Not only is doing housework productive, it can also cause you to burn fat without even realizing it.
Surprisingly, by shoveling snow from your driveway, you can quickly burn calories because this action is a dynamic cardio exercise that engages both the legs and the core of the body, back, shoulders, and arms.
Repetition of this exercise can turn out to be a grueling workout for anyone, and it also contains some risks of which caution must be taken due to cold temperatures. Therefore, we inform you about how many calories you can burn removing snow and how to do it correctly.
How many calories are burned removing snow?
For starters, the average scale estimates that a 70 kg person scooping snow for 30 minutes burns about 223 calories. On the other hand, 56 kg people burn approximately 180 calories, and 85 kg people burn 266 calories.
This means that body weight has a great influence on the amount of calories burned, since it is the body itself that provides all the weight in the activity and works in such a way that the more you have, the more calories you will burn.
Factors that affect the number of calories burned
There are many variables to consider when it comes to doing this activity. One of them and very important is intensity.
It is logical that if you remove snow without much interest and not with the necessary intensity you will burn fewer calories than someone who is enthusiastic about it. Also, if you move fast and the snow is heavy, your body will respond by speeding up your heart rate and burning more calories to fuel your body. Another group that benefits is the muscle fibers, which play an important role when you have to carry heavy snow that is difficult to move.
Another important factor is time, with this we mean that if you remove snow for 10 minutes, logically you will not burn as many calories as if you did it for 30 minutes or 1 hour. Helping you with other snow removal tools, like a snow blower, will also reduce your calorie burn. For example, an 80-pound person using a snowblower for 30 minutes only burns 200 calories compared to the 266 that you would burn without the help of this tool.
Don't forget that wearing the appropriate outfit for the task is essential, as your clothes should help you stay warm and trap heat, causing you to burn calories.
How to Safely Remove Snow
As for any training, you should take some precautions before starting to shovel snow .
You must take into consideration your physical condition, age and sedentary lifestyle before undertaking this activity, and if you have any condition that puts your health at risk when doing high intensity exercise, you should consult your doctor beforehand.
Beyond this, snow removal has risks that end in 100 deaths annually. Therefore, do not rush to finish the task as soon as possible: take your time and do not put too much pressure on your heart and muscles.
A great tip is to do some stretching exercises before starting, warming up your body so you don't get injured. You can do some core rotations and jumps to get your heart rate up and your muscles ready to start.
You should also make sure you are using the correct type of paddle for your size and height, as if the handle is too long it will make each movement more difficult and heavier than necessary. Remember that to remove snow you should always bend your legs and not lift the weight with your back. Also allow yourself to take breaks if you need them.
conclusion
Listening to your body is essential to discover if something is wrong, and these signs can save your life. Therefore, when you remove the snow from your home, do not hesitate to take all possible precautions so as not to end up in the hospital. Anyway, doing it is a good exercise as long as you know your limitations and strengths.
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References
- Jake, W. The Calories Burned Shoveling Show – And How to Do It Safely. For Livestrong [Revised January 2020].
