I was reading a discussion about how much weight people lost when hiking the AT and made me wonder how much weight I can expect to lose hiking the Long Trail this summer. Does anyone have any ideas?
Yetti
Weight - The Long Trail - Vermont
system
#2
It depends on a number of factors but most weight loss on a long hike happens in the first couple of months. I am 20 to 25 lbs over weight each spring and when I complete my annual 2 week hike I generally lose 10 to 15 lbs.
Big B
system
#3
Big B is right on all counts. there’s no real way to predict weight loss in somebody. even knowing height and weight people can vary in body fat. and then there’s diet and just how hard you hike. also pack weight is going to make a difference.
you can get away with a little less fat and calories in your diet if you’re trying to burn a lot of fat, but just be sure to keep up a high intake of carbs and vitamins. oatmeal, bread, peanut butter and broccoli would be a great diet.
0101
system
#5
If you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. Your body burns carbs first, then fat, then muscle. Most hikers lose weight on trail, but then gorge in town and get those calories back. Also, guys tend to lose it faster then women, but there are a lot of factors involved. Chances are, you’ll lose some weight on the LT, but I wouldn’t set out with that as a goal. If you’re hiking hard and cutting calories, you’ll deprive your body, feel weak and tired, and might not have much fun.
weez
system
#6
Both autumns after finishing the LT I was 20 lbs lighter and felt fit enough to fight. The down side of this is that going into winter with a sedentary job slowly but surely returns me to the portal I was at prior to training for the hike. I suppose those who live in a warmer climate have a definite advantage in this regard.
marmot