If you are anything like me, you did a significant amount of shoveling yesterday. That’s the joy of living in a northern area… we get to shovel every winter!
My first client this morning told me how sore his back was from shoveling all the snow, and he’s not alone. Many people are waking up sore from shoveling… and some aren’t waking up at all!.
In the USA last year 1647 people died shoveling snow. Yep you read that right, 1647 people!
So how the heck does that happen? Well an average two car driveway, with 20 cm of snow on it, weighs over 2200 lbs. That’s a lot of weight to move. And most people hate shoveling so they try to go as fast as they can, which means bad form and everything from strained backs to heart attacks.
So how do you make sure you’re not one of these numbers? Exercise! I’m not talking about walking on a treadmill, or using a chest press machine. You need to be functionally fit.
This means you need to be fit to move through three dimensions while moving weight. Machines only give you two dimensions to move in, so while you might be stronger doing that exercise it won’t help you when it comes down to living your life… or shoveling 2200 lbs. of snow!
Hey an average snow blower costs over $2000! Why not spend that money on yourself and buy personal training or a good gym membership? Not only will you look better but you may save your own life!
Click here for a FREE personal training session, or FREE week at 360fit!
Devin Sherrington was named #2 trainer in Canada 2015, is 8 time Best Personal Fitness Trainer Halifax award winner, and owner the award winning fitness studio 360fit in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He lives in Fletcher’s Lake with his girlfriend Lauren and children Reign and Journey.