falconbrother
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June - July 2024
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One memory from the Camino is the few times when I had been walking for hours and still had a long hill to climb. I'd look up that hill and think, "I can't make this right now." Then I'd just keep walking and not looking up the hill and soon I'd walk over the top. Lessons for life. Just take one step at a time.Check out this earlier thread for other posts re weight loss or not while walking a camino.
In 2004 at 65 when I first began walking my height was 172 cm and weight 65 kilos. By the end of that camino and ever since my weight remains less than 55 kilos. Each time entering Santiago I physically felt remade; my bones might have been the same but they seemed re configured.
More important than any physical slimming down and tightening up was the psychological change. I have learned my limits as well as the importance of personal tenacity and endurance. Compared with ten climbs up O Cebreiro daily trivialities in life now at 85 have less importance; what matters most is to keep on keeping on!
On my recently completed Camino, I tried and incorporated walking meditation into my hill climbing. If the scenery was nice I’d focus on something visual, if it was just a climb, I’d focus on the path down the tip of my nose. My mantra was one, two with the rhythm of my poles/step. I never, almost never, looked to the top of the hill. I had very good control of my breath and my heart rate was steady. It’s something I do everyday now.One memory from the Camino is the few times when I had been walking for hours and still had a long hill to climb. I'd look up that hill and think, "I can't make this right now." Then I'd just keep walking and not looking up the hill and soon I'd walk over the top. Lessons for life. Just take one step at a time.
I met a guy this year that told me his strategy for steep hills was to count each step with his right foot up to 25 before looking up to see how far he'd gotten. I tried it, and the focus on counting steps helped on steep hills.I’d focus on the path down the tip of my nose. My mantra was one, two with the rhythm of my poles/step. I never, almost never, looked to the top of the hill.
I walked Camino Frances in Sept 2018. I had lost over 100 lbs over several years and had progressively trained to get ready for about 2 yrs leading up to going on the Camino. To lose the weight I ate about 1300 cals a day and increased walking leading up to waking the camino 15 miles straight no breaks with my backpack with 20 Lbs in it. I really wanted to be ready. It meant so much to me to complete it. On the Camino I ate 3 meals daily, an ice cream treat and a cervaza at the end of the day. I felt great averaged 19 miles a day, no rest days continuing on to Murcia and the Finnisterra.I've been home from the Frances for just over a week. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. He asked me about the Camino and checked my vitals. I'm 60. He said: "Your vitals are incredible". I've bounced off the edge of high blood pressure for years. My post Camino PB is 102/62. Pretty amazing.
I will add that I made zero effort to eat healthy during my walk. We did buy bananas, apples and dried fruits and nuts for snacks. But, at meal times it was on like donkey kong.
I've been home from the Frances for just over a week. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. He asked me about the Camino and checked my vitals. I'm 60. He said: "Your vitals are incredible". I've bounced off the edge of high blood pressure for years. My post Camino PB is 102/62. Pretty amazing.
I will add that I made zero effort to eat healthy during my walk. We did buy bananas, apples and dried fruits and nuts for snacks. But, at meal times it was on like donkey kong.
Yes, the Camino does wonderful things. At my annual physical in February I weighed about 175 lbs with BP 120/80. The day after I returned from CF, I went to my clinic for treatment for an infected finger. Look what the Camino did for me:I've been home from the Frances for just over a week. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. He asked me about the Camino and checked my vitals. I'm 60. He said: "Your vitals are incredible". I've bounced off the edge of high blood pressure for years. My post Camino PB is 102/62. Pretty amazing.
I will add that I made zero effort to eat healthy during my walk. We did buy bananas, apples and dried fruits and nuts for snacks. But, at meal times it was on like donkey kong.
Vitals: 05/23/2024 0959 BP: 99/57 Pulse: 65 Temp: 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) TempSrc: Temporal SpO2: 98% Weight: 174 lb 3.2 oz (79 kg) Height: 5' 7" (1.702 m)
We have been home a month after 2 months doing the CF. We feel physically and emotionally recharged. I have a total weight loss over 25 lbs.I've been home from the Frances for just over a week. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. He asked me about the Camino and checked my vitals. I'm 60. He said: "Your vitals are incredible". I've bounced off the edge of high blood pressure for years. My post Camino PB is 102/62. Pretty amazing.
I will add that I made zero effort to eat healthy during my walk. We did buy bananas, apples and dried fruits and nuts for snacks. But, at meal times it was on like donkey kong.
Don’t forget the lower you go the more death you are.102/62 is extraordinary. I’ve always thought I had the BP of a sloth at 113/70, and I’m five years younger than you. My doctor says my blood has to cover such a distance to get round me that it has to take it slow or it wouldn’t make it.
I didn't notice much of a weight change the last time I walked the Camino (my weight is average); however, I found it amazing how much stronger a walker I was in the second half than the first. I did have an issue with my heel at one point, but opted to take a day off by taking a train to Burgos- next time I would take a bus, since the bus terminal is in the city centre and the train station is in the 'burbs. However, the Camino provided anyway, and I met a woman I still think of as the "angel of Burgos"- a English language teacher who not only showed me what bus to take to get to the city centre- she paid for it, and accompanied me right to the door of my albergue!! One of several amazing, life-altering experiences during the walk. Looking back, I realized I was never worried, when at home I worry about everything. Anyway, expect to get stronger, and make sure you pay attention to your body. A day off works wonders and can set you back, renewed, on the road again.Check out this earlier thread for other posts re weight loss or not while walking a camino.
In 2004 at 65 when I first began walking my height was 172 cm and weight 65 kilos. By the end of that camino and ever since my weight remains less than 55 kilos. Each time entering Santiago I physically felt remade; my bones might have been the same but they seemed re configured.
More important than any physical slimming down and tightening up was the psychological change. I have learned my limits as well as the importance of personal tenacity and endurance. Compared with ten climbs up O Cebreiro daily trivialities in life now at 85 have less importance; what matters most is to keep on keeping on!
What rubbish. My doctor says my blood has to cover such a distance to get round me that it has to take it slow or it wouldn’t make it.
You make a good point. I find the Camino to be tiring and it takes some time to recover. However, over the years, the daily walking and training have a much greater net positive effect on my body.health challenges
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