Does Hiking Burn Fat? 5 Tips To Lose Fat While Hiking

Hiking is a great way to get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with family or friends. It’s also an activity that many people are interested in because it can be challenging but not too strenuous for most people to do. Many hikers wonder if hiking burns fat or not. Does hiking burn fat?

The answer is yes! Hiking does burn fat and will leave you feeling like you accomplished something after your hike – this may even make you want to go on another hike soon!

In this blog post I will cover topics relating to whether hiking can burn belly fat, can you lose weight hiking and much more!

Can hiking burn belly fat? Does Hiking Actually Burn Belly Fat?

To answer it shortly, yes it can burn belly fat. As long as you burn enough calories you will lose weight.

Hiking is a great way to blast calories and works your entire body, including your core. A study published in the journal Metabolism found that people who regularly hiked burned more belly fat than those who didn’t hike.

However, you can’t rely on hiking alone to burn all of your belly fat. You’ll need to make sure you’re eating healthy and watching your calorie intake as well.

Is hiking a good way to lose weight?

Yes, hiking is a great way to lose weight. In fact, just walking for 30 minutes for 5 days per week can help you lose weight according to this study.

A hike however would generally burn more depending on your weight, intensity of hike, and terrain.

Why Hiking Is Better than other forms of Cardio For Losing Weight?

Hiking is better than other forms of cardio because most of us love to hike and it’s not just burning a few calories doing something you might find boring.

It’s a great way to get outside, see some beautiful scenery, and spend time with friends or family.

In addition, hiking is something that can be done by just about anyone. You don’t need any special equipment or clothing – just put on your sneakers and go!

Take a look at this video below which explains why hiking is one of the best activities for weight loss:

How long does it take to lose weight from hiking?

It depends on how much weight you want to lose. Generally speaking, if you hike regularly (at least three times per week) and maintain a healthy diet, you can expect to lose one to two pounds per week.

However, as with any weight loss plan, results vary from person to person. Make sure you check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

It also depends on the caloric intake and how many calories you are burning. So, factors like diet, metabolism and how much you weigh also matter.

How often should you hike to lose weight?

To lose weight, you should hike at least three times per week if you are a beginner. This is a good number for maintaining progress and not becoming too sore from hiking.

If you’re just starting out, or if you have a lot of weight to lose, start with two hikes per week and gradually increase the frequency as your body becomes stronger.

Remember, it’s important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard. If you’re feeling sore or tired, take a break day or hike at a lower intensity.

Hiking is definitely a great way to burn fat and lose weight – just make sure you’re eating healthy foods as well!

Can hiking tone your body?

Yes, hiking can tone your body. It tones all the muscles in our legs and glutes which are typically difficult to target with just exercise.

When you hike uphill or downhill you will use mainly leg strength for movement so it is a great workout!

It’s also an aerobic activity that gets your heart rate up which helps burn even more calories.

If you are looking for a way to tone your body, hiking is definitely the exercise for you!

Is hiking better than the gym for losing fat?

It depends on what you enjoy more. If you enjoy hiking more than going to the gym, then it will be more effective for you since you will stick with it.

If you do something that you don’t like, you will likely quit it. However, that being said, the gym offers more than just cardio equipment so, it is a better choice however, most people don’t stick to it whereas they enjoy hiking.

Is hiking considered cardio?

Yes, hiking is considered cardio. It’s a great way to get your heart rate up while you enjoy nature!

It doesn’t matter if it’s uphill or downhill – hiking works all the major muscles in our body which makes us healthier and helps burn more calories.

If you are looking for an outdoor activity that will help tone your body and burn belly fat, hiking is definitely the exercise for you!

Can you get ripped from hiking?

Hiking is a great way to get ripped. It will strengthen all the major muscles in your legs and glutes which are typically difficult to target with just exercise.

When you hike uphill or downhill you use mainly leg strength for movement so it’s a great workout!

Is hiking harder than running?

No, Hiking is definitely less hard than running depending on what you consider running.

It would also depend on what type of hike you are taking since hiking for a few days nonstop will technically be harder, however, running in the short term is still the more intense form of exercise which will definitely burn calories faster.

