Next time the non-iNatter in your life says “I thought we came out to exercise but you keep stopping all the time to look at bugs”, show them this ;)
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I had thought perhaps it was the photographer yoga…
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Definitely the stretch and bend and twist and - damn it flew away! Or the wind whupped it!
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I can easily say that at least 90% of the times I’ve run in the past year were because I heard an interesting bird call while out walking
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Link to the actual paper, since The Guardian didn’t include it.
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My walking speed is 3.5 mph. My iNat walking speed is 0.5.
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I saw this on Facebook. As a former distance runner and long-time hiker, I agree that it takes more energy to stop and start. But, it really depends on your goals. If your goal is to build up stamina/endurance, then you should walk/run continuously. But, as a human being, you shouldn’t just do continuous walking/running. You should also do some other activity that involves some kind of strength training. It’s about your goals, your abilities and (very important) your interests. If you like going out to the parks looking for stuff to post in iNat, and if this involves lots of walking/stopping/walking, etc., then you will do it enthusiastically and get lots of activity that your physical body needs. It’s probably really good for your mental health, as well. But, you also might want to do some hill hiking or light weight work because that will give you better fitness for your iNat pursuits. In late fall and winter when there are fewer birds/critters/plants around, I try to just go out and walk/hike in the parks for my fitness. It’s sort of like training for the upcoming spring birding/iNat activity.
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Well no kidding! Take whatever you like to do, and think about how that translates into exercises.
Every time I record a herbaceous plant, I’m crouching to take a photo. That’s a squat.
I do this wearing a backpack full of gear and water and more water and… why does water have to be so heavy? That’s a weighted squat.
I also look for herps, which means I’m stopping to move cover objects. Every time I lift a rock or a log, that’s a bent-over row. Replacing the object is another rep - unless I was flexing to hold it the whole time.
Contorting yourself to get the right angle of those pollinators on that flower can be a great ab workout - especially with that heavy backpack on.
There is uneven ground and difficult terrain, with branches, logs, and slopes. That’s a lot of dynamic movement.
I’ve measured search effort on some salamander surveys where I’ve moved 250 logs and other cover objects in about three hours. Even on a more casual day with a plant focus, it’s very easy for me to exceed 100 species - with multiple photos of most plants, and multiple records of some species.
I’ve thought about this before, and when I exercise (i.e. deliberately in a controlled setting) I purposefully include squats, rows, lunges, and ab exercises that relate to how I move when I’m outside - and add a cardio challenge. Functional fitness makes it easier to keep going in the field and easier to recover afterwards.
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Vestibular rehab:
step 1: walking on flat surface while looking to either side of trail for cool stuff
step 2: walking on bumpy/uneven surface while looking to either side of trail for cool stuff
step 3: look up at birds or trees above your head without falling over or getting dizzy (I have trouble with this one)
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step 4: contort yourself while crouching, and maintain your balance while focusing on your camera screen (darn, that rock was hard!)
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Don’t worry. Before you know it you’ll have that down to .25 mph.
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I’d like to see a study where they include the caloric consumption of the brain.
Runners typically are mentally focused on far fewer things, often with earbuds in.
I find that really focusing on and scanning for hidden natural ‘discoveries’ against their busy background really can feel exhausting after awhile.
There’s a lot of ‘processing demand’ going on and that’s got to account for some justification of my chocolate chip fortified trail mix.
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Step 4. Try to look casual as you lean against a tree as the world settles back in place… after standing too fast or looking up too long…
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can i also apply this reasoning to my PokemonGO sessions? 
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Seems about right. I’ve hiked mountains in search of interesting bees lol
4 - stand up, carefully, after going down for a photo. Just. Give me a moment …
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Your brain is only about 2% of your body’s total weight, but it consumes about 20% of your energy. Maybe a lot more when you’re looking for a white whale!
Re: stopping and starting, HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) is most beneficial for
The physical and mental health benefits of iNatting are a topic that is important, but also complicated. I talked about it in my bio on iNaturalist. There is a mindfulness component to nature observation.
Diet also has a profound effect on flexibility, via inflammation (Asian squats, etc.).
Let’s not over-analyze it. Sedentary is bad. Movement is good. Getting outside is good.
Thanks for sharing this article, Nicolás!
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I’ve routinely turned 30 minute trails into 2-3 hour trails because I need time to take multiple photos of individual plants of interest, while constantly switching in and out lenses, and writing down data.
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I’ve wondered if a slow walk over the same distance doesn’t use up more energy because you are bearing your weight for a longer period of time? First time I’ve read anything that supported my thought.
Thank you for the article, I’ve shared it with some walking partners.
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Sent this to my kids. So there!
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