Do you gain or lose weight on an extended trip ???
 

The last 6 month + I went on, I ended up putting on nearly 2 stone !!:helpsmilie:

Too much hospitality from the natives, cheap beer and eating bread/cheese/salami as a cheap alternative ! That was South America and good food is abundent..

My UK-Capetown is about to take off and Im wondering if im going to come back a bloater again !

It got me wondering how long days in the saddle effect you lot ???

Ted

I have tended to lose weight: BUT NOT BLOODY ENOUGH!!

December in Provincia de Buenos Arires, probably meant I was just shrivelled from dehydration, but generally the smaller portions cooking on a camp stove, the more walking aroudn to see stuff, than I would back home: the not sinking in a sofa and watching the box, and the inveitable toiling with my GS in the sands all meant I shed a few calories on our bigger trip.

But even on small jaunts like my recent fortnight in France, I lost maybe 3 pounds (1.5kgs).

I never lost much more than a stone or so, though: 7 kg MAX in SA...

Probably the most expensive, but the most fun form of dieting I have ever experienced: beats the "celeriac & sand porridge" diet, or whatever is the fad at the mo'

1 stone
 

1 stone = 6.35 kg

I lost nearly 7 kg riding through Iran and Pakistan during Ramadan in 2008 - does that count? :thumbup1: I put some of it back on eating the wonderful food in India and Nepal though.

I was normally around 13st before I left but when I got back, I'd lost about 1.5-2st. I guess I just ate less when travelling and although I always needed a beer most days, it was never to the extent we drink here in the UK so that might also have something to do with it. That and just being active all day as opposed to just sitting on ones arse at a desk will help too.

Definitely lose weight. Not near a fridge all day. I take a JetBoil and packet soup and some evenings that's all I have.

I suppose it's WHERE you go which has quite an effect...

4 months in Argentina did all the damage. Dam they won't no as an answer when it comes to an Asado and the wine is just too good !
:oops2:


I have no idea what the food options will be in Africa. I guess many a stomach upset will have an effect too lol.

My riding partner doesnt drink either so I can also see myself being a teetotaller.



Do you really think you're more active when travelling ????

I think im LESS active. Just sitting in the saddle isnt really exercise and being too tired to do anything but collapse in your tent at the end of the day doesnt help either. At home id be running, going the gym etc etc.

I've almost always lost weight on a long trip. In the early days it was because we were skint and given a choice between petrol and food, petrol always won.
In more recent years it's been because I usually lose my appetite a bit when I'm spending days on the bike - the riding takes my mind off of food. It's not stress or anything, just a bit of a lack of interest. Plus I usually feel better when I'm a bit underweight and most of my riding gear doesn't fit properly if I put on a bit of weight.

Lost a stone, I'm 6 ft and 11st normally so coming back and weighting a smidgen over 10, my weight was one of the first things people commented on.
Ate well, drunk plenty of beer, I seem to be one of those people who lose weight when they are even a bit preoccupied (not stressed) which I was.

Pete

I witnessed Pete drink plenty of beer ................. :)

Hello Pete - How goes it? I'll drop you an email soon. Say hello to Caff from us ...

I lost weight when we camped and gained weight when we stayed in hotels .....

I dropped 15kg (from 88 to 73kg) in 5 months on the road through China, Russia, Europe in 2008.

In Eastern Russia my diet each day was 1 bowl of Borsch, 2 slices of bread, 1 black coffee, as much fresh and cold mountain water I could drink and 1 Mars bar.

You'd have to take a good run at it Ted to gain that kind of weight in Africa! Might have been a combination of the hot weather and the sporadic menu choices but most people that I rode with or met had lost weight. Of course none of us was any fitter from all the sitting around so I would have to say there was a lot of muscle mass loss as well. With diligent effort you should be able to add some weight back when in the southern part of the continent from what you lose in the northern part. Remember beer is the most thirst quenching of the beverages typically available...

I ended up gaining about 4 kg's (10lbs) on my Central America trip earlier this year. At home I can prepare my own healthy foods and there are plenty of opportunities for exercise.

When it's hot and humid all I want to do is lie in a hammock or under the fan, even after a long day of sitting in the saddle with mininal exercise. And there are so many different beers to be tasted along the way.
:sleep1:

...Michelle
www.scrabblebiker.com

Ain't that the truth !!

Ted, have a look at the 5th photo down on my Argentina-Alaska blog taken the same day I got home and tried on my old jeans.

I really wish I had that stomach now!! The UK booze culture has a lot to answer for...