Mountaineering Weekends

[RichardJC]

Does anyone have advice/experience on ensuring adequate "fuel" for very active weekends? Is it OK to carb load a bit (for prediabetic) or should I be looking to more protein as source?

I tried to be careful on Scout Camp (not a mountain weekend, but I have those upcoming). I didn't have time to cook my own food so ate less of the carb option in the camp menu and filled up on veg/salad instead. I ended up quite tired before dinner, perking up with food, so wonder if I was under-fueling. Despite wanting to stabilise my weight, I lost a reasonable amount over the week including the camp and suspect that loss was on camp.

I'm eating now the veg chilli and wholegrain/wild rice I didn't get chance to cook on camp. Maybe that is the answer - take my own food and ensure I have time to cook it. It's nice.

 

[ColinUK]

Calling @eggyg to the thread as I know she goes bagging the odd Monroe from time to time and is partial to a slab of Kendal Mint Cake so her experience may be useful for you.

 

[RichardJC]

Thanks.

My diabetic coach / dietician has suggested higher energy snacks as a means of keeping energy. Also discussing dietary requirements with the organisers where I'm not the organiser. Last smaller camp I did I was able to cook my own wholegrain rice dishes which worked very well. I'm working on maximising gas efficiency and managing long cooking times for raw rice on a single stove. I'd been using precooked packet rice, but only half a packet at a time so needing a fridge on camp to store the unused portion.

Last weekend I took mixed raw nuts as my high energy snack, having checked that nobody on camp had a nut allergy. Again my dietitian suggested these as a good snack, something repeated by the Fit4Life coach. I rechecked with the camp lead organiser after one helper saw me with them and took offence. That confirmed I was OK using nuts on this camp. I've since asked around other leaders. It seems a number of people have fear of nuts in large group situations just in case someone is unknowingly allergic to them.

The same problem would apply to Nakd bars (Diabetes UK Article). I like the protein ones of these, but they are full of cashews. Before my diagnosis I took Toblerone on group hikes to share, continuing my own family tradition of "you can eat the Toblerone once you're actually up the mountain". Toblerone contains almonds. I do wonder if the Scout Association could give some official advice on this. But for now I'll have to work on the basis of no nuts, no nakd bars, and no Toblerone.

 

[eggyg]

Wainwrights not Munroes, too high for me!
it’s a bit different as I’m an insulin user so need to stop my blood glucose from dropping. I do pack lots of snacks, mostly carbs for me but as you’re not an insulin user and don’t want to carb load try things like hard boiled eggs, lumps of cheese, nuts etc. easy packed into your ruck sack, chocolate is good for a quick energy boost but obviously not too much. Kendal Mint Cake is my go to for low blood sugars, it’s instant but very, very calorific but does the trick. Don’t forget lots and lots of water, dehydration isn’t good. Enjoy.

 

[RichardJC]

Wainrights sound fine to me! I've done some and could do with some more.
Cheese and eggs sound good as long as they're not kept warm for too long. (Should we get British Summer).

I think the challenge with organised camps is that they carb-load. It's classic outdoor practice. Presumably a healthy body quickly converts it all to glycogen and can use that as a continuous fuel supply as needed. The diabetic body is less good at that conversion.

 

[Taffyboyslim]

Are peanuts , cheese lumps etc better than chocolate in emergencies in this regard ?

 

[Leadinglights]

Are peanuts , cheese lumps etc better than chocolate in emergencies in this regard ?

It depends on what 'emergency' you mean

 

[RichardJC]

Are peanuts , cheese lumps etc better than chocolate in emergencies in this regard ?

I can't think they're useful for diabetic emergencies, at least for the initial need to bring someone out of hypo.

We were always taught to carry spare food in case we end up stuck in the hills unexpectedly. That used to be things like nuts or dried fruit. Longer lasting sources of energy.

The traditional energy for hillwalking has been carb loading, which seems less a good idea if you can't process carbs so well. Though I remember bacon and egg sandwich as a traditional breakfast for longer lasting energy from the protein. If I folllow the dietary advice I've been given I'd have to choose high fibre bread.

 

[Taffyboyslim]

It depends on what 'emergency' you mean

Taking snacks and fluid with you on a long walk so you don't start feeling weak sort of emergency

 

[Taffyboyslim]

I can't think they're useful for diabetic emergencies, at least for the initial need to bring someone out of hypo.

We were always taught to carry spare food in case we end up stuck in the hills unexpectedly. That used to be things like nuts or dried fruit. Longer lasting sources of energy.

The traditional energy for hillwalking has been carb loading, which seems less a good idea if you can't process carbs so well. Though I remember bacon and egg sandwich as a traditional breakfast for longer lasting energy from the protein. If I folllow the dietary advice I've been given I'd have to choose high fibre bread.

