Loosing weight

“My ultimate goal is to get my pack down to 20 lbs. I have at 30 most of the time. I will acomplish this by getting a lighter tent and sleeping bag and stove and every other piece of gear I own.

Here is my question. What is your ideal pack weight? I have read somewhere that your pack should be the about a third of your body weight. Is this true? Is it to much or to little for massive trips? what if you hardly weigh any thing?”

“My ideal pack weight is 0 lbs but that's not going to happen. Mine usually weighs about 40-50 lbs.”

“My ultimate goal is to get my rear down to 50 pounds. I have it at 60 most of the time. I will accomplish this by getting a lighter bag of potato chips and smaller cake and every other food I eat.

Here is my question. What is your ideal butt weight? I have read somewhere that your butt should be 1/3 of your body weight. Is this true? Is is too much or too little for massive trips? What if you hardly weigh anything?

Just kidding--mine was almost 30 pounds when I stared on my first over-nighter and it felt HEAVY. But I got used to it.”

“MY PACK--MY PACK!!!

I was being serious in that last sentence and was talking about my pack.”

“Dang! Thyat's too bad running girl. I was going to ask for a picture.

For a week's trip, I'm usually around 50lbs. My butt, of course, is much smaller.”

“We understood you, running girl, lol. But seriously, 1/3 of your weight? I think what you carry will always be a factor of how much money you have to spend on lightweight gear, which always costs more, and what you are strong enough to carry. I've seen woman weighing less than a hundred lbs carrying a pudgy 25 lb baby in an infant carrier, holding the handle like it was nothing. That has to be worse than a pack designed to distribute the weight to the right bones and muscles. So if your pack weighs 35 lbs and you have no more money for gear, like running girl said, you will get used to it. If you can buy lighter gear, then you will have leeway to carry more water if you need to on certain hikes. I am sure it would take me a year to get to where I can carry 1/3 of my weight. My goal right now is 35 lbs, and I'm only at 25lbs right now.”

“I weigh 230#, and my pack is usually 50+ lbs. Getting to 20 lbs. would be niiiiiice, but I don't forsee that in the future. Adventuregirl, if you hike with me, you'll definately be down to 20# - you won't have to worry about carrying stove, tent, purifier, food, etc., I'd carry all that stuff for you.”

“I thought the guideline was that you should limit yourself to comfortably carry no more around 25% of your body weight. 33% is a max. I'm usually around 35-40 pounds in moderate weather in spring and fall. My ideal would be 0 with a sherpa. Obviously, the less you carry, the more comfortable you'll be on the trail. I'm certainly not carrying according to ultralight or even light weight. My goal is to be reasonably comfortable on the trail and in camp.

Sure, sure....whatever, running girl. ;-)”

“The 'one third' rule of thumb dates back to the old school military and boyscout traditions. These people were humping serious weight. A grown man(200#) would be carrying a 60+ lbs pack. Forget that, the days of leather and steel are over.

My pack is about one-fifth my weight. I would imagine that is about the average these days.

In general I would say that if you had a weekend pack weight around 30 pounds(incl. food and water) you are doing pretty good.

$0.02”

“25% is the rule of thumb, after you do this for awhile you can pretty much figure out how much is getting to be too much.
Personally I like to keep it to 40-45 for 2-4 days. Would love to go to 30, but I ususally am independent and bringing youth, so I tend not to go the minimualist route.

I am 140 lbs. I have been up to 58-60 lbs on 3 different week + trips. Felt it in my knees. I don't want to go there ever again.”

“i've actually carried less than 1/10th my weight! whoa, nelly!!”

“and that was for 4 days! whoo-hoo!!!”

“Hardly weigh much, and don't eat much= save 5lbs.
Hardly weigh much, but seem to eat twice as much as everyone else= add 10lbs

But seriously, I spent a couple of years, accumulating about 50lbs of lightweight gear and tech clothes. And now I spend a day before each trip trying not to take any of it.

It seams the longer the trip, the more gear you'd like to take, the more food/ fuel you need to take and the less inclined you are to want to carry it.

How many days? Solo? Weather? Terain/ vertical? Do I really need all this crap?

I routinely carry 50lbs for a week, or more, so the short trips are tough ones. Do I really need anything more than a sleeping bag and cold food, for an overnighter? Probably not, but if I'm not going far, why not take more gear? On the short trips, you have a lot more choices.”

