Keen to ditch your gym membership to save some cash this summer? Love being outside? Then you’ll be happy to hear that gardening counts as exercise. According to research by Loughborough University, three hours of gardening could burn up to 700 calories, which is as many as an hour-long, sweaty gym session. What’s more, as well as being an effective way for women to stay in shape, getting active in nature will also give your mental health a boost.
‘Most of the tasks we do in the garden burn calories, build muscle and improve bone and joint strength,’ says fitness trainer Jemma Thomas (jemmashealthhub.co.uk). ‘Put in a little extra effort and an afternoon of digging, planting and pruning becomes a whole body workout.’
Wondering how to get fitter and healthier while giving your outside space a spruce up? Here’s what you need
