Will Hiking Help You Lose Weight?

Are you ready to start your weight loss journey, or looking to shed a few pounds? You may wonder if hiking is a good way to lose weight. Some people think that hiking is too slow paced to get good cardio or fat burn, but that is far from the truth. Hiking is a great way to get your heart rate up and is an amazing form of exercise!

There are many different types of hiking, so there’s something for everyone regardless of your fitness level or goal. There are trails that challenge an experienced hiker like climbing Mt Everest and easier family friendly hikes.

I prefer hiking as a form of exercise over going to the gym any day! You don’t get to explore nature and all its beauty while on the treadmill or stair master. Plus, hiking provides extra benefits that you cannot get on a treadmill. The uneven terrain out on the trails help build your stabilizer muscles and tendons giving you better balance!

If you have the time to get out and hike, you will not be disappointed. If you are on an easier trail and are more advanced you can try trail running. This will surely get your heart rate up!

Hiking provides many health benefits including:

• Weight loss

• Increased metabolism

• Reduced stress and anxiety levels

• Improved memory function and moods. (Some studies show that hiking can also reduce symptoms of depression)

Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain muscle mass or improve your heart health hiking is the way to go. You don’t have to be an Olympian or marathon runner in order for it help you out either! A good starting point would be a 30 minute hike at least three times per week for most people.

The best thing about hiking is that it can be done almost anywhere! There are trails all over the world. You don’t have to go on a vacation or spend tons of money in order for your hike, just get out there and hit the trail! Even when we lived in one of the flattest places on earth (Indiana), there was a trail that went from West Lafayette to Lafayette along the Wabash River. If you are having trouble finding a trail near your please send us a message!

So, the next time you are looking for a new way to lose weight or just wanting to add another form of exercise into your routine, try hiking! You will be surprised at how good it feels and how much better you will feel after completing a hike! Get out there and explore nature’s beauty today!