Is Hiking Good For Weight Loss?

In the following article we will discuss the benefits of hiking for weight loss. It will discuss the physical benefits of hiking as well as the mental benefits that hiking can provide.

In many ways, hiking is considered an enjoyable activity, with many people enjoying hiking as a recreational activity and they use it as a way to get away from the rigors of their every day routine. It’s a great activity that you can do with your children, your spouse, or even on your own. When you consider the advantages of hiking it can be a great way to lose weight, it’s an excellent cardiovascular workout that can help you shed fat and burn calories and also help to improve your overall health.  research shows that hiking can be used as a type of therapy to help those suffering from depression.

Hiking is a great form of exercise for weight loss

Hiking can never just be low-intensity. Hiking on country paths and trails means that you will be walking over uneven terrain. So the extra effort you put into keeping your balance and maintaining your speed will elevate your heart rate and will increase the intensity of your hike, even if the terrain is relatively flat.

When you hike, your heart rate increases, which helps to burn calories. Your muscles become stronger and it becomes harder for you to retain food. You can use this increased energy to help you complete the hiking activities as well as burning off excess calories.

It’s a fact, that, In order to lose weight, you must burn more calories than you consume. Calories refer to the energy we get from the food and drink we consume, and the energy we use during physical activity. When we eat and drink more calories than we use up, our bodies store the excess as body fat. Any surplus calories, energy not expended maintaining your basic bodily functions such as breathing and digestion, are stored in your body as protein, carbs, and fat.

Hiking is classed as a low intensity workout

When you hike, you are burning calories, these calories come from fat, which is a great way to lose weight. Low-intensity workouts burn a greater proportion of calories from fat than from anywhere else. Generally, your body will burn stored carbs and fat when you workout. Weight loss occurs when you create a calorie deficit so that your body burns stored energy. Different forms of exercise burn different types of energy, depending on the intensity of your workout.

If your aim is to lose weight whilst hiking, it’s a good idea to mix low intensity workouts and high intensity workouts, so that your body burns more calories.

Here are a few things that you can try to burn more calories and lose more weight while you’re hiking. Obviously, some of these suggestions will not be advisable for everyone and may be dependent on any health conditions, age etc.

• Mix your terrain, if possible go for hikes on both hills and flat land.
• Instead of walking up hills, try running running uphill, you’ll increase your heart rate and this will get your blood pumping. Not only will you burn more calories in the few minutes you’re running uphill, but this will increase the calories you continue to burn for the next few hours.
• Try walking downhill slowly, by doing this, the muscles your body uses are worked harder.
• Use Trekking Poles, these are a great way to give other parts of your body a workout, not just your legs.
• Increase the weight you carry in your backpack.

How many calories does hiking burn

The number of calories you can expect to burn hiking depends on a variety of factors, particularly your weight and the terrain you are hiking over. But as a guide, the heavier you are the more calories you will burn. For instance, a 160-pound person will burn somewhere between 430 and 440 calories per hour of hiking, while a 200-pound person will burn approximately 550 calories per hour of hiking.

It’s a good idea to know how many calories you burn when hiking, so that you take sufficient food with you on your hike, to ensure you have enough energy to complete your hike. There are Sports watches available with built-in heart rate monitors that can accurately calculate the number of calories you burn and will keep you updated along the trails.

Hiking is good for your mental health

Hiking is also great for your mental health? Many studies have shown that spending some time outdoors in nature is great way of keeping your mind healthy and is much more fun and enjoyable than spending time in the gym, You will have fun and lose weight without even realizing it.

Hiking can be a great way of catching up with friends and also meeting and making new friends new friends. So it might be an idea to join a local Hiking  or Rambling Club who tend to meet up on a regular basis to go on long and short hikes, with most clubs arranging walks of different grades to suit hikers of different abilities and level of fitness.

You can find detail of Rambles Clubs in your local area by going to, UK Rambling Clubs in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

What to take when hiking

There are numerous essential items that you should take with you when hiking. These will depend on the type of terrain you will be walking, the time of year and also the weather. Here is a simple list of some of the items you might need.

• backpack
• waterproof jackets/trousers
• summer clothing
• hiking/walking boots/shoes
• socks
• first aid kit
• hydration
• food/snacks
• sun protection
• sunglasses
• sun hat
• mobile phone (fully charged)
• Knife or multi-tool
• map/compass/gps
• insect repellant
• torch/headlamp
• trekking poles

You also need to take into consideration the weather when you are trying to answer the question “Is Hiking Good For Weight Loss?” When you go hiking, you may face many different conditions. You will likely face some cold temperatures and rain. In fact, on extremely cold days, you may even have to dress in layers just so you have enough to keep you warm, so make sure you take enough clothing.

When you do end up experiencing a cold temperature for any length of time, this can make you extra tired. As a result, it will be hard for you to exercise and burn off extra calories, so, it important to make sure that you take a few breaks when you are doing this type of physical activity.

Hopefully this article has answered your question “can you lose weight by hiking?”. As you can see, hiking can be a great activity for you to incorporate into your routine. In fact, many people find hiking to be an excellent way to get away from their normal routines. In fact, you may even find that hiking makes working out easier!

Conclusion

While you certainly do not want to overdo it and take on a grueling hike through the woods, you also do not want to under do it. You do not want to become weak while you are out doing this activity. You should consider the weather conditions as well as the terrain that you will be hiking on when you decide whether or not this is a sport that you will want to try. Chances are, you will be pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable it can be!

One of the most important things to remember when you are trying to lose weight is to make sure that you are consuming fewer calories. As long as you are eating a healthy diet, this should be easy to accomplish. In addition to eating healthy, you will want to make sure that you are drinking adequate amounts of water on a regular basis, to make sure that you keep hydrated. Hiking can be an excellent way for you to lose weight.

You will be able to find many trails that will accommodate the type of exercise that you are looking for. If you are a beginner, you may want to start off with a shorter trail so that you can get a feel for the activity before expanding to longer ones.