Hiking Nature's Cardio

By Lisa VanWilliams

 Tired of staring at the TV monitor at the gym?  It's a great time of year to get out on the trails, connect with nature and plan a little day trip. A change of scenery can really make a difference and challenging yourself with different terrain will be great for your muscles. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research did a study that shows that walking or running indoors requires less effort than moving at the same speed outdoors.  On average, a 150 pound person can burn roughly 240 calories after an hour of hiking.

The United States Forest Service manages 158,000 miles of trails on more than 150 National Forests and Grasslands. The American Hiking Society lists several health reasons to get out there:

• great way to lose excess pounds & improve health
• reduce your chances for heart disease
• hiking can decrease cholesterol levels
• decreases hypertension
• improves and maintains mental health
• slows the aging process
• prevents osteoporosis
• prevent and controls diabetes
• improves arthritis
• helps relieve back pain

So pack up your day pack and bring the whole family. There's tons of trails to explore and nature to creep up on. You will feel refreshed and energized and your body will feel a different kind of natural sore instead of the mechanical monotonous machines :)