“It really does depend on what you will be doing. Take for instance, my trip starting in 5 hours. Four days backpacking up the coast. But its base camping, so you know what? I'm taking everything but the kitchen sink and don't mind suffering for a 5 mile hike in (granted its on soft sand with multiple creek crossings). That includes about a gallon of wine, two cameras and a couple of lenses, a 3/4 season tent (because the wind doth blow at least 20-30 mph at all times), a crazy creek chair (cause ya gots to be comfy sitting around the bonfire), a niterider headlamp with a NiCad battery that weighs about a pound, a fat pork tenderloin, asparagus, fresh eggs, etc., a Gerber sport ax, you get the idea. My pack will probably weigh at least 60#, probably more like 70#. I weigh 190#.

But then next week, when I head out for a week in the backcountry, moving everyday and climbing 12,000 foot passes, none of the above stuff, except maybe a camera, will come with me. I hope to keep my pack below 40#.”

“30 pounds sounds great!!
for me it's ......

Work pack.... 60/70 pounds

Typical 3 to 4 day go play pack... 40/45 pounds

I'm sick of all this @#$$@%& weight, ultra light pack... 25 pounds

All above weights are with food and water.

Like it was said above, depends on lots of things....time of year, how many days, weather, willingness to do without (luxury items, great food, etc.) general mood. I think what matters most is that you have fun, if the pack is a little heavy, call it "training", or your weight loss program.

I have a climbing partner that weights in at around 110 pounds, 5'2" tall... I've seen her carry close to 100 pounds on two occasions, usually 60/70....has a cute butt too, I'll have to ask her how much it weights.

I have another friend that carries 60 pounds of ultra light weight gear.”

“The typical butt is around the 8-12 pound range. Oh course, I've seen some 100 pound butts before.”

“Hmmmm Three day summer pack 16 pounds if I take my chair and a book. 14 if I don't. That includes two quarts of water and three pounds of food.”

“It seems that for a two nighter mine is always around 45 lbs, my wife's is around 30 lbs.. I don't think you should worry too much about it, if your only going for a couple of days you could carry a couch through the woods with you if you had to. I'd love to buy a solo tent but their really not that much lighter than my Metor light, if I'm only going for a few days, why bother.”

“My pack for an upcoming 12-day hike (and then, after resupply, 12 days back)is gonna be under 50 lbs. (I'm 5-10, 200, 44 y.o.). Almost everything I've got is ultralight (Walrus Microswift,e.g., for shelter, one 24 oz. capacity aluminum pot for cooking, foam pad over Therm-a-Rest... but I gotta camera and other luxuries, too).All food is dry or freeze-dried. Would like to have fishing gear, but then would need frypan, oil, etc.Gonna have a Great time. Couldn't if my pack were over 50.”

“Just carry what you feel comfortable carrying to give you the wilderness experience you want.”

“Bear will you hike the A.T. with me?”

“I'm around 175 - 180 pounds. Pack averages 30 - 35 pounds. That's about 1/5 my body weight. I can live with that.
At 1/3 I should be able max at 60 pounds. That's a lota fu*kin weight.”

“Well today I went to the doctor for the annual check up...that I almost put off because I didn't want to get on the scales. My pants had already told me what I needed to know...I didn't need to see the numbers.

I went though...and found out that I have gained 10lbs this year...20lbs since 2004! I also found out that my BMI put me into the obeas (sp) category.

Some of you have listened to me whine about it...say I'm gonna loose weight and some have even challenged me.

TODAY though I have a new goal. Is nothing new...I know all that I was told at the doctor but he challenged me to excercise 30 minutes a day and to loose 5lbs in a month. It is ridiculas to try to start on the weight loss until after the holidays so 1/2 I will start that...but TODAY I start the excercise!

Hold me accountable please...piss me off...I don't care. I can't stand wearing 'fat' pants!”

“im with you on this one.
I want to renew my wedding vows next year (20 years) and want to be slimmed down

1/2 it is!!”

“I`m with yah too......I ballooned to 210and then woke up one morning totaly grossed out and bought a bike and dropped 20 lbs cycling like a mad man,but couldn`t get past 190lbs.
I then joined a gym and over a 12 week period dropped to 175 lbs.Then I slowed down at the gym began to enjoy "goodies" more and promptly put 6lbs back on ARGGGGGGGGG...I could scream.Now I just gotta find the motivation again...”

“It is so hard for me to stay motivated. I joined Curves the first of the year...that lasted 2 months :-(

The fact that I'm having to look at the "Women" sizes is becoming a motivator!”

