Weight loss on the Appalachian Trail
This was taken the day before we left to travel to the start of the Appalachian Trail (approximately March 19th, 2017):
Now you don’t…This was taken the day we got home from the Appalachian Trail (4 days after summiting Mt. Katahdin):
This is what hiking 20+ miles a day, for 6 months, will do to your body! In all Sunsets lost 54 points and I lost 38. All the while we ate as many calories as we could (especially when in trail towns). And while on the trail, we ate candy bars and pop-tarts and jolly ranchers on a consistent basis. For the first time in our lives, we could in NO WAY fill our bodies with as many calories as we were burning off with hiking all day. And when I say “hiking,” I mean with 28-30 pound packs on our backs in rough terrain (roots, rocks, boulder climbing, up and down mountains…). With the thru-hike being as hard as it was, being able to eat whatever we wanted was one of the things we looked most forward to in town!
Of course, our goal was not hiking for weight loss, we just wanted to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. The weight loss and getting fit was an added bonus to our adventure.
One time we stayed at a B&B that had it’s own store with trail supply food/items (including frozen pizzas, ice cream, sodas, etc.). That night, a bunch of us went out to dinner and stuffed ourselves silly. On the shuttle ride back to the B&B, which took about all of 10 minutes, everyone was quite for a while. Then someone said “is anyone else dreaming of a pint of Ben & Jerry’s?” And we ALL were thinking the same thing!! We proceeded to get back to the B&B, went in the store, and everyone got a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, EACH — and we all ate our whole pints. It was crazy how we could eat, get really full, and then an hour (or less) later – be hungry again.
Of course, now the hard part is keeping they weight off without having to strenuously hike 20 miles a day. We are keeping active (hiking or walking 4-6 miles a day) and will be incorporating weight-lifting soon. Trying to eat less calories and a more healthy diet has been quite challenging, but finally we feel our “hiker hunger” dissipating. Now, to get rid of the soreness in our knees and feet…
Looking for more examples of weight loss from an Appalachian Trail thru-hike? Check out these photos from The Trek.
That’s all for now! Cheers! — Chica & Sunsets
PS — Here’s another before & after (fully clothed):
What I love is that you were doing what you loved and your attention was focused on that and not, like so many of us, our diet and our body shapes. Your bodies adapted to what you needed from them. There’s a lesson in this for me. I sure hope it’s not that I have to hike for six months!!! 🙂
Definitely, losing weight was not our goal, only a by-product of our fabulous hike!
I am so proud of you guys. You are my hero’s. Any clue what your next adventure is? Looking forward to seeing you again.
Thanks sweet Betty! We are going to try to be “normal” for a while… working on some projects (writing, business ideas). Although we would love to do the Camingo de Santiago in Spain, just not sure “when” it will fit into our life. 🙂
First of all, you both looked good before the hike……After the hike, you both look Great…..Now, as you know, the question is, can you retain that great look continually without Herculean effort!…..One of the keys I have found, at age 70, is staying physically active doing things you Love so you will keep doing them!…..Other keys are eating sensible but fun things again so you will keep doing it…..The other night I got crazy making a triple chocolate cake and ate three pieces of it with coffee……I firmly believe in giving in to the moment when I feel the need as long as it doesn’t become the norm……Also, maintaining a healthy, positive and upbeat attitude is as important as the other two!……It has been a blessing to me to follow your journey on the AT and now beyond the AT!
I think that is key – giving in to the moment at certain times, as long as it is not the norm! Thanks Rick, I love how physically fit you are at 70!
I’m glad you, Greg and I are friends!…..It would be great one day after we move to the North Georgia Mountains in 2019 from Ohio when Mary and I could invite you two to come stay with us for a few days so we could all dayhike on the AT and maybe picnic on a pontoon boat in one of the Great Lakes near Blue Ridge, Blairsville or Hiawassee…..We have friends who own the Copperhead Lodge 8 miles west of Blairsville, GA who are always having awesome live bands in front of the big fireplace on their wrap around lodge porch that I would love to take you and Greg to!……Happy Trails, Kids!……Rick and Mary
My husband and I have been following your journey, and I always looked forward to the videos, even though I made fun of him for watching them at first! He wants to hike the AT so badly some day. I want to, but am not sure that I can do it. We are currently both still working, so it wouldn’t be for 5ish years yet. Let us know if the soreness in your body (knees,etc) goes away. That is one thing I worry about, is the toll it may take on our bodies.
I know the soreness will go away, maybe a couple more weeks. Will keep you posted. Thanks for following us, and I hope you guys get to thru-hike the AT one day and then I can follow YOU! 🙂
Jen look into Whole 30 eating style. It will help you shed the sugar dragon. It really helps rid your body of cravings.
What a sense of accomplishment you must have! And you look great too! Guess you had to buy all new clothes, huh? 🙂
Love you guys.
Gloria and Paul
Yep, had to buy a few new smaller sizes clothing after our hike! Now working on staying fit and keeping it off. Miss you guys!!
I definitely am not hiking that far every day, but hike local mountains almost every day for five to nine miles. And I can tell you, it does allow me to eat more calories and stay at my Desired weight. Hiking is good for a body! And so much fun! Doesn’t even feel like a workout. Good for you guys. You both look fab.
Thanks Lori. You have some great areas to explore there in Costa Rica. Now we need to find a way to hike in the winter here … snow shoeing, I guess.
Geez, If you figure out a way to get rid of Hiker Hunger let me know. Darwin and I still eat a stupid amount of food! For some reason I missed the fact you two had a website! I’m totally binge-reading! Love it!
-Snuggles
Hello Snuggles! Thanks for finding us here, I only blogged a little while on the AT (it’s hard to do from the trail!), but we are trying to build up more now and will have more posts to come! You guys are our heroes and we want to be like you! 🙂 Hiker Hunger…. ugh – what a struggle (especially for Sunsets who doesn’t eat ANY vegetables of any kind). — Chica
not only did you lose 50lb BUT
your perspective on the world is bright and sunny
I would follow your programme over any of the WeightLossGurus:
Thanks M!
No need to ever worry about weight gain. Just go to a Whole Food Plant Based Lifestyle🤗
https://youtu.be/AAkEYcmCCCk
https://youtu.be/Mz2VnEFRKqc