how much weight?

[jnohs]

how much weight could a newbie expect to loose. I know I am physicaly capable of makeing the trek.But I know if I was to do it how much do you think a person would loose?

[MOWGLI]

Depends on how much you weigh.

[Blissful]

Depends on your start weight, if you were overweight to begin with, etc. And your metabolism and how the hike alters it. My son Paul Bunyan lost 50 lbs. I lost 30.

[Appalachian Tater]

What trek? Are you talking about a 5 month hike of 15 miles a day, equivalent to a thru-hike of the A.T.?

It depends on many factors including your weight, fat to lean ratio, metabolism, your caloric intake, how many hours you sleep, and what the weather is like. How long you chew. There are many factors.

I lost almost 20% of my body weight. All of it was fat. I made a special effort to increase caloric intake after losing 8 oz a day for the first month.

Two years later I weigh 2 or 3% more than I did when I began my thru-hike Weight you lose under extraordinary circumstances is easy to gain back.

I believe you would need other reasons to complete a thru-hike than weight loss alone.

[rafe]

how much weight could a newbie expect to loose. I know I am physicaly capable of makeing the trek.But I know if I was to do it how much do you think a person would loose?

Depends on lots of factors. Thru-hikers have lost upwards of 50 lbs. or more getting from GA to ME. Most weight loss occurs in the first third or half of the trip. But there's no rule... every individual is different. Depends on how many miles per day you do, and on your diet while on the trail (and in town.) Plus lots of other factors.

[Rockhound]

hiked 1400 miles last year. start weight 195 lbs. end weight 170 lbs.

[Footslogger]

how much weight could a newbie expect to loose. I know I am physicaly capable of makeing the trek.But I know if I was to do it how much do you think a person would loose?

=================================

Like Mowgli said ...depends a lot on your starting weight and condition. I hiked with a lot of "thin" folks who didn't lost much at all. I personally lost 38lbs by the time I got to Harpers Ferry ...and then levelled off.

Men (in general) tend to lose weight quickly and cut into lean muscle. Women (in general) lose a higher percentage body fat (which they have more of - again, on average - in the first place) and end up becoming very "lean".

'Slogger

[ScottP]

If you show up in shape and eat right, you won't lose any weight. If you're asking 'do I need to pack on 20 pounds so that I can thru-hike,' then the answer is no.

If you want to thru-hike to lose weight, then get out there and hike. It really depends on how you eat, how you hike, etc.

[take-a-knee]

A pound of fat equals about 3500 calories. If you burn about 500 cal/day more than you eat, you'll lose a pound per week.

[minnesotasmith]

I lost over 50 pounds that I needed to lose over the course of my thruhike. Plateaued the last 400 miles.

I know a kid in his early 20s who sectioned from Damascus to Katahdin the same year that desirably lost over 90 pounds.

[jnohs]

i am in shape but i was thinking this would be a nice side effect of a long distance hike.

[Appalachian Tater]

i am in shape but i was thinking this would be a nice side effect of a long distance hike. It is, but could you keep it off? The odds would be against you.