Get Outdoors and Reap the Rewards

You need willpower, smart food choices and regular exercise to lose weight. Before you start training for the next major road race, think about this: working in your yard is hard work. What better time is there than the beginning of a new year to start developing healthy habits?

Men and women of all ages can benefit from a moderate amount of daily physical activity. The good news is that the activity doesn't have to be strenuous to achieve results. Check with your doctor before starting an exercise program.

You've heard the advice before to go outside and play in the dirt. It's estimated that a 135-pound female can expend more than 160 calories when she gardens for 30 minutes. If you're a 175-pound male, you'll expend close to 210 calories. If you replace that riding lawn mower with a hand mower, you'll burn 193 or 251 calories respectively.

Remember, it's never too late to start exercising regularly! By exercising outdoors, you'll feel better, boost your energy level, and get a healthy dose of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, in the process. Plus, if you do it right, you'll have the best-looking yard in the neighborhood.