Long distance walk and weight loss

ellycope

I'm planning to walk a 50 mile long distance path in a couple of week's time. I started on MFP 4 weeks ago and obviously would like this walk to help me progress with my weight loss. However, I'm anticipating burning 2,000+ calories a day so will need to consume way more than I have been doing recently. I've also managed to retrain myself away from sweet things so would prefer not to have too many chocolate bars to make up the calories. Has anyone got any good suggestions for easy to carry food that will boost my calorie intake without derailing the weight loss? Oh, and to make it awkward I'm allergic to nuts and really don't like dried fruit! (I guess if it was easy I wouldn't have to ask!)

Any suggestions gratefully received!

SusanneWhittington

bananas will prevent cramps, but otherwise you made it hard with your nut allergy. Proteinmilk, good for the muscles and extra calories.

CurlyClare78

Have you tried all dried fruit? I used to say I didn't like it but I tried more different types and really like dried pineapple, mango and cherries.
You could take a banana with you too
Or make a smoothie with yoghurt in it, if I make a smoothie I use frozen berries, banana and yoghurt. It stays colder that way. You just need to get a good container for it and sip as you go along.

BerryH

I presume you'll have a backpack with you. Peanut butter bagels would be a good choice. Snack on pretzels and dried meat (biltong or jerky). Can you bend your sweet stuff rule to home-made flapjacks? Maybe take those tear-off soft packs of tuna. Perhaps substitute mixed veg/sweet potato crisps for nuts.

Hope that helps!

iwillsoonbeslim

I do alot of long distance hiking and hill / mountain climbing (although 24 miles is the most I've done in one day - go you with the 50!) and I like to take boiled eggs and cereal bars

martinh78

Flapjack is great, if it doesn't contain nuts? You could make your own though.

Bananas are good for a quick energy boost, as are rasins.

Hot chocolate (not the low cal stuff) is good if your camping, have a drink in your sleeping bag and it gives you some cals to burn overnight/keeps you warm.

I'd enjoy your extra 2000cals and not worry too much about it. I once had to find ways of eating 7000cals a day, whilst at altitude, where you didn't want to be carrying extra weight. Packety mash with packet soup etc was ok, but the real big boosts came from hot chocolate, boiled sweets, packets of jam and biscuits. We still came back having lost weight!


Good luck on your walk, which path are you doing?

martinh78

Maybe take those tear-off soft packs of tuna.

Not seen these before? Sounds great, I love tuna!

BerryH

Not seen these before? Sounds great, I love tuna!

Like these:
http://www.john-west.co.uk/products/tuna-pouches/
http://www.john-west.co.uk/products/light-lunch/

Other brands are available

iwillsoonbeslim

I'd enjoy your extra 2000cals and not worry too much about it. I once had to find ways of eating 7000cals a day, whilst at altitude, where you didn't want to be carrying extra weight.


Good luck on your walk, which path are you doing?

Bloody hell - I struggle with my 3000 extra days (so 4200 total), I don't know how you'd manage 7000! Must have been an amazing walk!

And, yeah, I'm also keen to know where you're walking? x

sophieshaped

Carb gels? My other half uses them on long bikerides. They give you an energy boost, are easy to carry, light, don't leak, etc.

martinh78

Not seen these before? Sounds great, I love tuna!

Like these:
http://www.john-west.co.uk/products/tuna-pouches/
http://www.john-west.co.uk/products/light-lunch/

Other brands are available

THANKS! Will have a look for those )

kardeamad

I will keep my eye on this as we go on hiking holidays - next one is planned for Christmas so I was beginning to look out for things I can eat.

Frightens me now to think for years I actually ate less than normal when we were hiking :embarassed:

iwillsoonbeslim

Frightens me now to think for years I actually ate less than normal when we were hiking :embarassed:

Me too. When I started long distances and hills I started to gain weight. No wonder, now I know what a dangerously massive calorie deficit I was creating!

ellycope

Thanks for all the great suggestions - I can't stand tuna so I'll give that a miss! I was already planning on homemade flapjack (with dark chocolate mixed in - yum) and I love the hot chocolate for the evening and carb gels could be a good energy booster if I need it.

