• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)

Weight Loss

JustRob

Member
I was wondering whether people lost much weight while doing the Camino. I read that one person lost a fair amount - about 15 lbs/6.8kg. (Give the American credit for doing the metric conversion!)

I imagine the walking, combined with the fact that you can't get food as soon as you crave it, might do something good for you.

FYI, I'm about 10-15 pounds above my optimum weight, but in good shape.
 
St James' Way - Self-guided 4-7 day Walking Packages, Reading to Southampton, 110 kms
I too lost some weight. Started in Seville at 65kgs and finished up at 60kgs in santiago DC. I thought I would have lost more but maybe it was the beer/wine at the end of the day.
kevin
 
I walked from SJPP to Santiago last May 2006 and lost 15 lb (~7kg) but not in the places I would've liked. Many of us guys on the camino were hoping we could lose some more in the belly area. There was literally some belt tightening done among us and I had to make an extra hole in my belt.

All that weight loss has been promtply recovered when I got back home ;-)

I think it's not just the exercise that helps one lose weight in the camino. It's also the unavailability of food when you need it badly. The schedule of eating in Spain is very inconvenient to pilgrims (breakfast at 8pm, lunch at 2pm, dinner way past 8pm), although that's changing in some places.

Mark
 
A guide to speaking Spanish on the Camino - enrich your pilgrim experience.
I didn't lose any weight - the three course Pilgrim Menus and wine and beer every night took care of that - but the muscles in my legs were rock-solid by the end.
 
i don't think i lost weight, but i TIGHTENED up. I loved the meal times, i carried my own breakfast, museli and yogurt (i had a cup and spoon from home) and i walked till one or 2 so then i went out for my big meal at around 3. in the evening i would have a light snack.
 
I lost 6 kilos in 5 weeks last year walking the camino frances, and I ate about three times the amount of food I eat at home. This year I lost 1,5 kilos in 2 weeks again eating more than I normally do... Wish it was like that at home.. eating more and losing weight :)
Greetings Estrella
 
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
Back
Top