Workouts in the Great Outdoors

(Slavekas Cesu Rajons, LV. Photo by Liga Eglite )

I recently spoke to Quinn McAdams, who loves the Forty Shades of Fitness blog.

She gave me some valuable tips on creating an adventure by taking the occasional workout to the outdoors.

We both believe exercising should not exclusively be just hitting the weights in the gym or pounding the pavement by running. There should always be variety. It should be explored in different places as a lifestyle.

With the leaves changing, fall is our favorite time of year to get out of the house and hike! The breathtaking views allow us to feel connected with nature, and above all else stay active and fit. Over Quinn’s years of hiking, she has learned that what you pack for your hiking trip is essential to the overall experience of the climb.

Here are Quinn’s top tips on getting the most of your outdoor workout:

Great New Way to Get Outside of Your Normal Workout Routine

A big trend going on worldwide right now is that of staying fit and living a healthy lifestyle. I have lived a lot of my life by monitoring what would be healthy for me and staying as fit as I can be. One thing I learned along the way was that switching up my workout routine and keeping my body guessing was one of the best ways I could achieve my fitness goals. I got into hiking a while back and have not looked back. Hiking is a full body workout that allows you to get a great exercise in while taking in what nature has to offer and possibly bonding with the people you hike with.

Fall is here and there really isn’t a better time to start hiking than now.  The leaves are changing and falling to the ground, causing nature to overflow with beautiful colors and breathtaking views to capture.  The temperature is perfect, meaning you should definitely consider supplementing your regular workout routine with an occasional hike.

Whether you are looking to hike by yourself, with friends, or your family, this activity can include as many people as you like.  It proves to be a great way to get out of the house and enjoy all that nature has to offer while also proving to be a rigorous full body workout.

When it comes to being prepared for a hike and anything the mountain has to offer, there are some essential items that you need to bring along.  Let’s take a closer look to at some of these essential items.

Essential Item #1: Food and Water

Make sure to bring some healthy high-energy foods on your trip. Having these pick-me-up types of food will help in the completion of your hike. If you plan on taking a longer hike it is essential to plan ahead and bring the right amount of food for the duration of the hike. Also, bringing along water is extremely important but often goes overlooked. Hydration is key to any hike so making sure not to forget the proper amount of water is essential.

Essential Item #2: Compass

No matter how well you know an area, you should always keep a compass on hand.  In doing this, just in case you get lost or lose the path, you will have something to point you in the right direction.

Essential Item #3: Flashlight

Another great item to bring along on your hike, regardless of whether or not you intend on being out past dark, is a flashlight.  This way, you will have something to light your way through the woods. Also, many people usually don’t take into consideration tree coverage during a hike. Often times it will be a lot darker earlier than people think because there are large trees out on most mountainous areas.

Essential Item #4: Backpack

A backpack can be purchased in all sorts of sizes and shapes, but the main things to consider for a hiking backpack is size and comfort. It will need to be able to fit all of the items that you must bring on the hike and it will be worn all day so taking comfort into account is necessary.  Keep in mind that this item is the most essential hiking product to have. My husband recently bought me a picnic backpack on an anniversary gift site that is perfect for our families hiking trips because it perfectly hosts all of our food and utensils for a top of the mountain picnic, while he carries all of the other essentials in our hiking backpack.

Essential Item #5: Raingear

No matter what the weatherman says, make sure to bring along some raingear in your backpack.  Most times, a poncho or nylon coat will suffice for proper raingear.  Weather is often times very unpredictable the higher you get.

Essential Item #6: Camera

You never know when you will see a breathtaking view on one of your hikes. Having a camera will help you keep that hiking trip as a memory forever and document your adventure along the way.

Essential Item #7: First Aid Kit

While hiking it can be very unpredictable what can happen in regards to injury, but the most common things that should be taken into consideration are blisters and superficial cuts from foliage. A first aid kit should always be kept in your hiking backpack to take these things into consideration.  Make sure your kit includes:

·                      Basic medications

·                      Band-Aids

·                      Blister pads

Hiking is not only a great way to get out and stay in shape it is also extremely fun. It has been a great way to get my family interested in fitness as well as getting them out of the house and into nature. Consider starting a hiking routine as a supplemental exercises to switch up your routine and keep your body guessing.