Hey ladies,
I'm getting ready to hike the southern half of the AT in a few weeks and was wondering what sort of physical changes to expect. I'm 5'3" and weigh about 125-130lbs and will be carrying a 25lb pack. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind losing a few pounds, but I've heard some stories about drastic weight loss during long distance hikes and am worried it could zap my strength.
I'd love to hear what sort of weight loss/muscle gain other women experienced on the trail, and any tips on how to keep up your strength.