Tag Archives: hiking

Take Your Workout Off-Roading with Trail Walking

By Team Best Life

Walking is the ideal exercise for so many reasons (nearly everyone can do it and the risk of injury is low, to name just a couple). But admittedly, it can get a little monotonous. If you’re looking for a slight change, head off the beaten path. Off-road walking can up the exercise ante in just the way you need to break up your walking routine. Check out four reasons why off-roading is worth a try:

trailwalk
You get built-in interval training.

One of the side benefits of off-road walking, particularly if the path you’re taking is hilly, is the inherent interval training it supports. Interval training—intense bursts of exercise followed by recovery periods—translates to more burned calories and increased endurance. Try increasing your speed periodically to make it even more intense. (more…)

Posted on May 30, 2023 by BestLifeDiet

Marissa Jaret Winokur Sheds 60 Pounds and Feels Confident She Will Gain it Back

In the media and press, celebrities are either getting praised or scrutinized for their weight. Celebrities who are too skinny or too fat face media backlash. Marissa Jaret Winokur has always embraced her curves and has said she is happy with being a “chubby girl.” But, because of her 60 pound weight loss Marissa will need to find a healthier descriptor.

Marissa is known for her role in the movie edition of Broadway’s hit Hairspray, and she hosted Oxygen’s Dance Your Ass Off back in 2024. She made her weight loss debut at the premiere of Wreck-It Ralph earlier this week. She looked at 60 pounds lighter. Before losing weight Marissa mentioned that she was happy and content with being a size 14, saying “When I was a size 14, I was super happy… I felt confident in my body. I don’t think a size really should define who you are, and how you feel about yourself.”

The moment Marissa knew she had to lose weight was when she went in for her yearly check up at the doctor’s office. After her blood results, the doctor told her that her cholesterol level was too high, and he didn’t know if it was from her weight or genetics. “The doctor saying I’m not healthy.. so I need to change my way of life. But interestingly enough, there are moments in my life I felt more comfortable in that body than in this body.” (more…)

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Samantha

Savasana Shake Up: 3 Yoga Hybrids to Try This Month

By Chrissa Hardy

Do you find traditional yoga intimidating? Are the Sanskrit names of poses and the chanting keeping you away from your local studio? Or, maybe the whole “just you and your mat” thing is getting stale. If you’re interested in trying yoga, but want to add a unique twist to your workout, these trendy yoga hybrids might be just the ticket!

Doga

Fitness level: Great for beginners as this style involves a lot of massaging and light stretching.

Doga is yoga with your dog. In a Doga class, you move through a series of poses while trying to maintain yogic breath and calming of the mind. You involve your canine companion by positioning him/her in certain “dog versions” of yoga poses while also gently massaging them throughout the class. Your dog will alternate between acting as your partner in certain poses and as a prop in others. For example, in a resting pose, the person reclines, with legs slightly bent over the dog’s torso, bolster-style, to relieve pressure on the spine. (more…)

Posted on September 10, 2023 by HelloGiggles

5 Reasons Why Hiking Is a Good Workout

By Jenn Walters for FitBottomedGirls.com

I’m not your typical vacation goer. I don’t really do beaches or tropical destinations, as I need enough Aveeno 45 to cover a small army. And I’m not one to be content laying around for seven days in a row. Two or three maybe, but longer than that and I go a bit mad. So every year, we load up the car, and drive to Colorado for some wicked fun hiking and camping. A break from my usual fitness routine and one heck of a leg workout, here are five reasons to get hiking!

5 Reasons to Take a Hike
1. It burns tons of calories. Depending on how steep and how fast your pace is, hiking can easily burn more than 500 calories in an hour. And on many hikes, an hour is considered a short one. Pack water and high-density foods (we like trail mix and Clif Bars) to power you through. This isn’t the time to skimp on calories, as your body needs the fuel.

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Posted on September 14, 2023 by Charlie Smith

Your Anti-Itch Outdoor Survival Guide

Growing up in the middle of nowhere, I consider myself a lover of the outdoors. I enjoyed canoeing, fishing, hiking, and exploring Mother Nature.  With the economy on a downturn, people are going from pricey gym memberships to exercising at parks, hiking and maybe planking on the nearest boulder. Because of this, the most common summer question asked by my patients is how they can stop the itching that is driving them crazy.

Let’s take a step back. How can you prevent the itching in the first place? Here’s the trifecta; the most common things you may run into if you are exercising outside and how to avoid the irritants.

Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac

The best way to avoid poison ivy is to be able to recognize it. It can grow on vines, bushes or be a plant on the ground, and usually has a 3-leaf structure. The oil that causes that itchy, allergic reaction is called urushiol and if you come into contact with it, first thing’s first: wash everything. Rinse your body, clothes, and anything else the urushiol may have touched.

