Lately I’ve been avoiding the nightly news because everything’s so damn depressing, but occasionally, a ray of sunshine makes its way through the storm clouds. The best news story of 2010 is (I know it’s early in the year, but trust me, you’re going to agree with me here) “The average woman burns 48,000 calories a year shopping.” (I’m not going to say I told you so, because I’m nice like that.) That’s the equivalent of 25 days worth of our daily calorie intake. Maybe I spoke too soon -- this could be the best news story of the century.

Not that you need another excuse to shop, but the health benefits are mounting up like a stack of bath sheets at a white sale. Each week the average woman walks around stores  burning 385 calories – that’s comparable of two large glasses of wine or a hunk of chocolate cake. For me, it’s a few more calories because when Neiman’s is having a sale I don’t walk, I skip or shamelessly run from rack to rack. And the more we buy, the better, as heavy bags contribute to our workout by strength training our upper bodies. Researchers calculated that three hours of shopping could help burn off 495 calories, aka a Big Mac. Who knew I could love researchers so much?

It’s time to give up lunges for Leboutans, crunches for Chloe and push-ups for Prada. I’m grateful for the best news of 2010 because I don’t have to be a gym rat to have really toned legs and abs, I can be a mall rat and look great. This evidence proves what I’ve always known, shopping high is just as effective as runners high, only you have much cuter hair and make-up. Nordstrom’s is having a sale, (I never thought I'd say the following) so I better go work-out.

That’s why I’m grateful for the best news of 2010.