How much weight did you lose during your thru-hike? Does anybody know if there are statistics posted anywhere for things like that? I also wondered if anybody keeps track of things like the age of each thru-hiker (who completes the trail), income level, education level, etc. Just curious–I like stats–guess that is why I like baseball so much. Thanks!
Jess
Jess:
I lost about 25 lbs on my thru-hike but I certainly had 10-15 lbs to lose easily right off the bat. Most of the male thru-hikers lost somewhere between 20-30 lbs and most of the females seemed to gain a few pounds or lose a couple at most, but as a general observation, most of the women started in better shape than men.
Roland Mueser wrote a book (I think in 1989 or 90) which compiles tons of stats on everything you could think of. There is even a percentage on how many men thru-hikers cried during their trek, which I thought was a brilliant question.
It’s definately worth checking out and my local Boarders always has it in stock. But be aware a lot of the info is pretty outdated, as far as weight carried (in pack) and how long it takes people to hike.
The back of the book has lists of thru-hikers with their age, gender, hometown, how many days it took them etc.
Good luck
A-Train
I started the trail at 293 pounds and finished six months later at 213. Of course I had a lot more weight to lose than most who hiked. A few rare people have actually been known to gain weight during the hike, but I think A-Train is right that losing 20 to 30 pounds is pretty typical.
I was 32, college-educated and left a good job to hike the trail. I think the average hiker I met was either in their younger 20s and in or just out of college, or in their 50s and 60s and retired or close to retirement. Not a lot in their 30s and 40s out there hiking. I can’t remember for sure, but the ATC in Harpers Ferry may have had you write down your age when you had your mid-way photo taken so they might have stats on that, but I don’t think education or income level was ever much of a topic of conversation.
Skittles '04
I would concur with A-Train. I didn’t gain or lose an ounce while hiking 1100 miles last summer, which I think was fairly typical for female hikers. I remember reading a post last year that asked “Why is it that by Harper’s Ferry the male hikers all look like they’ve just arrived from a concentration camp and the women all look really buff?” I think that’s absolutely true. The men I hiked with were skin and bones by Pennsylvania while the women seemed to stay pretty much the same. I hypothesize that it’s because women’s bodies are more efficient at maintaining weight and storing fat during adversity which would come in handy when pregnant or nursing a baby during famine, for example. It would help the species survive, right? I wonder if weight loss could be prevented by paying close attention to nutrition: getting enough calories, especially protein, fat, and vitamins. I added TVP and olive oil to my Lipton Sides at night and drank a high protein drink as well. There’s a delicate balance of carrying enough calories but not carrying too much weight which then burns up calories. Good luck!
Rainbow
The weight loss thing has been interesting. I am a girl but on the PCT I lost about 35 lbs getting down to 135 lbs. Gained most of it back after the hike. On the CDT I ate differently and hardly lost any weight. A lot of the fat weight got replaced by muscle weight though.
I guess it all depends on what you eat and burn.
Apple Pie
so what would that mean for someone like me who has a very high metabolism, and weigh only 150 lbs? i have only gained about 15 lbs since i graduated high school 9 years ago even though i have tried endlessly to gain weight. i don’t think i can stand to lose 20-30 lbs. does that mean i should not consider a thru-hike?
Jeremy R.
Those who have a lot of fat on their bodies will generally lose it. Those who don’t usually don’t lose much weight. I seem to remember Chris Townsend writing in one of his books that his BMI actually increased during a long hike. There are a lot of thin wiry types on the trail. Their bodies are pretty efficient already - they usually neither gain nor lose much. I wouldn’t worry about it. Jeremy - you may end up gaining weight because of muscle gain - -or not if you already are in good shape.
Since I’m female, and only moderately overweight, I will generally lose 5-10 pounds when doing a thruhike, but my body will get much tighter so I look thinner than I am. I’ve known some very overweight women who lost 25-30 pounds, but a lot do end up gaining a few pounds as fat is replaced by heavier muscle. If you start the trail in good shape, that won’t happen as much.
Unfortunately, those who lose a lot of weight usually gain it back within six months. Part of it is hiker hunger and the habit of eating everything you want whenever you want, part of it is the metabolic slowdown that comes when you stop hiking 20 miles a day.
Ginny
This web site may be of interest.
http://www.changingshape.com/resources/calculators/caloriesburnedcalculator.asp
Eric
Doc: WOW! It seems like you’d have to get really creative to figure out how to carry that much. Thanks for the information.
A-Train: Thank you so much for the recommendation and the information! My local bookstores never have much in the way of hiking information or books (except for the Bryson one) but I have had some luck on ebay–I will definitely look for that book. I’d also like to say that I was looking at your journal just the other day and I am impressed with your maturity and your attitude. It’s been fun to read your entties.
Skittles: Thanks for the information! Did the weight stay off? And yes, I figure asking personal stuff like income and education could be a little too nosey and definitely not p.c., but I am just curious about every aspect of what makes a thru-hiker…and how I compare. My next question would be, “what keeps a thru-hiker going”? On and off since I was a teen I’ve thought about thru-hiking the AT. The thought never entered my mind that once I started I would quit, but lately I have been thinking how very tempting at times it would be to quit and wondering if I have what it takes to do it. Does wanting to see what is over the next ridge do it? Does sheer obstinance do it? Is it the people you meet? What is in your head, ya know? Anyway, my admiration, envy and thanks go out to all of you for inspiring and keeping my dream alive through your journals and this forum.
