Finding Fitness Friends & Fun Meetup Groups
I’ve really enjoyed my outdoor fitness adventures, from kayaking and rock climbing to hiking and caving. It’s been a lot of fun, and a great way to get in shape!
While I do a lot of hiking alone, or with a friend if I can find one willing (and able) to go, many of you have mentioned wishing you had someone to get out and do more fun things with. I totally get that…
Most of my friends are super busy or our schedules just don’t work out, and some of them aren’t up for the deep woods hikes & crazy heights I like to do. 🙂 (lol)
Then there’s the issue of it being a little dangerous to go out hiking alone, especially if you’re hiking in areas with zero cell signal – like most of the places I go. Or not having the right equipment to do what you want to try, like caving or rock climbing.
I found a great solution: Meetup Groups! I joined a few myself to check it out, and discovered an “adventure series” that is right up my alley. I’m going to get to go rapelling off the edge of the Savage Gulf bluffs finally!! 🙂
That one is a paid event, but it’s only $25 and includes all the safety equipment – plus friends to go with, and a SAFE way to do it (vs alone) -lol.
Anyway, I found these fun hiking & social groups on Meetup.com. There are tons of fun things to do based on activities, age groups, lifestyles, etc.
There are groups that just hang out and eat or go bowling, there are Urban Hikes in the city (one I like focuses on the historical landmarks!), there are hiking groups, adventure groups, walkers, runners, you name it! And it’s FREE. 🙂
I joined a few, and signed up for an easy hike (2 miles) just to check it out. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I chose a short hike first.
I went on my first hike with the group on Friday… and had a blast!
Hiking the Fiery Gizzard Trail in the Grundy Forest
The first hiking meetup I signed up for was a 2-mile hike on the Fiery Gizzard Trail in the Grundy Forest, which is a fairly easy day loop. It was also a small group. I felt like that would be a great way to feel it out and see what it was like.
The hike was lead by a park ranger, and there were 3 of us for this hike:
Park (that’s actually his first name, too! lol) and Mike were super nice, and so much fun. I learned A LOT on this hike! I’ll take you on a photo tour of my experience…
Let me backtrack though, because before I met up with the group I did a little exploring on my own. I arrived almost two hours early for two reasons.
First, because meeting new people is always a little uncomfortable – you never know what to expect, right? So I wanted to spend a little time in the woods to work off the anxiety about it. I ran the trails for a bit, which was a great workout! 🙂
I also went early though because I love to explore and play, and I wasn’t sure if there would be much opportunity for that on a group hike.
It turns out there wasn’t, so I’m glad I went early!
I started out on the main trail, but veered off-trail and hiked uphill through the woods as soon as I heard water. I’ve been completely fascinated with waterfalls lately, so I was on the hunt. 🙂
I found out later this is loosely referred to as Schoolhouse Falls by the park rangers in the area. There were remnants of an old moonshine still by the waterfall, which was just a trickle due to our drought here in Tennessee.
I stood behind that drizzle of a waterfall way up in the woods watching each drop fall, for the first and last time ever. Like teardrops…
The rainbow was a nice bonus! 🙂
Next I hiked down and got back on the trail, and explored a bit at the Blue Hole.
This is where I had lunch, which was just 60 grams of pecans & two ounces of cheese.
It was a beautiful spot for a break – and some exploring. 🙂
After that I ran the trail about a mile back to the head to meet up with the hiking group. It was uphill with a lot of rocks to navigate, so I was all sweaty and feeling exhilarated (instead of nervous) when I got there. 🙂
The group hike turned out to be totally different than my usual hikes. It was incredibly educational! In addition to good exercise and amazing views (plus cool people & great conversation of course) I learned A LOT about the area.
I learned there is only ONE natural lake in the entire state of Tennessee (Reelfoot), and how it was formed. I learned about the 4 different types of caves, how mountains and plateaus are formed, and that the state of Tennessee has more caves than anywhere else in the entire United States – with over 8,000 documented caves!
I learned what was edible in the woods (a lot!), how the rocks got where they were – which was seriously cool and mind-blowing. It was FUN. 🙂
The Grundy Forest is full of strange trees that grow at the oddest angles, right off the tops & sides of large boulders and cliffs. An odd and beautiful work of nature that adds to this fascinating hiking trail. I was in awe…
The whole forest was amazing and so much fun to explore! 🙂
The most beautiful spot on the hike was Hanes Hole Falls.
It was breathtakingly gorgeous from every single angle…
Had I not been with the group, this is where I would have gone off trail to explore and play. 🙂 It’s a very popular swimming hole with the locals (“clothing optional” lol).
See? I told you I learned a lot. 🙂 lol
It was a short hike at around 90 minutes and only 2 miles.
It was a lot slower than my usual pace too, because we stopped a lot for cool sights and to learn more about the area. I really enjoyed that part – the history, science and geology! Park was an awesome hike host.
