Who has time to exercise with a seasonal to-do list that stretches through December?
We’re here to help you feel better about skipping the workout—here’s a general idea of the calories you’re burning while you work and play this fall:
Raking the lawn—The calorie count varies depending on the source, so we’re going with the biggest number we could find—Caloriescount.about.com says a 150-pound person burns almost 300 calories an hour raking leaves.
Need the latest in rake technology? Try Pasquesi Lawn and Garden in Lake Bluff.
Touch football—Re-enacting “The Big Chill” this weekend with your college buddies? That half-time touch football game will burn about 140 calories if you stick to a full hour of game time. (dietbites.com)
Foodie alert: It’s not a real touch football game until someone breaks out the tailgate gear. We’ve got 6 great sandwiches to try! (Sure, this is all about burning calories, but you have to eat at some point!)
Planting bulbs—No pain, no gain … if you want fabulous spring color, you have to put the work in now. You can take solace in the fact you’re burning 340 calories an hour doing light gardening. (everydayhealth.com)
Need some advice about what goes where? If you’re lacking great green thumbs, try Every Green Plant Garden Mentor in Barrington.
Hiking (cross-country)—If a fall color tour is in the works, plan to push your partner for a serious workout. Make it a really active walk, and you can burn more than 425 calories an hour. (Self.com)
Need a place to take a walk? Challenge yourself this fall to the walking path on Geneva Lake. It makes for spectacular fall color and serious sight-seeing.
Organizing the closet—Switching up the swimsuits and beach towels for winter coats and Wellies? Organizing your closet burns 230 calories per hour. (ivillage.com)
Psst … You’re not burning any calories when you’re staring at a hot mess of a closet, paralyzed by the overwhelming task ahead. Call Creative Organization Solutions to get you started.
