Bushwalking Appetites.

[Mechanic-AL]

Strange things happen to my appetite when I go bush. In a direct contrast to what I would expect I actually eat a lot less than when I''m at home. Nothing unusual about that but the weird thing is I don't end up feeling all that hungry. With all the energy burning exercise that is part and parcel of bushwalking I don't really now why I'm not totally starving at the end of each day? I always end up taking WAY MORE food than I need which isn't nessecarily a bad thing but I'm just wondering how many other people suffer from D.A.S. ( Diminished Appetite Syndrome ) while on the trail? Is this normal???

As soon as I get home I've got my snout in the trough again and eat anything I can lay my hands on but I know that if I tried to get through the week on the meager rations I happily survive on in the bush I'd be I'd be slobbering away like a pet labrador at a family BBQ!

AL

[Tortoise]

Well, I can't tell you if it's normal or not, but you've aptly described a phenomenon with which I'm very familiar indeed!
I've got a couple of theories. Eating at home is probably much less related to actual hunger, and the reasons one may stuff one's face can easily fade away once one is out in the bush. Actually, it can be once one is out the driveway on one's way to a walk!

The up side of this is that once I figured out this is pretty reliable, I've been able to shed a fair bit of pack weight on multi-day walks. The down side is that if I can't do multi-day walks for a while, there are Consequences.

[dashandsaph]

I think you are on to something. Depending on how hard the walk is, although I do eat more sugary stuff - chocolate etc, sometimes I need to even make an effort to eat, unlike at home where it can be open season. I find that I am reducing my scroggin/snacks down each trip as a result of what I brought back on the previous trip.

[phsculpture]

This is exactly what happens to me. I go into some weird spartan mindset, which i enjoy. I have a decent breakfast (homemade muesli mixed with apple juice) and nuts and chocolate on the track, but not much at night. The truth is I can't really be bothered, preferring to hit the hay early. I do drink tons of water though. All this is opposite to at home. Lack of energy is never a problem.

[north-north-west]

Yep.
I reckon Tory's right - a lot of our 'home' eating is habit, boredom and availability rather than genuine hunger. It's a scientifically established phenomenon that a certain level of exercise diminishes the appetite to a degree.
Besides which, at the end of a long day's walking with a full pack, I 'm often just too tired to eat.

[walkon]

I'm the same for short trips, though from day 4 my appetite/metabolism ramps up and I'm hungry.

[MickyB]

I thought this only happened to me but it's good to know it happens to others as well. I drink plenty of water but most of the time I have no appetite.

[GPSGuided]

Ummm... This is just asking for a socio-physiological experiment, one that sets up 5 star catering tents right next to wild camp sites and see campers' responses.

[icefest]

I can honestly say enforced rest days result in me eating about double what I usually eat. There's so much going for breaking the stormy monotony with a nice hot meal. Especially when I'm at my third reading of the book that I brought to the hike.

[Walk_fat boy_walk]

I always put it down to "Backcountry" meals putting me off my food. But yeah, can relate as well.

[GPSGuided]

Especially when I'm at my third reading of the book that I brought to the hike.

3rd reading? I thought books carried on hikes are brought along for multi tasks...

[icefest]

Especially when I'm at my third reading of the book that I brought to the hike.

3rd reading? I thought books carried on hikes are brought along for multi tasks...

I can't bring myself to do that to a book. I'm the kind of person that never even folds over a corner, let along damages the book.

[Tortoise]

I can honestly say enforced rest days result in me eating about double what I usually eat. There's so much going for breaking the stormy monotony with a nice hot meal. Especially when I'm at my third reading of the book that I brought to the hike.

Ah yes. I nearly mentioned that - the only time I'm aware of wanting food.

[ErichFromm]

So glad this thread was started. As others have already said - thought it was just me. As soon as I head out on a hike my appetite just dries up. Will often get by on just a bowl of noodles for the day. I usually have to make myself eat in the belief that my hiking ability will be impacted otherwise.

To be honest I'm not a great eater at the best of times - but during a hike it's almost non-existant. More often than not after a hike I'll be putting 80% or more of the food I brought back in the car for the drive home.

I have friends who think I'm a bit of a freak. Will be sending a link to this thread to show otherwise: "See - I"m not crazy, this certificate from the Psychiatrist proves it"

[Lizzy]

Agree- I am better at eating these days but just don't get that inspired to eat much while walking...

