Canyon Ranch (Massachusetts)

Ahhhh! The conveniences of modern life. Can't live without 'em, right? Well, the truth is that you could live healthier with a little less convenience.

Maybe turning back the clock to the time of butter churns and horse-drawn carriages isn't the answer, but it is possible to burn more calories, improve balance, promote circulation and generally increase fitness simply by doing everyday things the old-fashioned way.

From your job to your home, the tools and appliances that help make life easier can also have the unintentional consequence of promoting weight gain, allowing muscle loss and even causing fatigue from inactivity.

Do you really need an electric can opener? Probably not, so why not use a manual one? Can you rake leaves instead of using the leaf-blower? Couldn't you ride your bike to the post office four blocks away instead of driving there? Why not get out and open the garage door yourself? There are many small changes we can make in our lives that will, in the long run, help us stay naturally fit.

Don't go crazy, of course. While self-sufficiency can lead to healthier lives, as with everything, moderation, patience and self-knowledge are keys to changing for the better.

Someone with a large lawn who has been using a riding mower, for example, probably shouldn't immediately switch to a manual push mower. However, it would be reasonable to consider switching to a gasoline-powered mower you push. Once the powered mower becomes comfortable, then consider using a fully manual mower. Mow a big lawn the old-fashioned way and you can skip a trip to the gym with a clear conscience.

Incorporate fitness into your daily life by getting back to basics. Here's a sample of how you can do this - and with a bit of awareness you can identify many more ways to simplify and improve the quality of your life.

- Walk or ride a bike when you don't really need the car. For long trips and shopping the family car is indispensable, but it's often used more than needed - often simply out of habit. If there is a town center where you live, park in a central location and walk to stores rather than driving to each one separately. And when parking, don't circle the lot searching for the closest parking space. Instead, park a short distance away to purposely increase walking opportunities. (You'll also benefit from skipping the stress and frustration of cruising for the ideal spot.) If mass transportation is practical for you, it also offers additional walking opportunities.

- Walk briskly. Picking up the pace can help burn extra calories and improve circulation. A 150-pound person walking at two miles per hour can expect to burn roughly 170 calories in an hour. The same person walking briskly for an hour will burn about 280 and get more cardiovascular conditioning benefit.

- Take the stairs. Elevators and escalators have certainly made our lives easier, but standing idly waiting to get somewhere does the body little good. Next time try taking the stairs. As with walking briskly, taking the stairs helps shed pounds, tone muscle, improve circulation and increase cardiovascular fitness. A 150-pound person burns roughly 10 calories per minute climbing stairs. And next time you pick up the phone to call someone a couple doors down, consider walking instead. A little walk down the hall will limber you up and probably clear your head, as well.

- Eschew power tools. For do-it-yourselfers, the invention of electric- and gas-powered drills, hedge clippers, saws, leaf and snow blowers and other similar tools have been great time savers. However, they burn fossil fuel or electricity (much of which comes from fossil fuel) and do very little to help keep you in shape. By going manual, what was once a chore can become an efficient and practical workout. Of course, use reason. A manual saw is fine for building a gate, but you probably want to use an electric one for raising a fence. A 150-pound person sawing can burn over 300 calories per hour.

- Pull some weeds. When faced with weeds, people often turn to costly chemicals, which can be detrimental to the environment, pets, wild animals and the weeder's overall physical well-being. Whenever possible, try to pull the weeds yourself. A modest amount of bending and physical labor does you good. On average, a 150-pound person burns 325 calories during one hour of weed-pulling - and it gives you a bit of fresh air at the same time.

Be your own best workout buddy. From painting the walls to carrying your own bags, doing more for yourself helps you stay fit more naturally. Instead of hiring the neighbor's kid to rake the yard, tipping the skycap to carry the luggage, or having the bagboy take your groceries to the car, do it yourself. A little effort, applied frequently, yields real results.