweight than their traditional counterparts. So grab your family or a friend or even your favorite canine for an afternoon outing at the park. Take along a picnic lunch, a bottle of water, and your inline skates. Don't forget to take along some gloves to protect your hands, and pads for your elbows and knees just in case you fall. But don't let the fear of falling keep you from working out and having some fun. Skating particularly works the thighs, calves, and buttock, and when you see the results on your body for doing that type of regular exercise, you'll exercise your facial muscles, too, into a big smile.

Experience sheer exhilaration as you get a workout in an exotic locale. Sign up for a fun-filled eco-tour vacation. Teach your children about ecology and learn some new facts yourself while hiking in nature. You'll burn roughly 544 calories an hour rock or mountain climbing or about 510 per hour if you are just climbing hills with a 10- to 20-pound pack on your back. Head off for the Lapa Rios Ecolodge, a rainforest reserve and wildlife corridor near Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park where you can hike and see spectacular birds and other wildlife. Or travel back in time to discover ancient Ethiopia and hike with eco-tour guides into the Simien Mountains. If you prefer an exotic locale closer to home, learn about the life of eagles and try a little kayaking on an eagle-watching trip into the wilds of Maryland. The point is to burn calories doing fun activities in a natural setting.

If you like working out with others, join a rowing club. Rowing tones the arms, builds upper body strength, and involves all major muscle groups. Basically, rowing takes two forms. Sculling is when rowers have an oar in each hand. But when the rowers have both hands on one oar, that type of rowing is called sweep rowing. Rowing is a low-impact exercise but does require a degree of agility, grace, and teamwork. Rowing as a team teaches you to work together for maximum effectiveness. The boat advances more quickly when the rowing team members row fast and in unison. So make some new friends, learn the art of rowing, get in a regular workout, and feel good as your body becomes trim and toned.

If there's a grocery store in your neighborhood or a weekend farmer's market, gather together canvas bags or heavy-duty utility bags and head out for a brisk walk to do your grocery shopping. Since you'll be carrying the bags of groceries back home afterwards, you'll want to be sure you can carry what you purchase, in other words, buy only what you need that will fit into a couple of bags. Walking while carrying groceries means you'll be burning a lot more calories than you would driving your car to the store. Plus, it's better for the environment. Now, that's something to feel good about.

If you've ever wanted to break out of the ordinary routine and taste adventure, trekking might be just the thing to try. Trekking regions of the Himalayas used to be only for adventurers, mountain climbers, and tourists with a liking for remote and exotic destinations. Today, trekking has become a popular pastime for ordinary people with a chunk of time and enough money to get to Nepal or India. It's a good idea for you to join a trekking group if you are a first-time trekker. Trekking, defined generally as walking while carrying a backpack, will take you through lots of different types of terrain if you are walking in regions of the Himalayas. As you hike, you'll burn lots of calories. Your muscles will become firmer and stronger and you'll begin to feel mental, spiritual, and physical renewal. Read up on trekking; give it a try.

Swing a hammer, carry some lumber, and otherwise help build a home for a poor family if this appeals to your social conscience. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that works in tandem with volunteers in communities worldwide to build houses for low-income people. Former president Jimmy Carter and his wife spend a week every year swinging hammers to help erect affordable shelter for the poor on behalf of Habitat for Humanity. If you believe that you could be doing more to help the less fortunate, then grab your hammer, go out, and work up a sweat with people like yourself working with Habitat for Humanity.