Want to know a good, effective and free workout? Shovel manure compost for 1-2 hours. I did just that both yesterday and today. It turns out i won zoo-doo from the zoo in the weekly contest for Seattle. So I rented a trunk from u-haul and shoveled dung for an hour. Two tons worth! Note to self: get a f350 instead of a f150 for this type of load. Driving home was an experience hauling so much weight not to mention tires were wobbly and burning. Kind of reminded me of me running a mile at my heaviest. Shoveled it back out of the truck this morning. With that much work, it feels like I should be on a strongman show or something. Try it out sometime. I am sure it will break any stall...

Good post. I think people forget that there are a lot of ways to burn calories that don't involve going to the gym.

I agree. I walked the last 3 blocks to my home carrying 3 bags (weighing 5lbs each) uphill. There's a workout for you. Or cleaning office buildings using a vac, walking up AND down 2-3 flights of stairs - daily. Yep I'd called that working out and working off pounds as well as calories. Whew!! :ph34r:

Agreed. Make exercise fun and stop paying other people to do manual labor, it is very rewarding. Last week I dug out two monster tree stumps that previously would have cost hundreds to have someone come take care of. The sense of accomplishment when I was done was great. I'm all about human horsepower, rather than gas these days. Sold my beloved bass boat and bought an awesome kayak to fish from. I can't begin to tell how much fun that is, with a great workout to boot.

Well I wouldn't say it was "fun" but you see how really in shape you are (or aren't) when you do manual labor. I work out 6 hours a week and was feeling pretty good about myself, till I mowed the grass and thought I would die. It's a completely different work out! Now I do most of the grass cutting for some cardio.

It turns out i won zoo-doo from the zoo in the weekly contest for Seattle.

Is it me, or is that kind of a crappy prize?

Is it me, or is that kind of a crappy prize?

Why you gotta crap on his thread?

Why you gotta crap on his thread?

That's a crappy thing to say. Dung it.

Why you gotta crap on his thread?

That's such a crappy thing to say, dung it.

Actually you would be surprised at how popular the zoo-doo is as compost for the garden.

i guess it is a win-win for both the zoo (inexpensive way to get rid of the animal crap, still some costs to turn it into compost) and the winner (each truck load costs $60, which is still cheap for me). It used to be free for people to come pick up until it got popular and the zoo realized they could make lemonade from lemons (sorry, I could not resist!)