Could gym workouts be a thing of the past?
Getting your body in shape may be easier than you think and cost a lot less too, as a new survey has revealed that washing your car can reportedly burn more calories than a gym session.
This piece of news is likely to devastate you if you have just joined a gym, or make you feel elated at the thought of saving some money at last, and being able to get fit too.
The study, conducted by More Th>N Women Drivers Insurance has revealed that by washing your car for 90 minutes, you can burn up to 500 calories.
Washing your car also beats playing 30 minutes of squash, a 45 minute circuit training session and a 40 minute cross country run; who wouldn't be thrilled to hear that?!
Despite this latest news, the survey has also revealed that over half of female car owners don't wash their own cars, preferring to let their partner do it or take it to the nearest car wash.
Independent fitness expert Graeme Marsh, worked with the Insurance group to calculate all the figures and said: "The extraordinarily high 'carwash calorie-burn' rate is explained by the fact that a number of the key movements involved in washing a car, incorporate all of the major joints in the body from the ankles right up to the shoulders, and use a number of different core muscles."
More Th>n have also come up with the top carwash calorie burning movements which include; 'The Squat and Sponge', which works the thighs, hamstrings, lower back, arms and shoulders and 'The Bucket Pick-Up' that works glutes, hamstrings and lower back.
The amount of calories burned does rest on the size of your car, with a family saloon car burning the most, while a fiat 500 burns around 333 calories.
So, if you haven't joined a gym yet, this may be the perfect keep fit solution. Of course, you may have to wait for your car to defrost permanently before you get out there with your bucket and sponge in this Arctic weather though!