I will be carrying a backpack so won't be able to do things like mixing up smoothies and I'm not sure about carrying enough bananas for the 4 days as they'll go all smushy. If I'm able to buy some each day I might do that. I'm not trying to be way under or anything but there is the intention to have some pub meals along the way so will need plenty of calories in the bank for that!

It's going to be the Mendip Way as it's very close to home :happy: If it goes well then hopefully we'll move up to some of the national trails next year.

kardeamad

Frightens me now to think for years I actually ate less than normal when we were hiking :embarassed:

Me too. When I started long distances and hills I started to gain weight. No wonder, now I know what a dangerously massive calorie deficit I was creating!

That is exactly what happened with me! I thought all those hiking weekends and weeks would keep me in shape - how very wrong I was.

iwillsoonbeslim

Frightens me now to think for years I actually ate less than normal when we were hiking :embarassed:

Me too. When I started long distances and hills I started to gain weight. No wonder, now I know what a dangerously massive calorie deficit I was creating!

That is exactly what happened with me! I thought all those hiking weekends and weeks would keep me in shape - how very wrong I was.

Mental, eh?

sarahkbarnes

I just finished a 70 mile walk last week, burning around 3500-4000 a day. It was really hard to eat enough calories! I doubt you'll be able to do it without a lot of sugar. I had a lot of dried fruit, biscuits, cereal bars, fresh fruit when we went through a town and could get my hands on some, pasta, porridge every morning. Oh, and the occasional half pint whenever we came across a pub Feel free to add me so you can have a look at my diary from last week - I tried to log everything! Everything went wonky when I got a tummy bug midweek and couldn't keep any food down fro 24 hours, but the other days might be helpful

Good luck!

lodro

I go bike touring often, rides of about 125 km/day for 2 weeks at a stretch and the hard thing is to replenish your calories. I'd forget about weight loss: it will be a job in itself to make sure you eat enough to keep up your energy levels. I easily burn over 2000 calories a day, on the bike, and the day consists of cycling and breaks for refueling. And even that will leave me hungry at night eventually. Make sure you eat a good breakfast! Don't hit the trail on an empty stomach.

lodro

Thanks for all the great suggestions - I can't stand tuna so I'll give that a miss! I was already planning on homemade flapjack (with dark chocolate mixed in - yum) and I love the hot chocolate for the evening and carb gels could be a good energy booster if I need it.

I will be carrying a backpack so won't be able to do things like mixing up smoothies and I'm not sure about carrying enough bananas for the 4 days as they'll go all smushy. If I'm able to buy some each day I might do that. I'm not trying to be way under or anything but there is the intention to have some pub meals along the way so will need plenty of calories in the bank for that!

It's going to be the Mendip Way as it's very close to home :happy: If it goes well then hopefully we'll move up to some of the national trails next year.

Oh, the Mendip way. Always wanted to walk that.

In any case, just go for the pub meals, don't worry about banking calories, you'll be looking at a deficit that's too great, rather, so eat when you can.

ellycope

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling reassured that it's not going to be as tricky as I thought!

kardeamad

I just finished a 70 mile walk last week, burning around 3500-4000 a day. It was really hard to eat enough calories! I doubt you'll be able to do it without a lot of sugar. I had a lot of dried fruit, biscuits, cereal bars, fresh fruit when we went through a town and could get my hands on some, pasta, porridge every morning. Oh, and the occasional half pint whenever we came across a pub Feel free to add me so you can have a look at my diary from last week - I tried to log everything! Everything went wonky when I got a tummy bug midweek and couldn't keep any food down fro 24 hours, but the other days might be helpful

Good luck!

If it is ok I would like to add you as a friend so I can see your diary.

I was considering getting some complan and looking into gatorade. Fortunately I don't have a nut allergy but am concerned about fat - same with pepperami type things.