By Margena Holmes, Examiner.com
Everyone knows that exercise is good for you in many different ways. It can lower your blood pressure, it can help you lose weight, it helps build stamina, and can help build muscle, and muscle burns more calories than fat.
Walking is an easy way to get exercise. You don’t need any special equipment except good sturdy shoes. Walking can be done almost anywhere-the mall, the grocery store, around your neighborhood, or around your office during your break at work. If you need more of a challenge, or you’re stuck at a weight loss plateau, you can try hiking.
I recently went on a hike at the Ute Valley Park in Colorado Springs. It was very easy to get to, and the park itself was beautiful. The hike, on the other hand, was pretty hard for someone who has lived at sea level for her entire life until a year ago! There are quite a few trails to hike on, and at first it seemed like it would be pretty easy. The first part of the hike was fairly even and flat, but as we went on, it gradually got steeper and more rocky, but you don’t notice it too much if you’re looking at the beautiful scenery.
When you hike, the terrain plays a big part in how much you burn. Hiking up hills, on rocky terrain will burn more calories. Two hours, four miles, a steep uphill grade, and 8000+ steps, the parking lot was back in sight! According to the American Council on Exercise, hiking burns between 4.5 and 6.7 calories per minute, so that adds up to approximately 1200 calories burned.
You may want to gradually work up to hiking four miles, hike at a slower pace, or hike an easier trail if you’re not accustomed to hiking. Check with your doctor first before you tackle any trail, and remember to bring a bottle of water with you.