{"id":22,"date":"2019-09-11T21:44:21","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T21:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/?p=22"},"modified":"2023-04-03T19:35:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T19:35:05","slug":"why-hiking-is-the-best-exercise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/why-hiking-is-the-best-exercise\/","title":{"rendered":"This is Why Hiking is the Best Exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Getting Your Best Workout With Hiking<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There are many reasons why hiking is the best exercise. Whether you're looking to burn fat, build some muscle, or improve your cardiovascular health, hiking is proven to be hugely beneficial to your overall health.<\/p>\n<p>Hiking involves walking up inclines, down declines, muscle strength, and a lot of breathing.<\/p>\n<p>It's the activity that took my own fitness level from an out-of-shape, depressed, former smoker to someone who regularly partakes in boxing training, weight lifting, and running.<\/p>\n<p>The reason I proclaim hiking as the best exercise is that it doesn't focus only on one aspect of your fitness. Hiking involves tuning up several areas of your physical health <em>and<\/em> mental health. It's also great for anyone who is looking to improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some of the reasons why hiking is the best exercise:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Builds muscle<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Helps improve cardio endurance<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.stanford.edu\/2015\/06\/30\/hiking-mental-health-063015\/\">Can improve mental health<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Improves focus &amp; clarity<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Needless to say, hiking is a well-rounded exercise that improves multiple facets of your health.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Related Articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/does-hiking-burn-fat\/\">Does Hiking Burn Fat? Consider Hiking For Fat Loss<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/does-hiking-build-muscle\/\">Does Hiking Build Muscle? An In-Depth Look<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2><strong>Benefits of Hiking<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting exercise by hiking is a tried &amp; true way to get into shape mentally and physically. There are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/fitness-exercise\/features\/hiking-body-mind\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">several known benefits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of hiking. It sounds like a daunting task, at first. However, sticking to it will bring results quicker than you\u2019d expect. After all, the best results come from consistency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only is hiking great for your physical health, but it also helps build mental strength and clarity, too. After all, when it\u2019s just you, the outdoors, and your thoughts, it helps you hone-in on the important things. It gives you breathing room and time to think. Perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hiking Builds Strength &amp; Muscle<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiking involves incline and decline walking, sometimes very steep. It\u2019s physically demanding to get up hills and get down them safely. The end of a tough hike can leave your legs feeling like soggy noodles \u2014 and I\u2019m not talking <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">al dente<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To understand how hiking builds muscle and strength, you should first understand how strength and muscle are built. The short of it is, hiking for long periods or on steep inclines puts stress on your muscles, which leads to tears. Through rest and proper nutrition, muscle tears are repaired.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiking is a great exercise if you\u2019re looking to build up strength and muscle endurance in your legs, core, and, yes, even your back.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hiking Improves Cardio<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that we know hiking helps improve strength, what about cardio? Another reason I feel hiking is the best exercise is that it improves cardio endurance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many a time I\u2019ve been on trails and felt out of breath before I even began feeling muscle fatigue. It\u2019s a physically demanding activity that requires more oxygen and blood flow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re just starting hiking with the hopes of building your cardio endurance and stamina, start slow and stay consistent. You\u2019ll start to notice after a few weeks that the hill that once wore you out isn\u2019t so hard anymore. That\u2019s progress!<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Mental Clarity &amp; Toughness<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your muscles are filling up with lactic acid. They feel like they're going to burst through your skin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Out of breath, you pant, hungry for that next gulp of oxygen to extinguish the burning in your lungs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\"That's it,\" you say. \"I'm done!\".<\/span><\/p>\n<p>There's nothing worse than having that nagging thought of quitting sprout from the seed of doubt in the back of your mind.<\/p>\n<p>Don't give up yet!<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A great trick to building mental toughness with hiking is reminding yourself that it\u2019s not about how fast you get it done, but that you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just get it done<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It's a little work-around I use to make sure my hikes are completed, regardless of how long or difficult they are.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes a tiny push is all you need to really improve your toughness.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Being outdoors, surrounded by nature, and away from the noise of our busy lives is a great way to clear your mind and toughen up. I\u2019ve had some of my best ideas and \u201cah-ha!\u201d moments when hiking. I\u2019ve considered things I wouldn\u2019t have otherwise used a neuron on. It\u2019s how I came up with the idea for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hike Authority<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just remember: pushing yourself is a great way to build mental toughness, but you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have to know when to stop. If you start to feel light-headed or faint, stop, drink some water, and take a breather. When you\u2019ve collected yourself, carry on.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Puts You In-Tune With Nature<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned above, there are thoughts I otherwise wouldn\u2019t have had if I wasn\u2019t hiking. Just taking in my surroundings and embracing the peacefulness opens my mind to new thoughts and mental growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hiking is a great exercise if you\u2019re looking for inner-serenity. I remember taking a break from a, particularly intense hike to sit and enjoy the scenery. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During that break, I realized all the rocks, trees, and nearby river beds had been there for hundreds of thousands of years, if not more. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This was a humbling observation and truly helped me put a lot of my personal life from the right perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You see, sometimes it's not about the obvious physical benefits of hiking, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/5-benefits-of-hiking\/\">little-known benefits of hiking<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hiking Opens The Door To Other Workouts<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Another reason why hiking is the best exercise is that it's what I consider a \"gateway workout\".<\/p>\n<p>Simply put, hiking helps you build your confidence with exercise and gives you a desire for more. It's a great way to get your body and mind in the shape needed to pursue other workouts you once considered \"hard\".<\/p>\n<p>Hiking brings a big sense of accomplishment, especially if you're new.<\/p>\n<p>Nurturing those seeds of accomplishment work wonders when you're looking to increase your fitness goals and personal challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Each completed hike is like a drizzle of water on those seedlings. Building your confidence slowly but surely.<\/p>\n<p>And when those seeds of confidence finally blossom into new levels of self-esteem, your desire for more will flourish.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>How To Get The Best Exercise By Hiking<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019re looking to burn fat, improve your cardio, or just have a personal epiphany, I consider hiking the best exercise to start with. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the greatest things about it is you will get results regardless of pace. Unlike running, which requires a steady pace for the best benefits, hiking will help build muscle at a slow pace, and build cardio endurance at a fast pace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you're looking to get the best exercise with hiking, here's a quick guide:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wear proper shoes like hiking boots, shoes, or trail runners.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Practice good form and hiking posture.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring enough water for your hike &amp; stay hydrated<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Don't overdo it! It's okay to push yourself, but be smart about it.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Bring healthy snacks for long hikes.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>If your muscles get tired, push through it but rest when needed.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Take small breaks when you're getting burned out.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Why You Should Use Hiking For Exercise<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Hiking is a great and proven way to build muscle, improve cardio health, and improve mental health. It also helps you connect with yourself when you're disconnected from the noise of everyday life. So put your best shoes on, hit the trails, and clear your head.<\/p>\n<p>Because of the various physical and mental demands of hiking, it's perfect for shaping you up and opening the doors to new fitness possibilities.<\/p>\n<p>If you've considered hiking as a way to get in shape\u2014go for it. You won't be disappointed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hiking is undoubtedly beneficial for your health. Now find out why hiking is the BEST exercise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1240,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"14","_seopress_titles_title":"Here&#039;s Why Hiking is the BEST Exercise - Hike Authority","_seopress_titles_desc":"Hiking paves the way to many different health benefits, some you may not even know of. Find out why hiking is the best exercise to fast-track your health.","_seopress_robots_index":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1240"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hikeauthority.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}