How to maintain physique from hill walking at home

[GardenDreams]

I was surprised to find that I had lost a few lbs of fat and gained muscle after a good bit of hiking and hill walking recently. I won't be able to return to it (geographically) for a while, so would love any tips as to how to keep this shape until I can.
I no longer have wine bloat and fit my clothes much more comfortably again - a life saver as I can't afford to replace them!.
I am in healthy weight range but had become pretty unfit generally. My diet hasn't changed, is already decent, so no problems there.

Will my stationary bike help to maintain it? We have no hills nearby and the local areas aren't that pleasant these days. I also don't enjoy running and don't wish to start. I already do relaxing yoga but I need some good cardio that can replace the effect of hill hiking. I intend to walk in other areas closer by but still no hills.

I have never had calf muscle definition before and would love to keep it if only a bit! I din't put this in weight loss as it doesn't seem applicable, more fitness/shape related really.
Hope you can help!

I’d get a small stepper and some dumbbells (5kg - 15kg) to hold while you use it in front of the TV.

Forgive my stupidity but how do the dumbbells help? Is it to create more force on the step?
1Kg usually hurt my neck

Yes, as the previous poster says, get a stepper. Also, climb stairs as much as you possibly can. In the house, at work, wherever you can find them. I have been known to take a full laundry load from the utility room to the airer upstairs one pair of socks or pants at a time.

Look up some leg strengthening exercise routines on YouTube too.

Do you have stairs in your house?

How about ankle weights instead of dumbbells?

Yes we have stairs, steps are a good idea, I can also find them in the city.

Will the stationary bike help at all? I live using it so that would be win-win.

Thank you for the suggestions.

You can definitely use the bike. Google interval training stationary bike. It’s really good exercise.

I have seen ads recently for ruking with a weighted backpack. Maybe you could put some small weights in a backpack and go for a walk/hike. I did recently with some ankle weights I had not used for years and two full water bottles. I need to remember to take the weighted backpack when I am walking the dog for extra benefit for no extra time.

The stationary bike will help, but will work different muscles. It's also easy to be lazy on a bike and not really do a proper work out. For me a lot of the benefit of walking is actually good food, fresh air and sleeping really well, which is difficult to replicate at home, especially in the winter!

Do you have a climbing wall locally? It’s not hill walking, but it’s physically demanding all over… less boring than weight lifting! (IMO 🥴) And compliments yoga well

I use one of those little foldaway stools in the winter when I can't face going out for a run. Stick it in front of the TV and step up and down, ideally with ankle weights or swinging small dumbells in your hands.

If you fancied a gym, the stairmaster is a great workout and works similar muscles to hillwalking.

Outside, I just look for anywhere with an incline...even if that means going up and down the same street 😂

I get you OP, I live in a hilly area and have great legs from running uphill every day. Can you buy one of those step things and do a workout, there are loads of good videos on YouTube?

Thanks!
I have just remembered I have a free pass for a local gym so might pop my head in there...ask them about it.
I know that nothing will reproduce the stunning, wilderness-y surroundings of my hiking routes but not much I can do about that sadly!

I also quit wine and moved over to Whiskey (only a small tipple!) during the same month so wonder if that has helped too. It did make me curiously sluggish and bloated around the face. No other diet changes though.

We have discussed a few local hill walks, which whilst very small fry in the scheme of things will be fun to try. Thinking of some day trips to the west coast, say Morecambe to walk the coast there, Silverdale, etc.

We are close to Ormskirk, north west, so any tips in that region would be great!