HIKING FOR FITNESS
H
IKING IS AN AMAZING workout, and all you need is a good pair of shoes and maybe a backpack. Studies have shown that being out in the woods can improve your mood, focus, creativity and intuition, as well as its many beneficial effects on your physical well-being. But be prepared – you might get addicted to it. HIKING ENGAGES THE FOLLOWING MUSCLES: Abs, low back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, ankle stabilizers, quads, hip flexors, and if you have hiking poles you will also engage your biceps, triceps, forearms and delts, not to mention your heart. In case this didn’t stand out to you, that is almost your entire body that gets involved while you are hiking, providing both an aerobic aspect and a muscle strengthening aspect. A 155 pound female will burn on average around 350 calories per hour. Add a backpack and that number increases to 400 calories per hour. Climbing a hill with that backpack? Then your numbers just jumped to around 500 calories per hour (*calorie burn is estimate and depends on fitness level, terrain, backpack weight etc.)
You might say, “Well I can get those benefits from the gym, so why go hiking?” Well, numerous studies have linked spending time in nature with a reduction of glucose intolerance, reduced LDL (Bad cholesterol) as well as the aforementioned mental benefits which also includes improved selfesteem and reduced depression and anxiety. Those same studies showed that people walking indoors (like on a treadmill or at a gym) instead of in nature did not receive the same benefit and in some cases showed increased rates of depression and anxiety. Don’t get me wrong I am not anti-gym (I work at a gym). Gyms can provide a great social aspect to your exercise regime and weight training is essential to help increase your strength for your next hike, but there are ways to strength train out on the trail too. Φ
PHOTO BY SOLISIMAGES – FOTOLIA
By Shannon Peddell
MEC OTTAWA TRAIL RACES July 10: 3K | 5K | 9K August 7: 11K | 20K | 30K | 50K Tackle steep routes and natural obstacles at Ottawa’s toughest trail races. Chip-timed, multiple distances and good times at the finish.
July 10 at Camp Fortune
www.ottawaoutdoors.ca
August 7 at Gatineau Park
Register Register
mec.ca/events OTTAWAOUTDOORS | 11
