I recently built about 250 feet of flagstone path in my backyard. My wife was going to be gone for several days and I wanted to surprise her by building this path. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get my exercise in during this time because I work a lot and would have to do the path after work. Well I was in for a big surprise, but I learned a pretty good lesson too.
Not all calorie burning activity needs to be “exercise”. I found out that working in the yard (especially building a flagstone path) is a great way to burn some calories. It is also a way to break up the monotony of the normal exercise routine. It took me 42 hours to finish the path. I worked until 10pm every night my wife was gone.
Here is how it started:
No points for this part. I got the rock delivered.
Here is step two, excavation:
WW Activity= Gardening/digging 13 hours= 52 points or around 3100 calories.
Here is step three, stones to the finish: WW Activity= Gardening/digging
29 hours= 116 points or around 6900 calories.
I accomplished this over a 12 day period. I did no other exercise other than work on this path everyday after work. It was WAY harder than I ever thought it would be, but my wife loved it and that made everything worth it. And it was an eye opener learning that other things, things that actually need to be done or I just want to do, can help keep me fit and strong.
I may not be exact on the points. Gardening/digging doesn’t exactly fit what I was doing, but that was the only thing I could find on my online WW stuff. These points are also based on me being a guy at my weight. Hopefully this post wasn’t too boring. I just wanted to share the insight that I got that not all good calorie burning activities have to be “Exercise”.
My angle on weight loss 
You and your wife have a gorgeous piece of property. And you did an awesome job on the walkway! I love to get in activity by accomplishing things around the house because then I get to admire my efforts.
I love gardening, landscaping and plants, so this post wasn’t boring at all. I grow bananas, pineapples, mangoes, oranges and herbs. I look forward to seeing more pictures of your hard work in the yard.
Hey thanks for the yard inspiration. I have a whole plan that I am working on. I want it to be a paradise. There is 2.3 acres and when I removed the sod to create the flower beds, I nearly killed myself. That was freakin’ hard work. Glad I have a gardening partner know. I will post some more pics, especially the ones of the sod removal.
It’s nice to hear about the other types of exercise. I always have a hard time counting my yard work as exercise. If I don’t go to the gym it seems like I didn’t get any exercise in. I need to remember to count everything and wrap my mind around the fact that you don’t always have to go to a gym to get a good work out in. Thanks for reminding me!
Nice job. Looks like a pro did it.
Much appreciated. I worked my booty off on that thing. There was actually a concrete path that went around before. The jack hammer broke and I had to use a darn sledge hammer. That was possibly that hardest work that I have ever done. I was sucking air.
Wow! That is a really beautiful walkway! Nice job…and great work finding new and interesting ways to burn the calories!
Thank you so much. I was nervous for my wife to come home, but thank God she liked it. Weh, hard work!
I’m a little late to this party, but I just gotta say that your flagstone path is beautiful! My husband does landscaping/irrigation, so I know exactly how much work goes into something like this – I am very impressed. Great job!! =)
Better late then never. I appreciate the comment and the visit. I love the path and now have a greater appreciation for the landscape contractors work.