Beautiful views, fresh air, what’s not to like? Well, if you’re someone who’s fitness is an in progress project, there can be a lot of challenges in hiking depending on the trail. Steep inclines, narrow passages, rocky terrain. Being overweight not only makes all of these things more challenging but can make injury more likely (e.g. your momentum will be different as a falling larger person than a falling smaller person; if all your weight lands on your wrist that can be a very different experience/level of injury depending on your size). All of that said, hiking is very doable for a chubby explorer like myself as long as I select trials of appropriate length and difficulty level; and as I continue to get more experience with hiking, like any skill, I gradually increase the difficulty level to develop my hiking ability. I love relatively low intensity but high reward hikes that have some great photo op to look forward to: waterfalls, panoramic views, flowers. And I (along with friends and my partner who I hike with) choose our routes accordingly.
Let’s be honest with ourselves. You’re not going to do yourself (or your hiking buddies) any favors by going on a hike that’s way beyond your perceived hiking difficulty level. But you can work your way up to that dream hike by practicing with smaller, more manageable hikes until you feel more comfortable with more advanced trails. As someone who has sprained my ankle and twisted my wrist on terrains I did not feel comfortable on (especially steep downward inclines) I definitely recommend finding balance between challenging yourself and being safe.
In summary, do go chasing waterfalls! But do it on a trail appropriate for your fitness level, with appropriate attire (particularly hiking shoes that have a lot of treads/grip and comfortable clothes like tights for women), plenty of water, and, most importantly, a fun partner or friend to keep you company and take pretty pictures of your hiking triumphs!
Millennial's Delight 
2 thoughts on “Hiking”