Backpacking while eating at a deficit

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soccerkon26
soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am planning on taking my first backpacking trip! Only 5.5 miles in, spend the night, and 5.5 miles out. Nothing too strenuous! But I was wondering if I should change my diet at all those two days? I'm currently at a .5 lb per week loss so my deficit isn't big...but should I set my calories to maintenance those two weeks or should my energy levels be fine?

I'm thinking my backpack will only be about 10 lbs.

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  • rankinsect
    rankinsect Posts: 2,238 Member
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    Depends on terrain, but hiking definitely can use a lot of calories. As a rough rule of thumb, 400+ calories per hour spent actually hiking. I just up my calories by 400 per hour and figure I'm good enough. I snack once an hour while hiking to keep energy up.

    Also, 10 lb seems very unreasonably light unless you've really invested heavily into ultralight gear. Even my daypack without any sleeping gear (except the very light emergency mylar stuff) is 10 lb before food and water, or around 17 lb with.

  • soccerkon26
    soccerkon26 Posts: 596 Member
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    rankinsect wrote: »
    Depends on terrain, but hiking definitely can use a lot of calories. As a rough rule of thumb, 400+ calories per hour spent actually hiking. I just up my calories by 400 per hour and figure I'm good enough. I snack once an hour while hiking to keep energy up.

    Also, 10 lb seems very unreasonably light unless you've really invested heavily into ultralight gear. Even my daypack without any sleeping gear (except the very light emergency mylar stuff) is 10 lb before food and water, or around 17 lb with.

    My fiancé will be varying most of the gear, LOL
    I'll get back to you on the actual weight once I pack my bag! :)
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
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    soccerkon26 wrote: »
    I am planning on taking my first backpacking trip! Only 5.5 miles in, spend the night, and 5.5 miles out. Nothing too strenuous! But I was wondering if I should change my diet at all those two days? I'm currently at a .5 lb per week loss so my deficit isn't big...but should I set my calories to maintenance those two weeks or should my energy levels be fine?

    I'm thinking my backpack will only be about 10 lbs.

    if the terrain is crazy i eat at maintance+. We did a 20 mile one way hike in big sur but it was pretty flat i was able to stay in a deficit+ eating back "exorcize" cals. To be honest the way i do it is i just listen to my body. If im feeling weak or sluggish i eat.. more importantly i keep my electrolytes replenished (if its hot). have fun! ha haha yea my husband carries pretty much everything ha!

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