Take a hike!

​Billings is known as Montana’s Trailhead…and for good reason.  America’s first national park--Yellowstone--is a few hours away.  One of the most scenic drives in the United States--the Beartooth Highway--which gives access to unlimited outdoor exploration is an hour away.  The unique and expansive Billings Rimrocks can be driven to within minutes.  Whether it’s taking an evening walk, getting out for a day hike, or planning a long weekend in the wilderness, it’s smart to take advantage of the fitness opportunities afforded by the great outdoors.

The benefits of walking or hiking in nature are too numerous to count and impossible to fairly describe, but once experienced, it becomes fairly clear that hiking:

• is a powerful cardio workout, especially if you hike hills and carry a pack
• builds endurance in your glutes, quads, hamstrings, calves and hips, and
• strengthens your core and improves balance.

​Hidden behind the more obvious reasons to hike are a few benefits that you may not have considered.  I’d like to share a few of these with you.

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Reduce Stress & Anxiety

Scientific studies show that spending time in nature can help relieve stress and improve your sense of well-being.  The research shows that the tranquil scenes of nature have a calming effect on us.  As beneficial as indoor gym workouts are in reducing anxiety, working-out in nature is much more effective.  Time in nature, with its lack of constant distractions presented in our typical time-crunched day, has actually been shown to improve our problem-solving skills.  Share the experience with a friend, and build your personal relationships to boot.

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Burn Extra Calories

The data shows that over the same amount of time, running at a moderate pace burns around 50% more calories than hiking on varied terrain without a backpack…BUT...choosing a day hike over a run will likely burn more calories…why?...The simple reason is that you will enjoy nature and spend more time hiking than running on a sidewalk or treadmill.  A 5 to 6 mile day hike will take the average person or group 2 – 3 hours and burn close to 1500 calories!  A moderate run of the same distance only burns around 650 calories.

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Live Longer

Recent research from the University of East Anglia shows that spending time outside reduces our risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress and high blood pressure...and it increases sleep duration.  Researchers backed these facts up by gathering evidence from over 140 studies in 20 countries involving more than 290 million people. Another hidden benefit is that exposing our bodies to the diversity of bacteria present in nature may boost our immune system and reduce inflammation.

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Never Mind the Weather

​Although our days of warm weather and hiking in t-shirts and shorts will pass us by within the next month here in Montana, that’s no reason to stop hiking or enjoying extended outdoor activity.  Hiking at lower elevations where it’s a bit warmer throughout the fall is a great strategy to continue enjoying the outdoors and its fall colors.  Also, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are activities that my family has enjoyed throughout the winter that have similar, if not greater, calorie-burning potential than hiking.  Personal training at ONE Fitness here in Billings and working out at a local gym is a great strategy for long term health and physical fitness, but I encourage you to reap the health benefits that exercise in our great outdoors offers all year round!

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