Is hiking enough exercise to lose weight?

Yes, hiking can be enough exercise you do to lose weight. However, you need to realise that losing fat or weight requires you to be in a caloric deficit.

It’s all about the calories burned and how many calories you consume. If you eat more than what you burn, you will end up gaining more weight.

So, again while hiking can be enough exercise, you also need to take care of your diet. And of course the type of hike you perform and the duration of it.

How Does Hiking Compare With Other Activities For Losing Tummy Fat?

Hiking is definitely one of the better ways to lose that tummy fat and lower your waistline.

The reason for this is because to hike you must go outdoors. And compared to a lot of other indoor activities, hiking is much superior.

With Hiking, you get to breathe fresh air and oxygenate your blood.

You also get to soak up the sun and absorb Vitamin D, which is a great antioxidant that can help fight off disease.

In fact, when you hike in nature with direct exposure to sunshine it has been found to be even more beneficial than taking supplements or pills full of isolated antioxidants.

Also, compared to weight training, hiking is better because you are less likely to injure yourself and not only that you normally target 1-2 muscle groups when lifting weights whereas with hiking you target your full body.

What are some benefits of hiking for weight loss?

Here are some benefits that hiking provides for burning calories and losing fat:

• The biggest benefit of hiking is that it’s a low-impact exercise. This means you’re less likely to injure yourself, and you can do it for longer periods without putting stress on your joints.
• Hiking strengthens your core muscles, which can help reduce belly fat. You increase your metabolism since you pack on more muscle.
• It isn’t as boring as walking on a treadmill or an elliptical.
• It’s much cheaper than a gym membership.
• You get to experience the great outdoors and get some fresh air!
• You get your daily dose of Vitamin D from hiking which indoor activities can’t provide.
• It is also more rewarding since you get a feeling of accomplishment by watching the view on top of a hill.
• All ages can enjoy hiking even seniors can go hiking while taking precautions of course.

How To Burn More Calories While Hiking? 5 Tips To Lose More Weight While Hiking

1. Make Your Hiking Backpack Heavier

Instead of using a small daypack for your hike, try filling up a large backpack with some heavier items. This will help to increase the number of calories you’re burning while hiking.

Because the more weight you carry the harder your body has to work in order to move that weight across.

So, this means you are burning more calories for every step you walk.

2. Take Advantage of Longer Hike Sessions

You don’t need to hike for hours and hours, but if you make your hikes longer it will help burn more calories.

You could go hiking for more than just a couple of hours a day, you could go on a multi-day hike or backpacking which is a form of hiking that is typically longer than a day.

You won’t just burn more calories by hiking for longer but, you will also burn more calories because you have to carry a backpack that has more things you need for hiking.

3. Hike With Friends And Family

You don’t always have to hike alone, you can go on a hike with your friends and family to keep you company.

This will also keep you more accountable since you will be more likely to go on hikes consistently.

In addition, hiking with others makes the hike more fun. And you can all enjoy the views and experience together.

4. You can join a hiking club

You can join a hiking club in your area or create a hiking club in your area where you guys can schedule hikes together.

This is also another great way to increase your chances of going on hikes.

And it can keep you accountable since other people are expecting you to be at the meetup point for a hike.

You could even make some new friends while hiking if anyone in the group has similar interests as you do!

5. Pack Healthy Lunches While Hiking

If you’re going to be hiking for a few hours, it’s important to pack a healthy lunch.

This way you won’t get too hungry and can maintain your energy while hiking.

I actually have a blog post on healthy day hike lunch ideas you can check out here!

Conclusion

Hiking is a great way to burn calories and lose weight.

It’s low-impact, so it’s less likely to cause injuries, and you can do it for longer periods of time without putting stress on your joints.

Hiking also strengthens your core muscles, which can help reduce belly fat. And hiking provides some other health benefits like getting your daily dose of Vitamin D and feeling more accomplished after a hike.

So, if you’re looking for an enjoyable, low-cost, and healthy way to lose weight, then hiking is definitely the exercise for you!