Calamine lotion is a pink liquid that is usually that gold standard for relieving the symptoms of poison ivy. It has a skin protectant and pain reliever that helps to dry up any oozing blisters from the poison ivy. Hydrocortisone cream and antihistamines like Benadryl are other options to help with itching.

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Posted on August 5, 2023 by Sarah

Fun July 4th Activities for the Entire Family

It’s the hottest (often literally!) holiday of the entire summer, and one most of us look forward to all year long. July 4th celebrates the birthday of the United States of America, and the most common form of celebration is the community picnic with fireworks. It’s great to spend time with your friends and family, and everyone enjoys a day off, but don’t let the holiday celebration plop your bottom into a lawn chair for the day.

Instead, why not take part in some of these fantastic activities that the entire family, from kids to grandparents, can join in on? As a bonus, we’ve included the calorie counts of some popular picnic foods so you can see if that Firecracker popsicle is really worth it! (hint: it’s a good choice!)

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Posted on June 28, 2023 by Carmen

Fun and Healthy Activities for Father’s Day

As Father’s Day approaches, there are sales on all kinds of ties, tools and barbeque aprons with slogans like “Best Dad Ever” available. But this Father’s Day, consider making it a health conscious holiday and take dad to do some activities that will boost his health and help you enjoy some quality time together.

There are a lot of activities that can be done outside during this time of year when the weather is warm and the sun is shining. Dad will love the fact that you thought to do something fun with him that may also burn some calories and allow him to be one with nature. Consider the things your dad likes to do outside and make a day of it. You and dad can go by yourselves or invite the entire family along- either way, you are bound to have a great time he will never forget.

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Posted on June 9, 2023 by Descygna

Take Your Gym Routine Outside This Summer

Now that the weather is warming up and summer is on the way, you may be itching to ditch the gym for a little time out in the sunshine. Who could blame you? Not I! But instead of foregoing your gym routine all together, why not take your usual strength moves and cardio activities into the great outdoors? Read on for five exercises to do just that!

5 Exercises That Easily Go From the Gym to the Great Outdoors

1. If you normally hit the treadmill…try trail running or hiking! The change of terrain when trail running or hiking will work your legs in new ways and you’ll have much more beautiful scenery than the sweaty guys lifting weights!

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Posted on June 2, 2023 by Jennipher

Get Fit with Memorial Day Weekend Activities

Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. It’s not just a great time to bond with family and friends as we kick off the summer of 2024, but there are great opportunities to get a little exercise in as well. Since the weather will hopefully be warm and sunny wherever you are, let’s hit the outdoors and have some fun!

While the deeper meaning behind Memorial Day is to commemorate the men and women who have served our country in the Armed Forces, it’s also a time to enjoy a little outdoor fun with friends. Here are some activities you can take part in and how many calories you can expect to burn in the process:

Golf

Hitting the links is not only a nice way to get a few miles of walking in, you can get your competitive juices flowing as well (even if it’s just a matter of competing with yourself). According to a study by Neil Wolkodoff, director of the Rose Center for Health and Sports Sciences in Denver, putting in just 9 holes of golf, carrying your clubs and walking, you will burn about 700 calories. (more…)

Posted on May 13, 2023 by Jason

4 New Ways to Get Fit This Spring

So, you say winter got you down and you kind of slacked off on your fitness routine? Well, spring is here. It’s time to reinvigorate your drive to get fit, so why not try something new?

Getting off to a fresh start with an exercise activity that you may have never tried is a great way have fun and be excited about getting back into the game.

Here are four fitness activities that can make exercise more about fun than being an obligation.

1. Spinning Class – If you already do cardio, there’s a good chance that it can be a bit of bore. Maybe you use the treadmill and stare at the back of someone else’s head for a half hour. If you’re going to get your cardio in a gym, why not kick things up a notch and try a spinning class? (more…)

Posted on April 8, 2024 by Jason

Fitness Vacations on a Budget

While it may be difficult for some of us to imagine, warmer days are ahead of us. That means vacation season will be upon us before you know it. While most vacations are centered around sipping cocktails on the beach and lazing around, you can also take a fitness vacation.

Don’t look at this as work, but as a way to get away from the stresses of life and treat yourself to a scenic vacation that just happens to also be good for your health.

Now, oftentimes fitness vacations can be pretty pricey. Guided tours, pampering afterward at a spa… this can all add up very quickly. If you’re on a tight budget, there’s no reason you can’t find a trip that fits your frugal needs. Here are a few fitness vacation options that can get you there:

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Posted on March 3, 2024 by Jason