November 16, 2009 - 11:36am

Calorie-burning winter activities

Whether you love the cold or hate it, you can burn calories, have fun, and get a little exercise by making these five activities part of your winter routine.

Calorie counter – calculation is for a 140-pound person for one hour.

Shovelling snow
Think shovelling the driveway is a pain in the back? It can be—especially when you hurry. But shovelling can also build muscles. And it’s an excellent fat burner if you slow down, chat with the neighbours, and turn shovelling into a lower-intensity aerobic activity for 20 or 30 minutes. “Do it slowly and consistently, maintaining good posture. This will challenge your cardiovascular system, plus it’s burning fat,” says Scott MacKinnon, an associate professor of human kinetics and recreation at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Tips: Switch sides! Work your left and right sides equally. Buy a smaller shovel to avoid too-large loads. Use your knees to lift, and avoid bending or twisting your back.

Calories burned: 382

Playing in the snow
Snow-day shenanigans like building a fort, making a snowman or snowball target practice use snow as a resistance force to give you a tougher workout. “The advantages of playing in the snow are similar to aqua aerobics. You’re going to expend more energy wrestling with your kids in the snow than if you’re wrestling on the lawn,” says MacKinnon. Playtime benefits your cardiovascular health, builds muscle, and as a bonus, it gets the kids off the couch.

Tips: Dress for the cold (and don’t stick your tongue to a frozen flag pole).

Calories burned: 255