So we have been receiving a lot of questions in regards to alternative types of exercise and I thought it would be a great idea to tackle that question.

When people think of “exercise” most people think of running on a treadmill, or using a stationary bike, or maybe going to the local gym and hopping on one of those random machines and working out random body parts. Lol.

Yes, those are forms of exercise, but they are BORING. You wonder why so many people quit the gym after just a few trips.

I personally do not have a gym membership and never will have one. You might wonder how I’m in such good shape though. Well like most Americans I hate the “gym scene” and refuse to go. I much rather be getting my exercise playing a few hours of basketball, hiking outside, playing racquetball (my favorite), or even out fishing! And yes, fishing and hunting is exercise. You might disagree with me if you have never done one of the two.

The great thing about Alaska is it offers ample opportunities to explore the outdoors, find places to fish, or fields to hunt local game.

According the great internet, the average person burns 340 calories per hour while fishing in a stream or from the shore. If you fish for 3-4 hours, well you can do the math! You are not only having a blast but you’re getting your work out in as well!

Hunting big game like elk or deer can also burn about 300 calories per hour, while fishing from a boat still burns about 150 calories per hour.

All in all, you need to try alternative sources of exercise and expand your boundaries as a human being. Get out there, get dirty, and have fun.

If you’ve decided to take me up on my advice and need someone to take you fishing, use our local friend, Jason Lesmeister. He is arguably one of the best Cooper Landing Fishing Guides if not the best. His company, Jason’s Guide Service will take you all over the Kenai River and catch rainbow trout and salmon all day. If you’re not keen to being on the water, he can still direct you to great shore fishing.

Moral of the story (it’s actually a post. lol), is to get outdoors every once in a while. Even when the winter hits here in Alaska there are opportunities to get outside. Ice fishing, bobsledding, hiking, ice skating, or mushing. Just go do it!