How You Can Lose Weight and Burn Calories by Hiking

Hiking is one of those activities that absolutely cannot be overestimated when it comes to weight loss. There are few forms of exercise that will help you lose weight as easily as hiking, and it will almost guarantee that you will get in shape. A Look at Your Average Hike It's a beautiful Saturday, the sun is shining overhead, and there are just a few clouds in the sky. You tie your hiking boot-laces tight, and you grip your walking stick firmly in your hand. The mountain trail is just ahead of you, your GPS is strapped firmly to your wrist, and you're ready to go hiking. One of the reasons that hiking is such a great activity is that it's fun to do. Working out in the gym is so boring for so many people, but the fact that you can taste the fresh forest or mountain air as you hike makes it a real pleasure. You can lose yourself in the beauty around you, and you'll almost forget that you're getting exercise. Not surprisingly, you can burn up to 500 calories per hour hiking, though you'll have to walk pretty fast. Walking at a rate of 4.5 miles per hour will burn 500 calories, while walking at 2.5 miles per hour burn around 250 calories. No matter how fast you walk, you'll be burning away those pounds while you explore the marvels of nature around you. If you are sick of city life, hiking will give you a break from all the noise and stress around you. You can just walk out into the solitude of nature, where there is nothing but you and the beautiful wildlife around you. Whether you hit a hiking trail, climb a mountain, or wander through a forest, you'll find that it's peaceful and very de-stressing. One thing that makes hiking so good for weight loss and exercise is that you're forced to walk. If you spend an hour hiking away from your car, you'll have to spend another hour hiking back to your car. Even if you don't make it all the way to the top of the mountain or hike all 40 miles of the trail, you'll have to hike just to get back to civilization. Unless you quit within the first mile or so, you'll get good exercise and burn fat no matter what you do. Proven Benefits of Hiking 1. Hiking releases the adrenaline built up in your body from a stressful work week, reducing stress and anxiety. 2. Doing any form of exercise will reduce your risk of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease drastically. 3. Walking can increase the density of your bones, effectively reversing the effects of osteoporosis. 4. Those that are active for more than 7 hours a week have a 40 percent lower risk of dying early than someone active for just 30 minutes per week. 5. Hiking has been proven to improve sleep at night. 6. Walking and hiking will keep your cardiorespiratory system healthy, and will give your muscles more endurance. Hiking is one of my favorite forms of exercise, and you'll find that it will be one of the best ways for you to get in shape the fun, natural, and easy way!