Why Not Go Hiking to Lose Weight and Stay in Shape?
A Step in the Right Direction By Gwyn Fletcher Want to lose weight and get into shape? Don’t diet, hike it. Cheaper than a health club, more accessible than a swimming pool, easier than riding a bike, less time-consuming than weight training and more stimulating than an hour on a treadmill, hiking is the number one way to get healthy-and stay that way. As the fitness craze continues to gain steam, it’s not surprising that hiking is the fastest growing outdoor activity. According to the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association Sports & Fitness Participation Report (2009), Americans remain very interested in outdoor sports in spite of economic woes. Leading outdoor activities are freshwater fishing (40.3 million), bicycling (38.1 million), camping (33.7 million), and day hiking (32.5 million). Why is hiking winning the outdoor popularity contest? For starters, it’s dirt cheap-literally. All you need is some ground to walk on and a sturdy pair of shoes that will support your ankles and se
