The TRUTH About the Thru Hiker Diet: My Struggle with Nutrition on the Appalachian Trail
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- Опубликовано: 24 дек 2024
- Thru hiking is challenging in so many ways, but one thing I really struggled with during my hike was nutrition. While on trail, I struggled to fuel my body for the massive amount of exercise I was asking it to do. I developed an aversion to food during the last few hundred miles of the trail. I had repeated problems with hypoglycemia and dehydration. Eating, an everyday function, was not something I anticipated struggling with during my thru hike. Here is my story.
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Great video! Lots to consider for me when I can do my thru hike 😍
Happy to help!
So interesting about your experience with food aversion. He he food for thought for sure. Awesome video.
Thanks so much! I’m happy to say that I have been back to eating pretty much everything since returning home from trail. Except protein bars…still get the “ick” from seeing those!
Saturday, March 02nd: Thank-you for sharing your video. Very interesting. Happy Trails! Ross08
Thanks for watching!
Very good info. Thank you!!!❤
Thanks for watching!
Perfect information that must be considered. Too many fail due to them failing their bodies. Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
Loved this video! Great food for thought! 😊
Thank you! Nice pun! ☺️
Thanks for your advice. I'm planning my food sources for my AT NOBO in April. Your post hike videos are great!
Thanks so much! Best of luck to you on your hike! You’ve got this!!
I would think that Hiker Hunger, if it exists, is a type of reaction where the body panics about calory intake. From my competitive Triathlon time, I know that there is a point, where your sole focus becomes calory intake. During a long run, I went into a supermarket begging for some food for my buddy, as neither of us carried money, and he had run into a field about to eat unripe corn. In German its called "Hungerast", like hunger branch, or so. So, it taught me, eat before you are hungry and drink before you are thirsty as well as hug you loved ones before they are gone. :)
Well said!
Thanks for the tips and discussion. So thankful you had a supportive tramily.
Me too! Thanks for watching!
GOOD TO KNOW. Thanks for sharing…from East Tennessee
Thanks for watching!
My favorite breakfast on trail is milk & cereal, 1.25 cups cereal + 1/4 cup NIDO (powdered milk), add water, shake, instant milk & cereal, can add raisins or freeze dried fruit to cereal. I snack on Walnuts all day, calorie dense @ 3000/lb, shelf stable, no cook, full of minerals & vitamins, 65% fat + 14% protein + 14% carbs - 7% soluble fiber, a person (or squirrel) could survive of Walnuts. High fiber tortillas + meat for regular meals, Peanut Butter & Salami on a tortilla sounds weird but taste great. Eat a rotisserie chicken when I get to grocery store.
Nice! Thanks so much for this!
Thanks for the information and pleasant commentary. It seems you experienced much stress and misery with nutrition intake and hydration. I can sympathize. It has happened to me. That would be comparable to the pioneers of the 18th century🤔But, cheers to your stamina and perseverance. Note: Ice Cream, your super power(Sorry I revealed that) was mentioned 10 times with 6 video clips. Bravo to your super power and your choices of the delicacy. Hydrate! Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
You definitely keep me honest about the ice cream! 😂
Watch Gear Skeptic’s authoritative videos on hiker nutrition. Sounds like you are eating nutrient poor food - you need more than ‘calories’, you need high quality calories, esp fats and foods with electrolytes, such as nuts/seeds. The second main driver of your struggles was lack of rest - by trying to keep up with other people, you deprived your body of the rest it needed and likely walked at a pace/rate that wasn’t optimal for you. It doesn’t matter what you food you have if you hike day after day when the body needs rest - the body will break down, and that will impact the mind. Even with a private gourmet chef and nutritionist feeding you - the body just needs recovery time and if you don’t get it, you’ll suffer. Not a nutrition issue, it’s an overall health and basic physiology issue.
I definitely ran into that issue on trail. Walking almost 2200 miles in all kinds of weather was a huge challenge for me! Thanks for the suggestion on videos! I’ll take a look at them!
I hiked a 40 mile point to point last summer (2023). Trail had very little water for the first 20 miles and I legit carried about 4 liters of water on me 😳💀
That’s a heavy load! But last year was dry…until it was nonstop wet…so it was necessary!
@@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 yea it totally sucked
What you said about "Zombie Phase" is a really really important point.
I'm going to include what you said here, in a future video I make, which I will direct people to this video here.
Thank you!
Thank you for the info. As an experienced hiker and an RN what is your advice for someone who cannot eat large amounts of sugar or have large meals at one time. Preparing for warmer weather and extended day hikes I want to fuel appropriately so I don’t have issues. But I can’t have the gummies or Oreo’s etc. I pack a lot of protein bars but do you have any other suggestions.
I found that eating every couple of hours while on trail helped fuel me the best. If you can find foods that keep you feeling energized throughout the day, you shouldn’t even need to pack sugary snacks. I found triscuits, cheese sticks, and beef jerky worked well for me as snacks. Peanut butter is great too! Find what works for your body; everyone’s body is different.
@@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 Thank you
I carry a bag of original Cheerios. It's good with powdered milk,and fresh berries (if I can find some),and is good to snack on(straight from the bag)while hiking. ✌🏼
I’m going to have to find room to pack Triscjits 😊. I also enjoy protein chips. They end up crumbles, but hopefully I’m getting some n nutrition out of them
I watched all your hike but didn’t notice all the trouble you had. Sorry for this but glad you had people w/ you.
I drink so much water I’ll be the fat lady w/ her big umbrella trying to hide that big butt.😂
If I start to dehydrate or just don’t get enough water I get sever bladder infections & like you, migraine’s.
One big advantage of starting in the winter is I can have fresh foods but disadvantage is less water options.
I just love your energy. Wish you would hike w/ me next year
I actually found that I did not film when I was feeling bad, so that’s why you all probably didn’t pick up on it. I’m glad you’re a fantastic hydrator! Your body appreciates it! Thank you for the compliment! I wish I could hike with every AT class! You’re going to do great and make your hike all your own!
JUMBO Iced Honey Buns FTW
Lol. I saw a hiker go into the HMW with a whole stack of them. 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
@@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 I know they're not the best hiking fuel, but they bring back great memories now