I was wondering if anyone else has this problem when they come back from an extended trip: after I get home, I feel like I'm starving all the time.

I know it's a function of the tremendous amounts of calories we burn backpacking, and the large amounts we eat to counteract that on the trail. Problem is, when I get back, I find my trail appetite persists for weeks. After my two-week JMT trip 4 1/2 years ago I ballooned from 165 to 210 within the space of three months. I just got back from the High Uintas, and I'm afraid it's going to happen again.

For me the ravenous after-hike phase only lasts a few days, thank heavens. When I hiked the JMT last year, I lost about ten pounds. Sadly, they returned within two months after I got back.

I haven't been out long enough to experience what you have, but I am familiar with something similar. I've trekked with guys who have had to lose 50-75 lbs in order to go on a trek and they have worked for over a year to lose that weight. Most of them have put that weight back on within a year. I do know one guy that lost 85 lbs and has been able to keep most of it off for over a year. He completely changed his lifestyle and habits and continues to work out on a daily basis.
His motivation - his two sons. He decided he wanted to be around to see them graduate from high school (at least).

So, instead of hiking to burn calories can you develop an exercise plan that is "multipurpose"? You know how we love multipurpose.
Keep the weight off AND build cardiovascular for hiking?

Do you have a hike planned in the near future? I always have better success if I have a definite goal.

T

I had exactly the same experience with exactly the same numbers.

Yes, I do too. been on weight watchers since march, I've done three hikes while losing weight. In the last week did the limestone lakes hike I posted which was a bit rugged, and I've spent about 4 days working hard outside building a garage in 40 degree celsius weather. I've been "off the wagon" for a week or so doing heavy labour and hiking. but I've definately noticed the "I wanna eat everything in sight" after getting off the trail and having sore muscles.

Now me, on WW, I eat a ton of fruit and veggies normally. I have found that once off the trail and having those sore muscles for a couple of days, at least for me eating a bit more
protein than normal (I really don't measure, I just say, have an extra helping or two of lean protien) seems to help calm that down a lot for me. In particular, I very often have one egg with a pile of fruit for breakfast - For a couple of days after hiking of heavy labour I have two.

Mind you after the last hike I did I came home and dinner was
a chicken breast and an entire large container of chickpea salad. Man I was a pig, but I still lost two pounds that week!

You're gonna' have to change your name soon....maybe to SkinnE, or something.

Here's my obligatory Bigfoot link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ck8T45DJjH4

BF

That is pretty much how I keep my weight in check. I get at least one hour of aerobic exercise per day at an intensity between 65% and 75% of my maximum heart rate. I alternate days of brisk hill walking and cycling. I also have an exercise routine for my core and upper body; this is done three times a week.

There is a person living in my body that wants to weigh about 250 pounds and to be totally flabby. Only by exercising and watching my diet can I stay at my target 175 pounds and maintain a good level of fitness.

I'm in my early 70's and it gets harder every year.

I find exercise helps, but I'm one of those people that if I just exercise, I get legs like a tyrannosaur, eat about like one too, and still stay fat With me, unless I stop or constrain the eating, forget it. I can exercise for hours and all I do is get more muscular and stay fat.

I'm with Phat, I have to do both to keep the weight down a bit.

Also, I have to laugh every time I hear someone talk about how long it takes to get a trail appetite. Man, I am *starving* from the minute I leave the trailhead. And that does persist for a while after I get home. I have to consciously try to rein in my eating.

Good luck.

You guys are gonna hate this.

My son just got back from Northern Tier in Minnesota/Ontario (9 day canoe trip) and weighed in this morning at 134lbs.
He left at around 142 lbs and that's down slightly from the end of school.
I swear he's grown another inch and looks like a bean pole.
The eating has begun!

I am starving the minute I get into a vehicle, never mind hiking.

Tim, you must be talking about the "Philmont Dad Club".
I get 'dads' doing 'test hikes' back in my park with fully loaded packs and when asked, the answers are always the same...."gotta dump 30 lbs. before we go to Philmont". (those packs must weight 80 lbs.!)

What some of you guys are describing almost sounds like type II diabetes symptoms. One of my hiking pals wears an insulin pump and gains weight just thinking about food, between outings. It's a constant struggle keeping the weight off. It's pretty easy with me...exercise and stay active. I can generally burn off 10 lbs. in a couple weeks if I have to, by simply doing my "half" diet. Only put 1/2 what your brain is telling you to pile on the plate. It actually works.

Yeah, but are they dumping 30 lbs out of their pack or their midsection - or is that just a total negative on both counts?

(I like the idea of total negative.. so then my weekend pack now weighs -33 lbs )