How many calories do you think you can burn just working around the yard?
I already look at mowing, weed eating and outdoor projects as a workout, so I decided to track the whole thing and see what the numbers actually looked like.
How many calories do you think I burned? 👀
One very active day and a whole lot of yard work.
Does Yard Work Count as a Workout?
I definitely think it does. 😂
Between mowing, weed eating, walking back and forth, carrying things and just being on your feet working outside, you can stay moving for hours without really thinking about it.
That's one of the reasons I enjoy this kind of work. I'm getting something accomplished while also getting plenty of movement in.
Watch: How Many Calories Did I Burn?
Take a guess before you see the final number. 😂
Why I Track My Calories and Activity
I like tracking my activity because it gives me an idea of just how active some of these days really are.
I'm not trying to make the calorie number the whole point of what I'm doing. I mostly enjoy being able to look back at the end of the day and see how much I moved and how active I was while getting everything done.
Fitness trackers estimate calorie burn, so I don't look at the number as an exact measurement. I use it more as a way to compare my own activity from one day to another.
What I Use to Track My Calories
If you've seen some of my workout and yard-work Reels and wondered what I'm using to track everything, this is the tracker I use.
It lets me keep an eye on my activity while I'm mowing, doing yard work, exercising or just having one of those days where I seem to be moving nonstop.
The calorie tracker I use
I use this to track my activity and estimated calories burned throughout the day.
After My Workout and Working in the Yard
Of course, yard work isn't the only exercise I do. I also enjoy regular workouts, and some days I end up doing both.
This next Reel shows what my calorie tracker estimated after my workout and working in the yard. It's always interesting to see how much activity adds up when you combine the two.
My activity after a workout and a day of working in the yard.
I don't expect every day to look like this, but I do enjoy having active days where I can get a workout in and still make progress on the things that need to be done around the house.
What I like about tracking it:
At the end of the day I can see what I accomplished AND how much I moved doing it.
Mowing Is One of My Favorite Ways to Stay Active
I've mentioned before that I actually enjoy push mowing.
I like being outside, getting some sunshine and having time to think while I'm moving. Somehow, even with a mower running, it's still one of the more peaceful parts of my day.
And when you're pushing a mower for a long stretch of time, you're definitely getting some movement in.
I wrote more about that in Anyone Else Actually Like Push Mowing?
Getting Things Done Is My Kind of Motivation
For me, one of the best things about days like this is being able to look around afterward and actually see what I accomplished.
The grass is cut. The weed eating is done. Something else gets crossed off the project list.
And at the same time, I've spent hours moving around instead of sitting still.
That's pretty much my kind of motivation: get something done and get a workout at the same time.
I wrote more about that in My Kind of Motivation: Turning Everyday Chores Into a Workout.
So, How Many Calories Did I Burn?
I'm keeping the answers in the Reels because guessing is half the fun. 😂
Watch the videos above and see how close you were.
Just keep in mind that everyone's calorie burn is different. Your size, activity level, heart rate, how hard you're working and how long you're working can all affect the estimate. A fitness tracker gives you an estimate rather than an exact number.
What was your guess?
Were the final numbers higher or lower than you expected?
More From Unlikely Flips
If you like following along with our projects, check out my push mowing post, our tiny home outdoor makeover, or visit our About Us page for more renovations, DIY projects, finds and everyday life around here.
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