Fitness instructor since 1988-have led group exercise classes, and done personal training in Boston, and NYC. Currently pursuing a new path in Hiking-to lead groups on day hikes for exercise. Have been hiking the Southwest, and Rocky Mountains for about 10 years now-have lots of experience with different climates-including extended snowshoe hikes in Winter conditions. I like my exercise sessions to be between 6-12 hrs. in length-depending on the season-therefore-I am not the typical daily 1hr on an exercise machine kind of gal-I go 2-3 times per week for multi-hour hikes-no two ever being the same-I would one day like to climb a mountain-with hiking it-being the warm-up. I am currently recovering from a torn muscle/tendon in my right lower leg, and even though I kept up multi-hour walks while recovering-it just wasn't enough-so I have been recently climbing mountains-slowly-once again-and the hiking seems to be aiding in my recovery along with cryotherapy, and ultrasound treatments. What I need to do-is some bodyconditioning-with light weights-which will help keep my muscles better conditioned for hiking. My motto is -"hard and fast"-slow and steady never did it for me-the harder and faster I go-the quicker and better results I get-hence why the walking thing really doesn't work for me-I need to leave blood, sweat, and tears to get any results-that 's one of the downfall's of being fit for so many years -your body gets used to being pushed very hard-so that "normal" standards of exercise just don't apply-oh well!!