Exercise—it's something that can be either the best or worst part of your day. I like going to the gym, but lately it's becoming something that I don't always enjoy. Luckily, there's a way to do the exact same thing you're doing at LA Fitness or the Y, but in a more interesting way. Take a look at these 7 reasons that prove that hiking is sometimes a better alternative than working out at your local gym.
1. It’s a more enjoyable alternative to being healthy
Anna D’Orazio
Working out can sometimes be a bore in the gym and it can start to feel a little redundant. With hiking, you're being just as healthy as you would going to the gym (still building muscle mass, reducing blood pressure, relieving stress or anxiety, getting your heart rate up), and you get to be outside and see amazing sights that you wouldn't be able to normally see. Seeing some mountains is always better than seeing the same sweaty people lifting weights.
2. It’s so much cheaper
Anna D’Orazio
How much do you pay per month for your gym membership? I'm willing to wager that it's at least $40-50 dollars a month, which can round up to $600 a year. With hiking, it's almost always free and if anything you just need to pay for parking or make a small donation to the state park you're hiking at. So it’s a great way to save money and get exercise!
3. You get to be outside
Anna D’Orazio
In a world where everyone wants to stay inside most days, hiking gives you the chance to be active in places where you normally wouldn't. You can experience the world in an unfiltered way, and see things you probably would have never imagined. Once during hiking the Grand Canyon, we saw a rattlesnake and (believe it or not) it was pretty amazing, and it’s something I might never see again. Can you say the same from being at the gym?
4. You’ll never be saying that you’re bored
Anna D’Orazio
If you're anything like me, I can only stay in the gym for about an hour because I get bored quickly. Never once have I uttered the words "Oh my God, I'm so bored" while hiking because being bored just doesn't exist when you're out in the wilderness. You get to climb mountains, scale rocks, see wild animals, and sometimes you just have to pee behind a tree. All of these are exciting things that you may not get to experience in any other situation.
5. Anyone can do it
Anna D’Orazio
A lot of people may feel uncomfortable going to the gym because they feel as though they will be alienated and not fit in. I know that I sometimes do, heck, I still get nervous to go to the back of the gym where the weights are because of all the "muscle heads" who are back there and I'm scared of judgement. Anybody can go hiking and you'll never feel out of place because you'll see people of all shapes and sizes doing it too. There's no pressure to go fast either—hiking is about taking your time and enjoying the things around you, so you can go as slow as you like and you'll definitely never see any other hikers judging you.
6. You’ll always come out with a story in the end
Anna D’Orazio
Last summer my family and I hiked Mt. Washington, and you better believe after that 8 hour hike there were stories to tell. I can't say the same about going to the gym—not once have I left the gym and said to someone "You'll NEVER believe what just happened to me".
7. Fun and quality time with friends and family
Anna D’Orazio
No matter who you share your hiking trip with, by the end of the day you will have grown a closer bond. Hiking is an excellent way of spending quality time with someone, and it can turn into a memory that you will keep for the rest of your life. So what are you waiting for?
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