[puredingo]

Same- I'm usually a huge eater but have very little appetite out in the bush. I put this down to an incredible thirst by the end of each day and a typically limited water supply, eating usual make me thirsty.

Mind you once I'm home It's insatiability plus...It's a case of pulling a chair up to the fridge and holding all calls!

[Mechanic-AL]

Ummm... This is just asking for a socio-physiological experiment, one that sets up 5 star catering tents right next to wild camp sites and see campers' responses.

If this experiment calls for hot roast beef and gravy rolls with potato wedges and sour cream on top of Frenchmans Cap or going over the Ironbounds then I guess I could find a bit of time to participate!

However....to be a fully comprehensive study I think it would be essential to force the clientele at the local Macca's to pick up a full pack and march at least 10 k's and then see how they feel about scarfing down that large Double Whopper Meal and Frozen Coke Deal ?
Think I already know he answer to that one !!

AL

[GPSGuided]

LOL Al! I was thinking more of seafood with an a la carte menu with Tasmanian salmon and chilled oyster amongst others. Grange at call.

Seriously though, the reported experiences are all very interesting with possible physiological and mental contributing factors.

[Tortoise]

Another factor is that if someone within olfactory distance is frying up Scotch fillet steak and onions, I'm suddenly more interested in food that I don't have... Normally I very happy with a simple but tasty meal out there.

[walkon]

On the OLT this year there were a bunch of kiwis who had a kilo of salmon each the first night and chicken, steak, kangaroo, lamb on other nights, with veges of course and some good Scotch to wash it down. Plus bacon and eggs for breaky everyday. In comparison porridge, backcountry and the like never looked so good.... NOT!!!!

They were good blokes and shared some mmmmm Oh yeah forgot the bickies and dips, oh and olives and cheeses.

Got to say I don't reckon they had any waning of appetite on their walk

[cajun]

LOL Al! I was thinking more of seafood with an a la carte menu with Tasmanian salmon and chilled oyster amongst others. Grange at call.

surely you mean a Ninth Island Pinot Grigio (to carry on the Tassie influence) - Grange is so passe on a bushwalk

Last edited by cajun on Thu 29 May, 2014 9:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[cajun]

double post

[SteveJ]

However....to be a fully comprehensive study I think it would be essential to force the clientele at the local Macca's to pick up a full pack and march at least 10 k's and then see how they feel about scarfing down that large Double Whopper Meal and Frozen Coke Deal ?

AL

Off topic!! we are talking about 'food' ....

[GPSGuided]

surely you mean a Ninth Island Pinot Grigio (to carry on the Tassie influence) - Grange is so passe on a bushwalk

Of course. And you just got appointed to be the cellarmaster for the experiment!

[stry]

What happens to you aspiring only when your bushwalking anorexics on a long trip ? Fasting when exerting heavily is a finite process

I'm with Icefest - lay day equals pigout big time. (I don't fold over pages either - really agonized about the possible damage to a hard back that I carried recently Perhaps that's one reason why I always have sufficient of that for which books are sometimes substituted)

My 200 grams of scroggin never lasts the day.

Food is fuel, people. No fuel-no fire, No fire - no energy.

Low on fuel, particularly toward the end of a hard day can be dangerous. I have flirted with this scenario a few times.

[Moondog55]

Not unusual with me to have little or no appetite day 1 & 2, but by day 5 I am usually ravenous. I put it down to the change in regime and exercise cutting down the release of ghrelin and associated hormones which govern hunger

[Bubbalouie]

I've found I can't eat big meals at all when hiking but I still need to chug down a fair few calories (12-14,000kj) as I just don't have a lot of reserves (82kg). If I don't keep up the energy my endurance goes to heck.

The end result is I wind up snacking all day and have to force down a single serve freeze dried meal which I utterly hate. After a long hike (5+ days) my appetite for real food is phenomenal but I'll be buggered if I can down an adult sized helping as I've gone so long without eating much in a single go.

[GPSGuided]

I still need to chug down a fair few calories (12-14,000kj) as I just don't have a lot of reserves (82kg).

This is a rather odd statement. 82kg is hardly lightweight.

[Strider]

I still need to chug down a fair few calories (12-14,000kj) as I just don't have a lot of reserves (82kg).

This is a rather odd statement. 82kg is hardly lightweight.

He might be 8ft tall

[GPSGuided]

He might be 8ft tall

Without data, we have to assume he is not beyond the 2nd standard deviation.