Still, I’m glad I went early to play & explore on my own. 🙂
I’m anxious to go back to this spot after we get some rain and the water is back up. Or better yet, in the snow!
After the hike, I didn’t want to leave the woods. I was tempted to go back in and hike back to Hanes Hole to explore the falls. I decided I’d hike it again another time though, and headed off to have dinner and get home.
I stopped at Mountain Goat Market on top of Monteagle Mountain with ONE goal in mind: to buy Halo Top low carb ice cream. 🙂
It’s one of the very few areas near me (within an hour!) that carry it. Unfortunately they were out. Boo! But I decided to have dinner while I was there…
I got a big beautiful salad of mixed greens with cucumbers & cherry tomatoes and sunflower seeds, topped with rotisserie chicken & bacon. 🙂
YUM! I ate every bite of that, lol.
The cool thing is, Mike showed up at the Mountain Goal Market on his way out too, about half hour after I got there. I invited him to join me at my table and we chatted about our hike over dinner.
Then Park and his girlfriend came in for dinner too, and we all had a nice chat. 🙂
It was so nice to “know people” and have a social dinner experience. I go out to eat alone a lot, and ENJOY it, but making friends and having great conversations is really cool too.:) Definitely an added bonus to the meetup groups!
I had my usual “low carb cereal” for breakfast that morning, and my meal in the woods at the Blue Hole. Here’s my MyFitnessPal nutrition diary for the day (below).
The salad turned out to be higher in carbs than I realized it would be, but it was worth it. I’m on a mission to add more “color” to my diet, and the tomatoes were amazingly fresh! (I also didn’t realize it was going to have sunflower seeds in it, but they were delicious with the greens.)
I still had ice cream on my mind, and then there were all the beautiful temptations at the Mountain Goat Market, so I pulled into CVS next and ended up going a little crazy on a sugar free / sweet tooth “buy binge” lol:
I don’t know what I was thinking. 😛 Never walk into a store with a sweet tooth! haha – I only ate ONE piece of the candy on the way home, and that craving was cured. 🙄
Outside of that piece of candy, I had a super healthy day and got in some great exercise! Hiking is such a good workout because it requires a much wider range of muscles to navigate the hills and rocks, twists and turns. Plus it’s fun. 🙂
Here are the things I had with me on my hike:
Plus a Fabletics fanny pack & sports bra, which are great for hiking!
I always feel awkward and intimidated at the gym…
In the woods, I feel FREE.
I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about “hiking with strangers” but it turned out to be a GREAT experience. Park and Mike were super cool, and good conversation was a NICE change. I highly recommend it, and I’ll definitely be doing it again myself. In fact, I’m already signed up for my next adventure! 🙂
I’m really proud of myself for sticking to my fitness goals and exercise challenge, and also for joining some meetup groups – and actually going, lol.
I can’t count the times (or years) I’ve sat home curled up with a movie wishing I had someone fun to go do something with, and wishing I was in better shape.
Wishing wasn’t getting me anywhere at all of course.
It feels GOOD to be doing something about it.
Even if you have tons of friends in your area, not all of your friends are going to be into the same things you are. It turns out there are tons of people that ARE into those things though… and they’re all on Meetup.com. 🙂
I love to hike, am willing to try ANYthing outdoors, I like to go dancing, I love a good card game (double cut throat pinochle!), I love history and concerts and great live bands… and now I have endless options.
I encourage you to check it out. At least do a few searches and just see what’s going on in your area. I’m PUMPED about my upcoming rappelling and rock-climbing adventure!!
I mentioned I didn’t want to leave Grundy Forest that day…
I paused for a long moment about it. It was such an awesome spot. I had fun running the trails, playing in the waterfalls, exploring in the woods. I just couldn’t seem to get enough – but I did decide to call it a day.
I woke up the next morning itching to get back out though, and THAT turned into something like a scene out of The Blair Witch Project, lol. EEK! It started out harmless, but turned into the adventure of a lifetime…
I’ll tell you all about it in my next post. 🙂
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. My next “adventure meetup” is all women (7 of us), except for the host – which is Park, the same man that lead Friday’s hike. It will be so much fun to do a hiking, rock climbing & rappelling adventure with other women like me! 🙂
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
Donna B. says
Hi Lynn,
Love hearing about your adventures! So glad you’ve found others who share your adventurous spirit. I missed yesterday’s weight in, but I’ve lost another 1.8 lbs this past week and actually did more exercise! Helped my daughter move the last two days to an upstairs apt…got lots of stair climbing in…what a workout! Looking forward to the next challenge…Donna B.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Donna – I’m really excited about the number of FUN things I’ve found to get into. π
Congrats on your weight loss this week!! That *was* great exercise. Don’t be surprised if your scales go back up for a day or so. It’s common for me after every big hike to go up ~2 pounds. I call it my “recovery period.” π It has something to do with water retention and muscle inflammation – literally, your body recovering.
