Is hiking cardio?

[PaleoRob]

I was talking with my wife about how I am trying to get in better shape by hiking more and doing sit ups, etc.
She said that those things basically don't matter - you have to do "cardio" on an elliptical machine to burn fat. I left it at that because I was on my way out the door to work, but I am curious for both facts and opinions: Does hiking help you lose weight and get in shape? Is it "cardio"?

[joebartels]

If I participate in the political forum will I loose ten pounds?
Should there be a warning at the top of the page to increase caloric intake before reading?

[big_load]

then you're ABOVE your Target Heart Rate and risking heart failure or the like

Being above the target heart rate doesn't put you at risk for heart failure, it just makes for suboptimal endurance training and turns it into more strength training. Similarly, your maximum heart rate is NOT the rate at which your heart fails, but merely the point at which your heart will not beat any faster, regardless of increasing demand. It's really a self-limiting process, since the muscles can't create more demand without more oxygenated blood.

[Alston_Neal]

If I participate in the political forum will I loose ten pounds?
Should there be a warning at the top of the page to increase caloric intake before reading?

I think there's some good cardio going on over at the Feral Cat thread.... ;)

[joebartels]

I updated the forum rules over there, not sure if my verbiage is correct

[VVebb]

So if you get pissed off and your heart rate increases is that cardio?

That depends on whether you are so pissed off that you cannot sing a tune.

[juliachaos]

why go hiking, when you could just sit and read the politics forum. (or maybe that's what leads to those couch hippos from the dog leash thread? )

[joebartels]

The idea is that if you can sing a tune while exercising, you're not pushing your heart hard enough to gain any real benefit

teva joe sings while hiking...therefore hiking is not cardio ;)

I believe Mayo in An Officer and Gentleman sang while marching or working out I think, I'm beginning to understand his name now

[Alston_Neal]

I updated the forum rules over there, not sure if my verbiage is correct

Good job!

[Jim]

What about the affects of altitude and lower atmospheric pressure on heart rate, oxygenation, and the ability to to talk? My HR might only be 145, but I can't carry on a conversation while maintaining that HR at 11,000' like I can while resting, but I'm usually fine on the down low. 11,000' isn't 16,000' or 24,000', but maximum HR falls as elevation increases, atmospheric pressure decreases and therefore blood oxygen content goes down. I expect that a good HR for cardio in Phoenix, or sea level is higher than the same for someone who does, oh, let's just say Humphrey a lot.

The affects of hormones on the heart from stress like anger or fear do not have the same affects as exercise, so they don't have the same benefits. However, fear stress and exercise is probably good for the heart, not sure about anger.

[kingsnake]

@joe bartels "So if you get pissed off and your heart rate increases is that cardio?"

Then I get cardio everytime I commute ...

[PaleoRob]

Dang, some good thoughts in here. I'll have to talk with my wife this evening!

[kingsnake]

That's wierd ... I did the at sign, joe, then bartels, yet it appears as "@teva joe" ...

[PaleoRob]

Joe's ninja skills must be showing...

[kingsnake]

What's the target MFPM* on the 51-202 transition at rush hour?

p.s. Thanx for the preview!

-----

* Middle Fingers Per Minutes

[joebartels]

Tortoise Hiker told me that is everybody telling you that you are number one and to go faster

Anyone that wants to experience accelerated heart rate without moving a muscle just ride with FrickNaley through Tucson

[CannondaleKid]

I updated the forum rules over there, not sure if my verbiage is correct

Besides, it's your site, you can speak whatch'ya want and how'ya want and it don't make no never-mind to me.

RE: cardio... hey, in this day and age we decide for ourselves what something means... so to you, if cardio means just getting the blood to come back up to your head after getting up fast rather than exercising enough not to be able to sing while doing so... well it's up to you. For me, I don't worry about cardio, I just hike for fun while burning more calories than sitting at the computer responding to threads like this. ;)

[PaleoRob]

I just hike for fun while burning more calories than sitting at the computer responding to threads like this. ;)

Amen. I was just surprised that my wife was poo-pooing my attempts to be more active and try and better myself...

[BobP]

Anyone that wants to experience accelerated heart rate without moving a muscle just ride with FrickNaley through Tucson

I remember one such episode that was very

[CannondaleKid]

I was just surprised that my wife was poo-pooing my attempts to be more active and try and better myself...

Treading a bit lightly here and not wanting to ruffle any feathers... (whoops, didn't mean to infer anything about cats eating birds, ya know :yuck: )
Just curious... is your wife as active as you? If not, what are your wife's attempts to be more active along with you? You know, to provide some moral support while you're being active??

[Alston_Neal]

If not, what are your wife's attempts to be more active along with you?

Before you answer remember this is a family friendly site, rated G ...