Went on vacation and hiked 10 strenuous miles and gained weight! How is it possible?

[hummingbird3]

If you're ripped who the freak cares what you weigh??!

When I was ripped in my 20's and 30's I could afford to gain a few. It was incredibly easy to lose it back then. Not now. My daughter is an uber-athlete and she's ripped. She doesn't stress about gaining a few lbs here and there because it's easy to lose and you don't really lose muscle tone when you gain the kind of weight you're describing, after doing the kind of activity you're describing.

It sounds like your body is pushing back on your regimen so take a breather and be kind to it. Do a spa, get a massage, whatever.... (I'm a massage therapist).

By the way, enjoy it - this active phase you're in. You probably won't be doing this **** in your 50's or 60's. I was one who said, "oh no I'm not getting 'old' or 'gain 30 lbs' - I'm gonna be an athlete until I'm 80!" At 53 everything changed so like I said enjoy it. Enjoy what you have and don't let it become an OCD or an addiction. Be balanced.

[mayalevi]

Well...if you think about it, 10 miles over 4 days really isn't that much...that averages out to 2.5 miles/day--or how much I walk my dogs in ADDITION to running 6-8 miles a day (and NOT eating Sonic). Granted, I run marathons, so I am not a typical person, but 2.5 miles is still only a fairly moderate walk at best--especially if you(admittedly) havn't been eating well. Still, I'm not convinced you should have gained 8lbs. That, I agree, sounds excessive--are you sure you didn't put on some muscle? If you are not used to this type of exercise, your muscles would be stressed, and could retain a bit of water due to that too. I always put on a couple after a marathon(and pee it out later, as the soreness goes away) hope that helps.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by runningncircles1

...how much... not what.

Thats right. People always tells me, oh, don't eat after 6 pm, or don't eat this or don't eat that. But in the long run is the amount you eat that counts. How many calories you consume in a 24 hour period. Hiking everyday might burn a lot of calories, but obviously eating tons of calories everyday too will most likely exceed the calories burned, and you will gain weight.