[Littlefox]

I just returned home from a month of backpacking and must share something, despite being mostly a lurker.

When I left for backpacking, I was about 150 at 5'8''. Not overweight but not thin either, with a true woman's body. I went backpacking throughout Europe with a backpack that stared out at about 20 pounds and ended up at 37 pounds. It was VERY hard at first at 20, but seemed to get lighter as I went on. I only carried it via transporting from country to country, but sometimes would have to carry it for half a day or so.

I walked about 10-13 miles a day sightseeing with a 10 pound day pack, if not my large one. This is easy in Europe when you don't like the metro or buses. A day started at 8:30 and would end at abut 10:00PM. By the end of my four days in each city, I knew it like a book.

Halfway through I noticed my pants no longer fit and a belt was required five hooks in. Then, I noticed my little pouch was gone. This was a shock because I only had a mirror on the fourth hostel in--I wondered where part of me had went.

By yesterday I was excited, thinking I was in the range of 145 pounds. I fit into the jeans I wore at the end of highschool, and shorts--I looked tone in a bikini. Really excited, I did the measurements: 41-31-41.

I weighed myself: 165 pounds.

I literally gained 15 pounds of muscle. I look in the mirror and can't believe this body is my body. I mean, I move my legs, there's muscles--my arms are muscular. My belly is flat.

I'm sorry, but this has literally never been before! Not even when I was 145 pounds! I've never been this fit.

I call this the backpacking diet. Hopefully I can keep this. I take muscles and being borderline overweight any day than unfit and lightweight. But I'm so excited to go jean shopping!

[JessLess]

That's very cool. I've been lifting and running and this 192 lbs. looks very different than it did going up. I feel like I look 20 lbs. lighter due to being in shape.

[CorinneIrene]

That's awesome! I'm jealous! I need to do some traveling, I'm suffering withdrawals! And when it comes with those benefits, even more so. Congrats!

[uhohitsamb]

Congrats! I'm pretty jealous, that sounds amazing. I wish I had the funds to try this once.

[ish]

Wow, and I'm sure you had a great time too!

It's nice to read about this. I'm planning on spending three months backpacking Europe in February, and I know that I really need to get in better shape if I want to do it comfortably. Your post only makes that more clear!

Good for you! I would rather weigh more and be stronger, too.

[abejune23]

that's so great!! it sounds like a fun and rewarding experience, getting fit and enjoying all these different landscapes!

i think backpacking is great also! the two times i did something similar it felt great because with each passing day, i felt like my stamina increased more and more .