It goes away just as fast. π That always freaks people out though, lol.
Karen says
Oh how FUN for you Lynn! I on the other hand am dealing with icy roads, darkness of winter, and cold here in Alaska. SO… this morning, I came up with a fitness program that I can do from home! I was visiting a friend in Oregon last week and she inspired me. She goes throughout the day stopping to do various exercises. I hope to incorporate them throughout my day too. Especially the squats at every bathroom break at work. π
Here is my list that I printed. I will do all to failure.
Standard Plank
1. Get down on all fours as you would do for a pushup. Keeping your palms flat and hands directly under your shoulders slightly wider the shoulder-width apart.
2. Your body should form a straight line from your head to your ankle. Contract your abs to prevent your butt from sticking or dipping. With your abs pulling in toward your spine, hold the plank position as long as you can without breaking form.
Wall Sit
1. Stand with your back flat against a wall. Walk your feet out about about 2 feet in front of you, feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart.
2. Slide your back down the wall, bending your knees until they are bent at about a 90 degree angle. Your thighs should be parallel to the ground and it should appear that you are sitting in an invisible chair.
Hold this seated position for as long as you can without breaking your form, and keep your abs engaged throughout the exercise.
Calf Raises
Stand facing the back of a sturdy chair, other support such as the back of a couch, or a wall bar at the gym. You can also do this on the stairs, holding on to the banister with your heels hanging off the edge of the step. Slowly raise the heels as high as you can, then lower. Do three sets of 10-15. When it becomes easy, lift one foot slightly off the floor, with all your weight on the other foot.
Squat
1. Stand as tall as you can with your feet spread slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Hold your arms straight out in front of your body at shoulder level, so that your arms parallel to the floor. Keep your torso as upright as you can for the entire movement, with your lower back slightly arched.
2. Brace your core, and lower your body as far as you can by pushing your hips back and bending your knees. Pause, then push yourself back up to the starting position. That’s one repetition. Do 10 to 15 repetitions.
Because I have bad knees, I follow this progression: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNRiFnyqTxQ
Superman Exercise
1. Lie face down flat on your stomach with arms fully extended overhead and legs straight back. Keep your neck in a neutral position by looking straight down.
2. Tighten your core to lift both your arms and legs off the ground towards the ceiling. Stop when you feel a flex in your lower back. Your torso needs to stay in contact with the ground. Hold for as long as you can without breaking the form.
Ab roller to failure. (love this thing!)
Donkey Kick repeat each leg to failure
Side leg lift on knees
Side leg lift laying on side
Back and side leg kicks at counter
Tricep back lift with dumbbells
Tricep dips
Deltoid butterfly with dumbbells
Bicep curl with dumbbells
rear-end squeeze on floor – lift and squeeze slowly repeat
Straight Leg lift
Lie on one side with your legs stacked. Bend the bottom leg for support. Straighten the top leg and raise it to 45 degrees. Hold for 5 seconds, lower and relax briefly, then repeat 10-15 times. Switch sides and start over. Want to try a bit of a different spin on the move? Point the toe of your upper leg slightly toward the floor as you raise it.
Prone straight leg lifts
Step ups
Use a 6-inch high stool or platform. Step one foot onto the platform. Lift your other foot off the floor, letting it hang loosely off the platform. Try to hold for 3 to 5 seconds. Slowly lower your hanging foot to the floor, then bring your stepping foot down. Repeat and switch sides.
Do: Make sure when you step up that your whole foot is on the platform.
Do not: Lock the knee that is stepping on the platform.
Place one foot on a step bench, platform, or the lowest step on a staircase. Keeping your pelvis level, bend your knee and slowly lower the opposite foot to the floor. Lightly touch your toe to the floor, then rise back up. Repeat 10-15 times, then switch legs. Too easy? Use a higher step, or touch your heel instead of your toe.
8 Simple Movements of Qigong for Beginners – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HMLtN7BOlY
Lynn Terry says
I love this, Karen. π Thank you so much for sharing the details! I bet lots of others will appreciate that as well.:)
I especially love strength training because as you said, you can do it quickly and easily throughout the day. I can do 100 reps on my Ab Carver Pro and 10-20 Tricep Dips while half a pot of coffee is brewing for example. π
What a great new habit to start!!
Jennifer Gosch (Manos) says
Hi Lynn,
I did everything you said to do for MFP but it still doesn’t look like yours. π It is now figuring out my carbs but I’m not sure about net carbs because it just says carbs. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Jennifer
Lynn Terry says
Hi Jennifer,
Are you on a PC or Mac, and using Firefox or Chrome?
There’s a video here that may help: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/6938/food-tracker-net-carb-calculator/