Is Hiking Good For Depression?

If you are suffering from depression, going for a hike can certainly help, so yes, hiking is good for depression. But what exactly do we mean by “Is hiking good for depression”?

Speaking as someone who has suffered dark bouts of depression on two occasions in my life now, I feel I am at least a little qualified to give my opinion.

I believe, speaking from my own experiences of getting over depression that hiking was definitely one of the main contributors to my getting back to a normal life, whatever that is in this crazy world.

Let’s look a little deeper into hiking as an aid for treating depression and I will hopefully be able to explain what I mean more clearly, and of course, how you too could use Hiking as a tool to help you get through an episode of depression if you ever need to.

Is Hiking A Cure For Depression?

Let’s get this straight, hiking is not a cure for depression, it is just one of many tools that you can use to help you get over or through a period of depression Hiking should be used in conjunction with other vitally important aspects of treatment such as Therapy (in my case Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)), Medication and of course Support (from Family, Friends and Health Professionals).

This is not any sort of Medical Advice. I am not in any way qualified to give Medical Advice. I’m just sharing my experience of how I have used Hiking in the past, twice, to help me get over depression. Read more...

 

Does Walking Burn Belly Fat?

I’m a Hiker, also a Trail Runner, a Mountain Biker and a Camper and Backpacker, but I also love to go for park and urban walks that couldn’t be classed as any of the previously mentioned hobbies and sports. Even though I do something physical almost every day I am a few pounds heavier each year, so I’m always on the lookout for things to help me burn off a bit more Fat. So I’ve been wondering lately, if I will burn belly fat by simply walking, or not?

What Is Visceral Fat?

I am constantly seeing Ads on my Facebook Wall about “How to Get Rid of Visceral Fat fast“. Many of them show images of people clutching a handful of Belly Fat.

Firstly lets clarify what Visceral Fat is not. Visceral Fat is not your Belly Fat. Your soft flabby Belly Fat is Subcutaneous Fat, soft Fat stored just below the skin. The marketers that are putting out these Ads are dead wrong.

Visceral Fat is hard coatings of fat stored deep inside the body. It is wrapped around our internal organs, such as our liver and intestines. It makes up approximately a tenth of the fat deposits stored in our bodies and it is a very unhealthy type of fat, but that’s something to discuss at a later date, we are talking Belly Fat here.

How Have I Suddenly Got So Much Belly Fat?

I have had this exact thought a few times over the last few years. Let’s have a look at why I or we quickly build up Belly Fat.

• Drinking too many Sodas or Energy Drinks
• Drinking too much Alcohol
• Eating too much food
• Eating too many sugary snacks and biscuits
• Doing too little Physical Exercise
• Eating too many Fatty Foods
• Not eating enough Protein
• Gut Bacteria problems
• Raised Stress Levels
• Not eating enough Fibre (Fiber) in your diet
• Lack of quality Sleep

Read more...