Re-purpose, reuse, relocate sod, dirt and pond muck to other areas needing filled or leveled.  For short distances, I use a wheelbarrow or tarp and rope to transfer the materials and workout my legs. A trailer is used for long distant transfers. A shovel is used to fill the trailer, giving me a mid-section, arm and shoulder workout.  Use different size shovels to achieve various weights.  Drink lots of water and wear a belt to stay hydrated and protect your lower back from over-stress.

To strengthen the path crossing over the washed-out area, I’ll be adding sticks, branches, extra wood, and old tires to help hold the path together. Throwing tires like a disk and tossing branches and wood stretches the shoulders and builds muscle.

Yard and house work is a good way to exercise and build muscle at the same time. As a young boy, I despised cleaning my room, cutting the grass, raking leaves, shoveling snow, etc. It wasn’t that the work was difficult, I didn’t see any benefit or reason to do it. Today, a bit older and wiser, yard and house work has become my main source for physical fitness, exercise and bodybuilding.

Uncle Jim, Calyb & Connor

As your doing things, anything, around the house, think about what muscle your using. Concentrate, with each move, on the tightening and relaxing of that muscle. Believing your building a healthier mind, body and soul puts a whole new perspective on doing house work.

These are some of my favorite work-out equipment. Made for common everyday yard and house work, many tools have multiple uses. Add tape and splints to strengthen areas that are prone to snapping, cracking or breaking, when under lots of stress. Be creative, turn your tools into fitness equipment and your yard into a gym. It’s much easier and beneficial to exercise at home for an hour or two, compared to driving somewhere else.