Stay In Shape With These Helpful Hints
If you’re a camper like me, you get antsy when you haven’t got your camping fix for a while! Maybe where you live prevents you from camping year-round (weather? parks close? no time?)? I have a few tricks that help keep you from going crazy and get you into shape! And I’d love to hear your tips too!
- Hike!!! I feel hiking is about as close to camping as you’re going to get (except for the whole “sleeping outside thing”). If you weigh 150 lbs and you hike 1 hour, you can burn at least 530 calories (quoted from www.self.com) ! Umm, hello? That’s a good workout!
- Find a hill in your neighborhood and start walking! The hill is great if you are hesitant to start hiking!
- 3. While you’re at it- take your dog with you! My dog pulls because she’s so excited to get out there! The benefit? I use core strength to keep her tame! Ab workout and walk the dog?! Yes please!
- If you are a backpacker, add a backpack with weights to your hike or walk around the block! I’ve been gradually making my way to longer and longer backpacking trips but if you are only training during that backpacking trip, you may be struggling! Get toned up by training! Then you’ll be smokin’ the boys in no time 🙂
- Find peace with yoga! Camping always makes me feel calm, serene, peaceful, and less distracted- so does yoga! If you don’t make it out to the great outdoors, try a yoga sesh!
Does anyone else have any great tips to train in the off-season?
Girly Camping® 
I think that #4 is the best. I don’t camp out of a pack, but I have a very large day pack with the essentials in it that I usually wear while hiking for photography purposes, which along with my camera gear, adds up to a considerable amount of weight. It’s great exercise.
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1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at the office 😉
2. If you don’t have time for a dayhike you can always do short distances on foot or with the bike. Excellent for groceries, visiting friends, walking the dog.
3. If you work out. Try to do it slower and longer. Better to run 1hr at 8km/h then 30 minutes at 12km/h.
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I’m quoting something I saw on Facebook the other day that perfectly explains my outlook on exercise: “I’m in the fitness protection program.”
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Hiking with a weighted pack and gradually upping the weight is the advice I keep getting. We plan to do some heavy backpacking and elk hunting in Idaho this year.
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Great article! We’ve had so much snow lately that I hate to leave the house. I’m looking at my calendar to plan some camping time this summer and I am worried about my physical condition, so your post is a great reminder to get going and stay in shape.
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A weighted pack does work wonders. I do around 30mins 4 times a week with one and saw a large improvement in my fitness as a result!
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I am a hiker, but mostly a kayaker and from that point of view walking has been the best off-season training I can get. Kayaking is a full-body activity and for those of us who ain’t 20 anymore it seems to have taken the edge off most of my paddler’s complaints such as stiff legs, aching hips and lower back. I have a hill that I have been hiking for decades and I will add a big jug of water to my pack. Drinking it at the top. Extra weight with a purpose! 🙂 Yoga too!!! nothing beats a few stretches after a hike, or in my case a day on the water. The real trick is balancing that glass of wine while doing it!
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for my husband, camping has no off-season
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Us too! Rain, snow, shine doesn’t matter 🙂
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