Trail Blazin’

When I first open my eyes upon the morning meadows and look out upon the beautiful world,

I thank God I am alive. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

With a new year comes resolutions, the most popular being working out.  Is getting healthy and into shape one of your top goals?  Then put on your hiking boots and join me on the trails!  As warmer weather hopefully starts to roll in, getting outside is more enticing than ever.  A great way to get moving, enjoy the sunny days ahead and take in beautiful scenery is to “Take a Hike!”

Hiking is one path to a new year of health.  It is an excellent way to obtain lots of fresh air, as well as a nice dose of sunshine.  Especially, if you live on the west coast.    I am fortunate to have hiking trails literally in my backyard.  Most people live within driving distance of wonderful hiking spots and discovering these places is a good way of getting to know an area.

Hiking trails are good for more than a challenging outdoor walk.  The uneven terrain forces the body to use more stabilizing muscles in the abdominals and back, which improves balance and strengthens the core.  Sprints or walking fast uphill puts you into an anaerobic zone, which taxes the muscles and benefits the cardiovascular system.

Hittin’ the trails and hiking has a myriad of benefits for both the body and the mind.  The anaerobic exercise provided by hiking has been shown to help a multitude of health conditions including: lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation, increasing metabolism, reducing weight, decreasing stress hormones, and it can help you sleep like a baby.  As little as 30 minutes daily of brisk walking can promote health and even turn around chronic diseases.  It has been found to decrease stress hormones and help to reduce the likelihood of getting a stress-related chronic illness.  It helps diabetics in controlling blood sugar and improves insulin utilization to improve blood sugars.  Beyond that, hiking is a lot more fun and scenic than walking on a treadmill at the gym.  Outdoor hiking can help you to lose weight, clear and ease your mind and build a healthier body.

Trail blazin’ wouldn’t be half the fun without my partner in crime, my Mama.  Not to mention, the motivation and accountability which we feed off one another.  Each morning we set out with dogs in tow.

In my opinion, there’s nothing finer for a dog-owning outdoor enthusiast than hitting the trail with their four-legged friends.  The exercise benefits for both dog and owner are obvious but the mental health benefits for both are just as great.  Your dog can be one of your best hiking companions.  They force you to keep a brisk pace, provide you with a willing partner in your endeavor, and also cause you to be more attentive to the weather and trail conditions.

 

Porter & Tucker taking a short pit stop.

Hiking outdoors will help you feel closer to nature and natural rhythms, which may increase your happiness and help you feel more fulfilled.  Enjoyment and appreciation of your surroundings can lift your spirits and make you glad to be alive—and healthy.  There is something very uplifting about the feel of a breeze or wind on the face or body.  Not only can your workout be different each time, depending on the trail you take, but the landscape will also change, if only from the seasons.  Besides meeting and making new friends two and four-legged on the trails, we’ve seen egrets, coyotes, snakes, prairie dogs, centipedes,  and more on our walks with nature.  The fun thing is it’s always an adventure!

Remember to eat a healthy diet full of organic fruits, vegetables, and nuts.  Eat organic oats or bananas for carbohydrates and nuts, or a protein supplement for protein.  My trail experience wouldn’t be complete without a few Vegan Power Monkey Bars or having a bowl of Buckwheat GRAWnola before setting out.  You should also drink a lot of water to stay hydrated.  I make sure to fill my canteen with plenty of Healthy Heyday Lemonade – H2o mixed with freshly squeezed lemon juice.  Upon our return home I make a tall green smoothie or a fresh juice that usually sustains me until lunchtime.

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to get healthy and get in shape then go take a hike!

Happy trails (and tails) to you!

xo