[at-l] Optimum Weight maintenance on a Thru=-Hike

[pmags@yahoo.com (Paul Magnanti)]

>>Can I hear some stories on how peoples' bodies
>>changed on their thrus and what they did to keep

First, I weighed 195 lbs when I started. Yeah, weighed
a bit more (~25-30 lbs) than I should when I started.
(Magnanti curse - wide shoulders..but short height and
stocky build. :( Old pictures of relatives seem to
prove this...  )Lost almost 50 lbs by the end! :O Way
too much for me to lose!


My problem was that I did not take any zero mileage
days after Delware Water Gap, and I was pulling some
big mileage days, too. STUPID! I should have taken a
day or two off in Gorham before taking on Maine.
Maine was I really felt run down. Constant days of
hiking, running a calorie deficit, well it was not
good.  

I take the Flyin' Brian approach to eating on the
trail: Snicker's are good! Bring on the calories..does
not matter what they are. :-)


>>How did your appetite change from start? Thru the
>>heat? To the finish? How did your cravings change?
>>Did you find something that really worked to keep
>>your energy up? (I'm thinking olive oil will help,

After Pennsylvania, my appetite really kicked in. I
lost all the weight I need to lose, so my fat reserves
were not great. After PA, the harder terrain starts to
kick in again, by Vermont I was ravenous. Of course,
have had a healthy appetite to begin with. Two
packages of Lipton's was needed, even in the start of
the trip.  By Maine, could of used three.



>>And how did it feel to have a six pack, tight butt
>>and cute, iron thighs and muscled calves
>>again?! ha!

Again? Never had them in the first place. :-) I tend
to look like a short football player! 

By the end of the hike, I looked like Pee-wee Herman
from the waist up, Ahhhhrnuld in my legs.
My peak appearene was in Pennsylvania -toned, no extra
fat, felt great. Same in October '98 about  until Feb
'99. (Then the usual ah, winter spread kicked in. :D)


This time around, I have packed lighter (13.5 lbs
baseweight vs. 28lbs), am taking a bit easier of a
pace (4.5 mos on the PCT is supposedly equal to a 5.5
month pace on the AT), and will be taking a zero
mileage day once in 1200 mile period!

Mags (who only has 10 lbs extra on his frame this time
around and has been active all winter... Call me
slightly stocky, but alas still somewhat short. ;-) )



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The true harvest of my life is intangible.... a little stardust caught, a portion of the rainbow I have clutched
--Thoreau

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