“I am a little frustrated with my doctor. I went last week. He asked how things are and so on. I said good..no probs..he asked again and I said well I wouldn't mind losing about 20 lbs. He said you can't do it with exercise, unless you are like Lance Armstrong, and you do it 24/7. I was like What? he said counting calories is about the only way to lose. He said as we get older, our bodies need fewer calories. He went into a long diatribe about how we need 1/3 less cal every 10 years. So basically I came away with don't bother exercising, you can't lose it that way. I was confused and then frustrated. Then just mad. I will exercise..even if I never lose 20 lbs doing it. I will feel better and look better. And, I'm going to find a new doctor!!”

“Don't wait - why would you wait? Start the exercise habit now and enjoy the holidays anyway - but don't wait. Stop the cycle of excuses now, not later. You'll ALWAYS have one reason or another to exerise later vs. now.

Health and fitness is a lifestyle and a habit. It happens very slowly over a long period of time.

Start now. Enjoy the holidays, and keep the habit going right into the new year.”

“Wow Nurse Goodbody - time to get a new doctor.”

“NG - your doc is dumb.”

“NGB...isn't that amazing the difference in Docs? Dr. John as been after me to exercise for atleast 30min a day ..whatever I want to do...whether it is climb steps, walk, ride a bike...whatever it is. He also said if I am just catious what I eat...ie: get a side salad instead of fries..grilled chicken instead of a burger...that you can loose easily. I know it is just common sense stuff. I'm just not good with 'diets' so I know I wouldn't stick to that.”

“Exercising every day is great for you whether you're losing weight or not.

heart and lung health
insulin sensitivity
less likely to break a bone if you fall down
sleep better
be happier

I could go on and on about the benefits of exercise that have nothing to do with weight loss”

“I will drink everyone's beer then. I would like to gain about 30 pounds.”

“I would rather exercise than diet anyday. My problem right now is finding the time. I don't want to spend the money joining a gym, its dark by the time I get home from work. I had said a few weeks ago, I was going to strap my head lamp on and go running. but then the weather has been crappy. So its hard to be consistent. I am hoping to get my treadmill out of storage soon. Chili and I are going to get bikes and start checking out the many bike trails around the area.”

“The key to losing weight by exercising is to exercise long enough during each session to get to the point where you're burning fat instead of just the stored glycogen. That takes more than a half hour, and sometimes more than an hour, depending on your individual metabolism. Ideally, you want to find an activity that you can do at an elevated heart rate, but not too elevated, for, like, 2-3 hours a couple times a week. That means you maintain that level of effort for that whole time, not like, say, golf, where you might walk for 5-10 minutes, then stand around, etc. Backpacking is an excellent sport for weight loss because you hit the trail carrying more than your weight, which elevates the level of effort, and you typically walk at that level for at least a couple of hours (with short breaks every so often). I think I lost 7 lbs. in 2 weeks on the half-JMT last summer. Now, I like bicycling with the local club because they ride fast enough that I'm working, but not so fast that I'm dying, and we go for 2-4 hours on a ride.
last edited: 12/11/07 10:58:16 AM”

“I hear ya NG - it's hard to be motivated in the winter with the early darkness and tendency toward cold or damp weather.”

“The only prob with backpacking as exercise is you are out for a couple days on a weekend typically then nothing all week. So there is no consistency. You can't really lose weight and maintain it that way. I like to run. I don't have a good route right now so I am not out as long as I would like. I love my treadmill, I can get on that and run for an hour or longer and get a great workout. Doesn't matter what the weather is or what time of day or night it is. But getting outside in the fresh air is a great rejuvenator.”

“I can only stand the treadmill for about 30 minutes and it gets monotonous for me.”

“Try to fit several short exercise sessions in each day. Maybe do arm weights in one, leg exercises in another, a walk from store to store in another, etc. If you miss one, due to busyness, at least you didn't miss them all, and they will rev the metabolism up throughout the day rather than just for a few hours.

Also make a plan to have healthy nutritious small meals available in the fridge so that you can't eat poorly due to stress or lack of time. Even if it means spending more money on food already prepared by a deli or restaurant, if it means that you eat vegetables and you wouldn't otherwise, then it is worth it. One of my favorites is steamed chinese veggies. Fairly healthy, with a low fat low salt sauce. I can add them to leftover meat from the barbecue grill. Or sliced cucumber, tomato and cream cheese sandwiches. Anyway, simplify is my motto here. The doctor was only partly right. We don't need many calories as we get older, but exercise is too important to ignore. Any geriatric ward in the hospital will convince you of that. The older you get the faster your muscles atrophy. Make sure that they are good strong muscles then and they won't disappear so fast when you are injured or sick.”

