No, I have not left Mr. Balancing Act in order to cohabit with some guy named Ed. I am talking about the reality show on HGTV starring Ed Begley, Jr. I recently found this series on DVD at the library and I've been watching episodes while I stretch in the evening. Ed and his lovely wife Rochelle are all about greening it up, with their solar panels and wind turbine, their recycled countertops and Energy Star appliances. They have many high-tech "toys" and gadgets that help them save energy, most of which are prohibitively expensive. But on one episode, I did spy a gadget which we already own, isn't too costly, doesn't use any electricity, and can also help you get fit.
What is this amazing gadget? Well, you could have guessed a bicycle. Ed does use his bike regularly to go and visit his good friend Jay Leno who has installed a virtual sea of solar panels over his garage. But no, it's not a bike.
It's a reel lawn mower! Do you know what this is? An ancient artifact in the history of lawn care, the reel mower runs on human power, not gas or electricity! You have to push it. Hard! And in doing so, you receive numerous benefits.
For one thing, you get outside in the sunshine. This is already a giant step in the right direction as most of us spend way too many hours indoors. Vitamin D deficiency is commonplace these days. To boot, you are doing some actual work which probably needs doing. At our house, there is always some grass somewhere that needs cutting. We have way too much of the stuff. Mostly Mr. Balancing Act cuts the various acres of grass and field with our gas-powered lawn mowers. Yes, plural. I simply cannot stand these things. They are LOUD as heck and the fumes they spew are revolting. You would never catch me mowing the lawn if it were not for the quiet, stink-free, all natural reel mower.
But I haven't even gotten to the good part yet! From a fitness perspective, pushing the reel mower is a golden opportunity. You are combining both a lower body, aerobic workout with an upper body strengthening workout. Depending on your lawn's slope, you may also be strengthening your leg muscles as you lunge up and downhill. If your lawn is in desperate need of a haircut, already long and straggly, then attempting to use the reel mower becomes an epic struggle of man (or woman) against nature. I have been dominating our overgrown chicken yard since the rains came with a combination of sheer will and copious amounts of sweat. This experience does not resemble using a riding mower in any way, shape, or form. However, if your lawn is flat and well-trimmed, using the reel mower will be more like taking a walk around your yard while pushing a baby stroller. Very pleasant and easy, productive exercise, indeed!
I'm not sure if you can purchase a reel mower at your local Home Depot or if you need to order one through an Amish supplier like Lehman's. In this age of the Internet, I'm sure a quick search will answer that question! Let me know if you decide to try this fantastic fitness regimen!
What is this amazing gadget? Well, you could have guessed a bicycle. Ed does use his bike regularly to go and visit his good friend Jay Leno who has installed a virtual sea of solar panels over his garage. But no, it's not a bike.
It's a reel lawn mower! Do you know what this is? An ancient artifact in the history of lawn care, the reel mower runs on human power, not gas or electricity! You have to push it. Hard! And in doing so, you receive numerous benefits.
For one thing, you get outside in the sunshine. This is already a giant step in the right direction as most of us spend way too many hours indoors. Vitamin D deficiency is commonplace these days. To boot, you are doing some actual work which probably needs doing. At our house, there is always some grass somewhere that needs cutting. We have way too much of the stuff. Mostly Mr. Balancing Act cuts the various acres of grass and field with our gas-powered lawn mowers. Yes, plural. I simply cannot stand these things. They are LOUD as heck and the fumes they spew are revolting. You would never catch me mowing the lawn if it were not for the quiet, stink-free, all natural reel mower.
But I haven't even gotten to the good part yet! From a fitness perspective, pushing the reel mower is a golden opportunity. You are combining both a lower body, aerobic workout with an upper body strengthening workout. Depending on your lawn's slope, you may also be strengthening your leg muscles as you lunge up and downhill. If your lawn is in desperate need of a haircut, already long and straggly, then attempting to use the reel mower becomes an epic struggle of man (or woman) against nature. I have been dominating our overgrown chicken yard since the rains came with a combination of sheer will and copious amounts of sweat. This experience does not resemble using a riding mower in any way, shape, or form. However, if your lawn is flat and well-trimmed, using the reel mower will be more like taking a walk around your yard while pushing a baby stroller. Very pleasant and easy, productive exercise, indeed!
I'm not sure if you can purchase a reel mower at your local Home Depot or if you need to order one through an Amish supplier like Lehman's. In this age of the Internet, I'm sure a quick search will answer that question! Let me know if you decide to try this fantastic fitness regimen!
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