Skinny Man - Appalachian Trail

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#1

I am a 6’1’ 160 lb. male and I am concerned with looking like a skeleton when I finish at Katahdin. I am already fairly scrawny and I plan on averaging about 20 miles a day and from what I’ve researched it will be very hard for me to consume as many calories as I am burning.
I am trying to plan a diet high in calories and fat and also when in town I will eat lots of fatty meals but I was wondering if there is anything else I could do. I’ve looked into certain protien shakes but I don’t know anything about nutrition really.
I also was wondering if any of youn thru-hikers used a multi-vitamin while hiking the trail. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks

Moleman

#2

well moleman, i use to weight in at 155lbs at 6’1" when i was a bicycle racer and trained 11months out of the year 6 days a week. then i went back to school and stopped racing the appetite did not change. i use to be able to eat what ever i wanted. three years later i am up to 190lbs. so here is my recipe to you fatten up: beer, ice cream, pizza and potato chips. to be more specfic: eat a entire large pappa johns cheese pizza w/ pinnapple and banana peppers, then follow that with a pint of ben and jerry’s cookies and cream followed by a bag of salt’n vinegar chips while drinking a 40 of high life while watching tv or setting in front of the computer.

do this b/c the weight will come off. i lost twenty pounds on the jmt this summer, only in 19 days.

one way to add fat and calories is to add olive oil to everything you eat. when you buy tuna, look for it in oil, not spring water.

jerm

#3

Start over eating before you start hiking so that you get used to cramming unnatural amounts of food into your body. I had problems eating enough calories because I typically eat small amounts. Off the trail an apple will fill me up. On the trail I would almost puke trying to finish a whole Mountain House on top of a snikers bar. I got used to it after a while though.

Bon Scott

#4

I am 6’5" and my start weight was 165lbs. When I summited I was 142 lbs. I needed to carry some extra food but don’t worry too much I can be done. I ate food high in calories. I did take a multi-vitamin and a vitamin C pill everyday, If it helped I don’t know.

RoadRunner

#5

forgot to add this, i take the gnc megamen multi. it is a multi-vitamin as well as a multi-mineral.

jerm

#6

move your refrigerator into your living room stock full of Dr. Peppers and moon pies, do not walk anywhere. have your mate do eveything for you, ie; get mail, walk dog, etc. and masterbate 20+ times daily. :eek:

CAPTAIN CAVEMAN!

#7

Most male hikers get to the point, about halfway through their thru-hike, that they have depleted themselves of body fat, and need to up their calorie intake. You’ll just hit that point a little earlier. I do not recommend “bulking up” before you start hiking, as that’ll just make the hike initally harder, and you’ll eventually drop the weight anyway. Good luck!

FrogLog

#8

At least in my opinion you should be increasing your physical activity as much as possible now and increasing your caloric intake to match. Try eating lots of healthy stuff but with your body type there is plenty of room for all the good stuff. Starting in peak physical shape and already used to eating alot should make the 1st month easier (not sure if easy is the correct word).

Regarding vitamins, I plan on one multi and one calcium vitamin a day along with EmergenC.

btw - 5’10, 160lbs, I’ll probably be hiking in the 145-150 range.

Kirk

kab21

#9

Its hard for me to hold on to any weight, and at 5’10" 155lbs. there isn’t much to loose. By the time I hit Erwin TN I was down to about 138. In VA it began to effect me and my energy levels. Don’t worry too much about protien your main concern is calories and fat especially. When you start to feel slugish on the trail it is time to slow down the mileage and take some zeroes(taking advantage of AYCE esp. in the south as they don’t appear up north. Just go with how you feel not how much you weight it is a better indicator and besides everyone looses weight esp. males.

keytone

#10

Dear Moleman,

Eat natural, nutrition-dense foods.

Take multivitamins and mineral supplements.

Powdered milk, sugar and water shaken in a nalgene bottle makes a great milkshake.

As Keytone suggested, listen to your body, and rest when your body requires it.

Sincerely–Conan.

Conan

#11

i agree that adding weight is good, but your first few weeks and your knees will suffer,eat likr a pig yes,but couple that with core and leg workouts also most hikers in 05 that i knew ate multi vitamins every day…with extra vitamin I .what works for me is oatmeal.till like hot springs .oil or butter or oleo went in every pot xtrapodered milk in pre mixed meals etc.

terrapin

#12

Stupid people are all around us :frowning:

CAPTAIN CAVEMAN