I know this topic has been brought up over and over again, but once again…if one hikes from Springer Mountain to around the Pennsylvania border on the Appalachian Trail, what can they expect in terms of weight loss and getting in shape. I am basically a fat ass 24 year old man that weighs around 290 pounds and am only 5’7"…what can I expect to weigh if I hike around 1100 miles in 3 months from May-August. thanks. any info or tips or anything will be appreciated greatly. Happy Trails!!!
cartoon
There are really too many variables to answer your question. The biggest unknown is you. Are you going to be fairly consistent in your hiking or lay up in trail towns eating for a week or so. I’ve seen it happen. If you take a reasonably commited approach to your hike, you’ll lose a lot of weight and likely be in the best shape of your life. Total weight loss isn’t important, but be prepared to buy significantly smaller pants. Best of luck.
Nimblefoot
I don’t know how much weight you can expect to lose. I would suspect if you make it, it would be substantial, however please go get a good physical before you try something like this. This is real strenuous hiking. Don’t want you to be a statistic.
moon man
Get her done. Take Moon Mans’ advise. Your weight + your gears weight +the lenght of the hike and the hills are all gaint facters in your case. We’re all going to pull for you but get a physical to be safe. Remember there are smaller people that has to back off for hips,knees. ankles,and feet. Don’t over do it, take your own pase section by section. If you try to start the next section to soon . Some one has to figure how to carry you out, thous slowing them down and waring them down. No-one there will leave you behind. Not without knowing you have help coming. Hopfully half way you’ll think your floating along the trail. The trick is getting there. Go with a proper Diet on mind . Please start a Trail Journal there are Doctors and Professers doing studies on these situations. Which means You will be a help to them and fellow hikers.
We would like to pass your story on to others.
Pat on your back and GOOD LUCK. Power to you. Keep in touch
Thanks Roger AKA Ryder
Roger Wallace
you’ll probly lose some, but trust me, don’t wait for the trail to start getting in shape. If you don’t start getting in shape first, you’ll probably have your butt handed to you by the trail. Besides, if you don’t like the pain and discipline of getting in shape before the hike, how will you handle the pain and discipline once you’re there? I hope it doesn’t sound like I’m coming down hard on you, 'cause I don’t mean to. But the trail is not a weight loss program.
Greaser
Cartoon, try and lose a bit of weight first. At 290 pounds and 5’ 7 you obviously like to eat. Why not try something like the atkins diet where you can eat as much protein as you wish. You will lose weight. If you do wish to do the A.T make preparations to do barely no miles at all for the first week. Carry lots of food and walk less then 10 miles for the first week or so. If you make it that far you may have a chance to get some trail legs and stick with it for 3 months. Again, you will lose weight. Best of luck.
parm
You have been given some great advice. Start by getting your Dr’s OK, then begin an exercise program at home where you can better treat injuries and get medical help. Getting Ice for a sore knee or ankle is a lot easier at home than on the trail. I was a distance marathon runner before my thruhike and I still took a year of just hiking a little every day to get in shape. You can treat the getting in hiking shape problems so much better at home.
steady on
I started in 03 at 165 pounds and in fair condition. By the time I reached VA I had lost 28 pounds. Way too much weight loss so I took more days off and ate as much as I could every time I stopped. My weight stayed around 145 through MD to ME but I was carful to take more time off and consume more energy rich food.
Finch
I’m a bit taller (5-11), but I started off the AT in '04 at the same weight as you (293 pounds). The weight dropped off quickly for me as I was down to 257 by Hot Springs and finished the trail (6 months later) at 214. I did very little prehike exercise, but I definitely took it easy on the trail. I did 6-8 mile days and even had one 4.5 mile day before Nels Gap. It wasn’t until Pennsylvania that I found myself hiking at close to the pace of most other thru-hikers.
I felt like quitting often in the first month, but focused first on just getting to Fontana Dam, then went from there. Only hike at a comfortable pace - do not push yourself to keep up with others. A physical would not be a bad idea (I had one and my doctor told me that other than my weight there was nothing physically wrong with me). Take a zero day if you need it and enjoy the hike!
Skits
I should also probably add that the weight came back pretty quickly after the AT and I had ballooned back up to 265 before I did the PCT. After each hike I’ve gotten a little better at managing my weight (I’m at 225 right now), but just doing a thru-hike isn’t enough if you want to lose weight. You have to change your lifestyle afterwards, too.
Skits
Do it!
I am a fat ass and old and I lost much weight and it DID come back but not all of it!
It is a great way to feel good about yourself
advice*
a) go light(pack)- no LIGHTER! -Even lighter than what you just thought of, ya hea me?!
b)Go slow (REAL)slow- no slower! Yes that slow!
go slow until your “body” decides when to go faster.
It saved my butt. don’t keep up with anyone HYOH.
c) Stay true to yourself promise nothing to no one, but stay true to yerself. It will take time but I promise somewhere in Virginia you will be cruisin along like any other hiker just pace yourself
d) In pain -stop just STOP even in the middle of the trail! do not ignore the pain it is a message, listen to your body! ( 1 blister in 600 miles - because I stopped everytime I felt pain or heat)
Have a GREAT HIKE!
1/4 of the way