Fitness Friday | First Time Hiking Tips From My Experience!

Those who have followed my fitness journey over the past year have heard me declare how much I prefer outdoor exercise to traditional workouts, especially in a group setting. It’s more challenging (for me) and much more fun! So when a girlfriend invited me to join her exercise group for an outdoor hike, my eyes lit up! I wasn’t sure what to expect since I had never met any of the other group members, but she assured me it would not be too intense and that beginners were welcome. I’m always game to try new things and meet fun people so I eagerly accepted!

The ladies & I feeling accomplished at the end of the hike (notice the sweat on my shirt!!!)

The ladies were SUPER nice and we were all novices aside from my friend and her hubby (our helpful guide). However, we all enjoyed the experience and found hiking to be an excellent calorie burner! We went hiking at a park and followed a formal trail, not a random mountainside, which is my first tip. Look for hiking trails near you – don’t just go off into the woods on your own unless you are an outdoor expert! These trails have naturally cleared paths with the terrain still intact so it is challenging enough to maneuver the rocks, logs and inclines, but not so much that getting lost is a concern. Hiking trails also have markers and signs to help direct your trek – perfect for beginners! Lastly, as we were at a park, there were a few porta-potty bathrooms so we didn’t have to “make water” in the woods; although porta-potty bathrooms aren’t much better, at least they offer real privacy and toilet paper!

What to Wear:
As for attire, I wore sweats, a long sleeve t-shirt and sneakers, which was okay. However, should I decide to make hiking a more regular part of my workout routine, I will definitely invest in a pair of boots to help give my ankles additional support (its so easy to twist your ankle on a rock, stick or log) and add traction to my steps. I also recommend wearing bright clothing if hiking at night or during twilight hours to keep yourself visible. Sunglasses, a hat and of course sunblock to protect yourself as well.

What to Bring:
I went to the hike after work, so I didn’t properly “pack” any real supplies. However, I would not recommend anyone to go hiking without water! It is a very challenging workout, at times we went at least half a mile up a steep incline of rocky terrain, after which a swig of water was essential. A few of the ladies are avid runners so they had these nifty water belts so they didn’t have to hold anything in their hands. Our guide had an even better water dispensing backpack that is great not only for hiking but also bicycling. Inside the backpack (or separate fanny pack) you can store your car keys, a flashlight (if hiking at night) and even a snack or lunch if you are embarking on a longer hike. Lastly, wear your heart rate monitor so you can track how many calories you burned – I was SO mad I didn’t wear mine!!!

What to Expect:
A challenging workout that exercises your total body! I felt the burn in my glutes, calves, and core! I was so surprised at how hard I had to work to hike up the hills but it was so totally worth it when we reached the top and had an incredible view of the city! Some hiking trails open to waterfalls…which would also be a spectacular reward after a long hike. The best thing about outdoor workouts is they have no set “time” limit the way we use the gym. You can’t stop after 30 or 60 minutes…you have to arrive back to your car, so however long it takes is how long you have to workout. We did 2.5 miles in a little over an hour which may seem slow but with the height of the mountain we climbed, I think we did a doggone good job!!!

My hike gave me a great start to this week, I surpassed my goal to workout four times this week and overall feel like I’m getting back on track to lose the last of my unwanted weight. Please share your fitness related post by linking up with Saving Our Strands & I below and visit each other’s blogs…the inspiration and tips you learn from one another are often invaluable. Have a fantastic weekend!

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