For all you other Fitness nerds like me, be inspired to start hiking.:-)
The main reason for me to hike is to get outdoors - To have the possibility to really enjoy nature. Through the years I have realized that hiking for me is also like meditation. On a hike I focus on how my body works; the breathing/pulse, muscles and joints. I make sure that all my basic needs are met, like water and food/energy and I stop thinking about the office and private problems. I focus only on getting from point A to B using my own body. Even if I’m single and spend a lot of time on my own, I still really need these moments when I focus totally on myself and my basic needs.
On top of that; hiking is REALLY good exercise. I would like to list some important facts and numbers:
· A lot of mountain hikes are done on higher altitudes. You heart rate and therefor your calorie burn increases on higher altitudes. J
· When I jog my pulse is 145-155 beats/minute (this is very individual, so don’t compare this with your pulse). When I hike in mountains uphill, the pulse is the same. The difference is that I jog/run for an hour, but I hike for 4-8 hours. It is a lot easier to hike for hours than it is to jog/run for hours.
· I usually burn around 500 kcal each time I exercise (1-1.5 hours). In a week I usually burn 2000-2500 kcal, since I try to exercise 4-5 times/week. When I hiked in Yosemite I burned 5000 kcal!!!!! in 2 days. In other words I burn the same amount of calories in 2 days that I do in 2 weeks of normal exercise.
After a few days of hiking you will of course have sore muscles, but you will also have increased your stamina as well as strengthen your leg, back and stomach muscles + balance. If you add poles to your hike your upper body will also have gotten a real workout.
So if you haven’t tried it yet, get out there. It is a very rewarding kind of exercise.
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