Does shopping count as Cardio?

As Carrie Bradshaw once said when hit with a financial crisis "I can't give up shopping, it's my cardio!"  As we roll into the holiday shopping season can you count a day at the mall as exercise?  You betcha!

Here are some tips to make your marathon shopping session even more beneficial.

1. Park your car as far as possible from the mall entrance.
2. Every time you have four shopping bags walk back to the car and store them in the trunk.
3. Never take the escalator or elevator always take the stairs.
4. Drink plenty of water, as you get tired you will crave a little energy boost from caffeine or sugar, if you eat a light healthy snack before hitting the shops and drink water you will have enough energy.
5. Distribute heavy bags evenly so you are carrying equal weight in each hand and as you are walking back to your car do bicep curls with the bags.
6. When picking up a heavy parcel remember to squat down and use your legs to lift.

A 130 pound female will burn roughly 150 calories per hour of shopping...sounds to me like a good excuse to spend a few hours at the mall!