Rainbow: “the male hikers all look like they’ve just arrived from a concentration camp and the women all look really buff” That made me laugh and also made me proud, somehow! Seriously, though, it does make sense that we are better equipped to hang on to the weight. I will remember the olive oil–maybe not so much for the calories, but for the taste! Thanks so much. Nice trail name.
Apple Pie: Thank you, that IS interesting. You say you ate “different.” Would you say you ate “healthier” on one or the other?
Jeremy: Yes, what Ginny says makes sense. If you have weight to lose you will and if not you probably won’t lose. As much, anyway.
Ginny: That is interesting. I was wondering how hard it would be to moderate your eating AFTER the trail. Thank you for the information. Do you have a journal?
Thanks everyone!
Jess
Jess - I have many journals. None are online now, though my husband is working to get a website together soon that will allow us to share some of our adventures. The AT journals will probably be last to go up - but eventually they’ll be there.
As to eating - we made a vow that we could eat as we wanted until the Gathering, then we had to eat like “normal” people again. We still gained the weight back.
Ginny
It takes a gain of 3500 calories in excess of what you burn off doing daily activities and for body maintenance to gain a pound.
It takes a loss of 3500 calories to lose a pound.
Typical healthy weight loss is about 2 pounds a week for an average person. If you try to lose more, you are losing weight too fast and can get sick from it (it affects the immune system and the least little thing can make you sick–many hikers blame it on bad water–giardia).
Hiking/Backpacking, you burn about 400 calories per hour. But this is average. The more you weigh and your pack weighs, the more you burn off per hour. The less the weight, the less you burn. Also climbing a mountain, you burn a lot more than hiking/backpacking on flat land.
Thru hikers normally lose weight due to the intense calorie burn they do daily. If they would eat more and hike less, they would not lose weight. But many of them have weight they need to lose anyway.
When they finish their thru hike and hence do not have that intense calorie burn daily, they tend to gain the weight back. This is because they do not modify their diet.
The body’s craving for food and what the body really needs in the way of calories per day are not in sync. Hence we have an obesity epedemic in this country. The natural thing to do is to eat when food is available and put on fat to last you thru the times of famine or lean times with little or no food. However we experience no lean times, so people just get fatter and fatter.
Anyway all of this really is very interesting to me and I am a student of all this stuff and very interested in it.
See you out there.:cheers :cheers :cheers
Maintain
Our saying in 02 was that by Katahdin, all the men looked like they had been prisoners of war and all the women look as if they could kick butt.
Virginian
Many factors are involved in weight loss. Ultimately,it would be great to have some thru-hikers have a blood test done before and after their hikes and have a comphrensive panels done on IGF(insulin growth factor) as well as freestanding hormone levels. Perhaps one reason women have different weight loss and distribution patterns is through extended aerobic activity, they aromatize some estrogen,it gets converted into testosterone. There are minute quantities,but enough to make a difference. How your body metabolizes sucrose is a factor as well,this is where IGF may play a role as well as water retention and release. Your body is quite a machine and most hikers will be amazed at their own progress. The challenege is to try to maintain some of this fitness level and not just weight changes but fat/muscle ratios. There is still alot to learn about the effects of thruhiking,both immediate and long term. But one thing for sure is,its better for you than being a couch potatoe. Nutrition is import. and your immune system will be affected. A good complex supplement to include is Alcer’s ascorbate mineral complex that is lightweight and can be drunk either hot or cold. Also, dried mushrooms,oysters, maitake,****ake, are great to add to soups and pasta dishes. Mycomedicinals are potent allies. Read some of Paul Stamet’s books,if interested. Enjoy your hikes and the health benefits you will receive. Peace, 2 Spirits
mike
I was 57 when I hiked in "02 and lost around 25lbs. It was great to reach Maine with no excess body fat.Definitely one of the benefits of thru-hiking the AT is losing all of your excess baggage and being able to eat and drink like a glutton.
Downunda
It’s always amazing how cool people are about helping out and sharing info, here. Thanks.
Maintain: It IS interesting stuff. Thanks for the discussion and info.
Ginny: Cool! I hope I’ll have an opportunity to read your journals.
Virginian: Is that your name because of where you live? If so, where are your favorite local-ish day or weekend hikes, if you don’t mind my asking?
Bushwack and Bramble: You must have been in pretty good shape at the start, then. By the way, I love that you two hike together. My husband has NO interest in thru-hiking. He is strictly a beach bum.
mike: thank you very much for all that good information. Love the blood test idea! LOL on the ***take. I love mushrooms and packing them is an idea definitely worth considering. I’ll check into the Alcer’s complex. Thanks again.
Downunda: Thanks for the info and good for you! I can truly imagine how wonderful Maine must feel mentally as well as physically. Awesome and congrats.
Jess