Health Tip: Work Your Muscles While Gardening

(HealthDay News) -- Gardening is an enjoyable way to get physical activity and tone your muscles.

The American Council on Exercise suggests how to tone up while working in the garden:

• Start off slowly to avoid soreness and injury.

• Work in your garden for 30 minutes to an hour at a time at least three times per week.

• Turn your compost pile and pull weeds by hand to work your upper body muscles.

• Use hoeing and raking to strengthen your upper body and trunk.

• Dig in the dirt to work your thigh muscles.

• Use a push mower to get in a cardiovascular workout.