weight loss

[wantonzoon]

Can anyone give me an idea of expected weight loss? I realize this depends upon expenditures in town with beer, pizza etc. and also metabolism rates. I would just like to hear from the experienced about their weight loss. I am 5' 7" tall and weigh 200lbs. with most of it muscle due to to weightlifting. I intend to to greatly expand my aerobic training instead of weight training in the next 3 months.

[Lone Wolf]

if you make it the whole way you'll lose about 30 lbs.

[ChinMusic]

I am 5' 7" tall and weigh 200lbs. with most of it muscle due to to weightlifting. I intend to to greatly expand my aerobic training instead of weight training in the next 3 months.
Kiss the upper body mass goodbye. It will just be fuel. Your body will change from body builderish to a runner's.

[Peanut]

Yeah, one of my hiking partners was about your specs before the hike, including the muscle mass and he lost about 35...he's working on gaining it back now, and I'm working on keeping it off, heh. :)

[ChinMusic]

That said, you should be able to get the mass back MUCH quicker than someone who had never lifted. Your muscles have a certain "memory" as to their previous state.

Some people's bellies follow this pattern........grrrrrr

[john gault]

I lost about ~50 lbs between Amicalola Falls State Park and Damascus, Va (took exactly 50 days). I had the weight to lose, but also I work harder than the average hiker because I started out carrying 70lbs plus I don’t hit towns every 3-5 days, more like every 9-14 days. I also do a lot of weightlifting, but knew I needed to increase my cardio, that’s the reason for my hike – a body overhaul.

I use to dread running, now I relish it, because of my thru-hike. I now run ~10 miles 3-4 times per week and can easily do a half-marathon and with a little more pain I can do a marathon.

A thru-hike is the perfect body overhaul, keep up the work after your thru-hike and you’ll keep the weight off. But the weight will come back fast if you don’t maintain an active lifestyle after the hike.

[The Solemates]

I was a bodybuilder before our hike so my numbers are skewed. I weighed 220 with less than 10% body fat, which was about 15 lbs above normal for soomeone of my stature. At my low point in our hike (in NH), I had lost 45 lbs. By the time we got to Katahdin, I was up another 10 lbs or so. Not sure the reasoning behind this. So in all, I lost 35 lbs or so from start to finish. All of it was muscle. It only took me 5 months or so to gain that 35 lbs of muscle back (but I busted it working out 3hrs/day and had an insanely strict diet).

When we started, my wife was in great shape, maybe 5 lbs overweight. She lost 25 lbs by the time we reached Katahdin.

[john gault]

I lost about ~50 lbs between Amicalola Falls State Park and Damascus, Va (took exactly 50 days). I had the weight to lose, but also I work harder than the average hiker because I started out carrying 70lbs plus I don’t hit towns every 3-5 days, more like every 9-14 days. I also do a lot of weightlifting, but knew I needed to increase my cardio, that’s the reason for my hike – a body overhaul.

I use to dread running, now I relish it, because of my thru-hike. I now run ~10 miles 3-4 times per week and can easily do a half-marathon and with a little more pain I can do a marathon.

A thru-hike is the perfect body overhaul, keep up the work after your thru-hike and you’ll keep the weight off. But the weight will come back fast if you don’t maintain an active lifestyle after the hike.
When I left for my 2006 hike I weighed about 240 (5' 8") I got down to about 190. Since I also do a lot of weight training I gain weight when not on the trail, but NEVER been back to 240 since my thru; I usually weigh around 215-220.

[Jack Tarlin]

Stockier people tend to lose more.

I agree with the folks who've guessed 30-40 pounds, but don't be surprised if it turns out to be more than this.

And don't be surprised if you gain 75% of your loss back again by next Christmas.

[Lone Wolf]

And don't be surprised if you gain 75% of your loss back again by next Christmas.

and don't try to wear your hiking clothes at Trail Days the next year. you'll be bustin' out all over :)

[Jack Tarlin]

This is true.

[A-Train]

and don't try to wear your hiking clothes at Trail Days the next year. you'll be bustin' out all over :)

Hilarious. I love when people get out of the car with leggings, a bandanna and a tattered t-shirt and boots, drink for 2-3 days and then go drive home with their "hiker get up" on:)

[McPick]

And don't be surprised if you gain 75% of your loss back again by next Christmas.


Shoot, Jack... I gained back 100% the 35 pounds I lost in the Whites this past fall by THIS Christmas! (Cookies and beer, brother... Cookies and beer!)

Couldn't resist :)

[Tilly]

Ugh, men can lose weight at the drop of a hat. All they have to do is stop drinking beer, let alone hiking 15+ miles a day for months on end. Add the two and you have a huge amount of weight loss!!

Women, however...it's like once you get it you own it.

[take-a-knee]

Ugh, men can lose weight at the drop of a hat. All they have to do is stop drinking beer, let alone hiking 15+ miles a day for months on end. Add the two and you have a huge amount of weight loss!!

Women, however...it's like once you get it you own it.

Oh so wrong sister! It ain't your gender, it's your diet/exercise plan. Just google Zone Diet and Crossfit.com and make it real for you. This lady has had at least one kid:

http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/CrossFit_RopeClimbDemo.mov