Get up and get outdoors with the Crystal Cove Cardio Club. This totally free group is dedicated to helping you transform your life. And, when you hike with friends, the traditional tedium of the gym is washed away with the casual conversation with friends. Here are a few of the benefits of Hiking:

> Low Impact --- As a long time runner whose knees now remind me that the impact of running has some downside, I now enjoy the benefits of an incredible cardiovascular workout.

> Tones the Lower Body –-- Uphill walking as a form of cardio is starting to catch on more and more as it doesn't have the impact of running and provides a great workout for the thighs and glutes. Want better glutes? Walk on steeper hills with a longer stride.

> Upper Body Workout --- If you choose to carry hiking poles with you, you will up your calorie burn even more and make this more of a full body workout, similar to what an elliptical machine would give you.

> Weight Loss --- Hiking is a super way to lose excess pounds. The formula is simple: move your body, burn more calories and when combined with fewer calories taken in, the result is weight loss. Thirty minutes of hiking burns about 240 calories for a 150-pound woman. Want to burn more? Walk faster and/or steeper.

> Cardiovascular Benefits --- Over 2500 Americans die every day from cardiovascular diseases. A regular walking routine greatly reduces your chances of heart problems. Study after study after study show that regular, light exercise increases your odds immensely.

> Mental Clarity --- Perhaps the best part about hiking, is when you are doing it you hardly feel like you are exercising. It is good for you spiritually as well as physically and emotionally.

> A Break from the Gym --- This group is *not* a substitute for the gym or weight training, but it is much more fun and more effective than any treadmill.

> Social Hiking --- The social aspect makes hiking more than a workout. When you walk/hike with friends, you'll enjoy conversations with old friends and new acquaintances alike.

The great thing about hiking is you choose a different path each day to keep your workout fresh and interesting. Why not discover the amazing benefits that hiking has to offer with the Crystal Cove Cardio Club.