“Interesting. As a simple math problem . . .unfortunately your doctor is absolutely right.


Running for an hour at a moderately fast pace (7.5 to 8 miles per hour (about 8 minute miles) and you will burn 900 calories.


One normal american lunch more than kills it:
A big Mac (540 calories) and Coke (20 oz 250 calories)large french fries (another 540 calories). Total damage: 1,130 calories.


NOW. NOBODY on trail talk eats a Big Mac (or the equivalent) and drinks a coke (or the equivalent), and has a large french fries (or the equivalent) for lunch on occassion . . . so I am probably just overstating my example.

Of course . . .how many people on Trail Talk RUN HARD for an HOUR every day.



Here's the problem. You need a certain amount of fuel (calories) to operate. Everything above that just gets added to weight. It is EXTREMELY hard to burn off, through exercise, the excess caloric intake that most of us have.


Again. Your doctor is ABSOLUTELY right. If you are a world class, or even amateur athele, training 5-6 days a week. Maybe two sessions a day, then you have to fight hard to stay even. Michael Phelps (swimmer) takes in 8-10,000 calories a day.

If you are the average american with a desk job. You are screwed.

20 minutes on the treadmill, or on the recumbent bike reading a magazine isn't going to even stratch the soda you have with lunch.


My favorite is folks on the bikes, reading a magazine or watching the tube, while drinking a Powerade. They are LITERALLY gaining weight while "exercising".



HOwever, NG, I do agree with you. Not exercising is ridiculous.


1. Do something real for cardio. Not flopping on an exercise bike.

2. Lift weights. The muscle you gain will continue to burn calories all day. Even while you are just sitting back at your desk.

If you do these two, you might be lucky enough to maintain where you are.


If you add the third:

Eat moderate, well balanced portions. Snack (healthy) between lunch and dinner to keep your body's use of food on an even keel. . . .you might actuall begin to lose weight.



CG. If you want harsh, I'll give you harsh. By waiting until 1/2, you are just looking for permission to slack off. DOn't. Start now. Approach your holiday parties NOT in some restrictive, draconian way . .. but with a reasonable expectation of what you will eat and drink (talk about empty calories!!!). If you just abandon yourself to the holidays .. .you are already well down the road to failure.\”

“my prob is I am a veggie head. so that means more carbs. i need to learn the good ones from the bad ones.

but there is nothing like a hot potato with melted butter and a side of steamed green bears with melted butter..




see where my problem is?”

“Yeah, it's on the gingerbread cookie house thread.”

“oh, and the "drinking while TTing" thread(s).”

“I've been walking the halls of the high school lately. Did 45 mintues today. Then got the key to the weight room from G and did some lifting. Good stuff. Just need to do that more then 2x a week.

G found out (again) that his cholesterol is high, so we're both on a better eating plan. Weight Watchers Core program for us. WHole grains, lean meats, fruits and veggies.

We'll be a leaner, meaner Smiley Girl and G come 2008.”

“SG, I did the flex plan. Some folks switched from one to the other when they hit a wall in losing weight. Luckily I didn't have to do that. Keep it up and the lbs will fall off.”

“Try posting as Chubby Gurl until you lose 5 or 10 lbs:) Good luck.”

“Its not the potatoe. Its not the green beans . . . .

c/b the melted butter????????????

Good luck!!!! : )”

“NGB's doc doesn't sound dumb. Doesn't it take 1 mile of running to burn 100 calories? A coke is about 150 calories therefor every coke you drink you have to run 1.5 miles. It sounds like he's being dramatic but not really explaining the numbers. You need both, but watching portion size and what you eat does more and faster than exercise alone. He was telling her not to depend primarily on exercise because it won't get you there.
last edited: 12/12/07 5:56:39 AM”

“I know see where lee made my point, and more eloquently too.

It's time for me to drop 15 #'s. A few years back I went from 180 to 150. I stayed there. My wife lost 30 as well and was doing good too. When our son went in the hospital about a year later we ate the hospital food, probably as a stress response. 2 weeks later, we'd gained weight and have slowly put it back on ever since. This time last year I was about 167 or so and we'd just had a baby, so I thought I was doing good. Then we built a house. I'm about 175 now and want to drop back to 160 or so. Changing my portion size is tough, but I'm trying to do it. I'm also doing a pushup routine with those rotating pushup devices, doing lunges, squats, situps, and hopefully jump rope. There is a park on the way home from work and I'm considering doing them mile and a half loop there as a jog. We'll see if I can pull that one off tough.”

“Maple eats green "bears", not green beans. Major difference.”