Okay, I’ve never been one of those girls that neeeeeeds a boyfriend, I like having them, if they’re worth being had, but I’m generally also content to be single and hang out with my friends and unabashedly watch stupid amounts of Jon & Kate Plus 8 without anyone to making fun of me. But, today I realized I need a boyfriend, at least for the summer. Why? Because mowing the lawn is really hard!
Okay, yeah, fine I’m perpetuating gender stereotypes, but there are certainly female stereotypes I am fine with taking on. Lawn mowing, however, is one I would like to give the boys. The trick here is that I have a small but lush backyard attached to my tiny apartment and only a manual (meaning non-electric) lawn mower. I happen to have let it get a bit too long, the grass that is, mainly because I used to have a male roommate and the backyard was his domain and I never knew where the lawn stuff was. Well, this weekend I’m throwing a party and realized I needed to do some maintenance. I mowed a bit yesterday, but having just come from a three-hour cracked-out-ballet class and no sleep, I just wasn’t strong enough to do it. The lesson I learned today is that manual lawn mowing is a calorie torcher!
I mowed and raked and backed and cut by hand for a little over an hour and according to the fitness counter at Daily Plate, I burned 408 calories. I certainly was sweating, and I even started working a lunge routine into my pushes just to keep things interesting. Needless to say that was my workout.
So, if you know of anyone who would be willing to be my lawn mowing bitch…err, I mean boyfriend that would be great, thanks.
Here’s the food:
Breakfast 6.9.09
2 eggs
2 slices whole grain toast
orange juice
Lunch 6.9.09
Peach Sorbet (I wasn’t all that hungry)
Dinner 6.9.09
I had class tonight with catered dinner:
Chicken breast
String beans
Noodles
Filed under: Daily Confessional | Tagged: Boyfriend, Household Exercise, Lawn Care
I was never allowed near a lawn mower growing up, so that somehow I made it this long without ever learning how to mow a lawn. I am not proud of this and need to change it. Especially since who knew yard work burned so many calories!
I’m getting back on the healthy wagon and just wanted you to know your blog continues to be a motivator and inspiration to me, so thank you.
If you would like to learn on my backyard, I just want you to to know I’m here for you.
Also, thank you! That means a lot.
I love mowing the lawn with a push mower. Ok, I love mowing the lawn regardless…Too bad I’m Upstate. Haha.
I’ll pay for your plane ticket next time you get the jones for mowing lawns. I wouldn’t want you to feel deprived of grass mutilation opportunities.
I’m in Boston, but count me as one of the people that loves to mow the lawn. I do it for our condo (it is a tiny, tiny yard). I tried to get the condo to buy a non-gas powered mower, but they wouldn’t go for it.
There’s something so satisfying about watching the straight lines show on the grass.