Well my limit of walking is a few hours out so I don't engage in backpack heavy boots bring a packed lunch sort of hiking , heavy rambling

I mean if I I am out for a heavier than a gentle stroll few hours , maybe an afternoon and I need energy and fluid

Before diagnosis it was a bottle of water and a couple of mars bars ......which is what I take if I go fishing

 

[RichardJC]

Well my limit of walking is a few hours out so I don't engage in backpack heavy boots bring a packed lunch sort of hiking , heavy rambling

I mean if I I am out for a heavier than a gentle stroll few hours , maybe an afternoon and I need energy and fluid

Before diagnosis it was a bottle of water and a couple of mars bars ......which is what I take if I go fishing

I've been fine on day hikes snacking on nuts and eating otherwise normally. High fibre bread and plenty of protein in sandwhiches has been presumably OK. No problem with lack of energy.

I lost about 3/4kg on a weekend Scout camp and felt at one point that eating did restore energy levels, so that camp took things too far.

I'm going to give Trek flapjacks a try. Same company as Nakd which you could say are the least disapproved of bar here:

Cereal bars

Healthy or unhealthy? Accidentally skipping breakfast during the morning rush, grabbing a quick snack on the move, adding something extra to your child’s lunchbox – cereal bars can be a reliable go-to on hectic days.

www.diabetes.org.uk

I do take plenty of water hiking.

 

[Taffyboyslim]

I've been fine on day hikes snacking on nuts and eating otherwise normally. High fibre bread and plenty of protein in sandwhiches has been presumably OK. No problem with lack of energy.

I lost about 3/4kg on a weekend Scout camp and felt at one point that eating did restore energy levels, so that camp took things too far.

I'm going to give Trek flapjacks a try. Same company as Nakd which you could say are the least disapproved of bar here:

Cereal bars

Healthy or unhealthy? Accidentally skipping breakfast during the morning rush, grabbing a quick snack on the move, adding something extra to your child’s lunchbox – cereal bars can be a reliable go-to on hectic days.

www.diabetes.org.uk

I do take plenty of water hiking.

I find those sort of things , even the diabetes.org.uk guides , incredibly confusing

Same with yoghurt, per 100 g , low fat , no added sugar , etc etc dont know where I am half the time

 

[RichardJC]

I find those sort of things , even the diabetes.org.uk guides , incredibly confusing

Same with yoghurt, per 100 g , low fat , no added sugar , etc etc dont know where I am half the time

I'm typically eating 2 tablespoons of greek yoghurt with my breakfast. I think it's OK, though I'm not closely tracking sugar as someone on insulin would need to. The yoghurt I use is about 5% sugars (5g per 100g) which I take to be lactose from the milk. I'm using this with an oat/seeds mix having found that oats suit me well. I'll add some dried fruit ior frozen berries perhaps (which is sugary I know) or nuts.

I've been asked in for a blood test tomorrow, which I think will be cholesterol. It will be intersting. I may have slacked a little on the high fibre diet over the past week with business trips and hotel food. (It would be nice if they do A1C as well, but I think they'll do that annually for me)

[Edit: Google suggests that nuts and seeds can help cholesterol, even though they're fatty.]

 

[Leadinglights]

I'm typically eating 2 tablespoons of greek yoghurt with my breakfast. I think it's OK, though I'm not closely tracking sugar as someone on insulin would need to. The yoghurt I use is about 5% sugars (5g per 100g) which I take to be lactose from the milk. I'm using this with an oat/seeds mix having found that oats suit me well. I'll add some dried fruit ior frozen berries perhaps (which is sugary I know) or nuts.

I've been asked in for a blood test tomorrow, which I think will be cholesterol. It will be intersting. I may have slacked a little on the high fibre diet over the past week with business trips and hotel food. (It would be nice if they do A1C as well, but I think they'll do that annually for me)

[Edit: Google suggests that nuts and seeds can help cholesterol, even though they're fatty.]

Don't confuse yourself about the 'sugar' as you need to look at the carbohydrate content not the sugar. The only time it is worth looking at sugar is when a product has the same carbs per 100g and the one with the lower sugar would be a better choice. Be careful with dried fruits as they are high carb as the sugar is more concentrated than in fresh fruit so the berries, seeds and nuts are a better choice.

 

[Taffyboyslim]

I'm typically eating 2 tablespoons of greek yoghurt with my breakfast. I think it's OK, though I'm not closely tracking sugar as someone on insulin would need to. The yoghurt I use is about 5% sugars (5g per 100g) which I take to be lactose from the milk. I'm using this with an oat/seeds mix having found that oats suit me well. I'll add some dried fruit ior frozen berries perhaps (which is sugary I know) or nuts.

I've been asked in for a blood test tomorrow, which I think will be cholesterol. It will be intersting. I may have slacked a little on the high fibre diet over the past week with business trips and hotel food. (It would be nice if they do A1C as well, but I think they'll do that annually for me)

[Edit: Google suggests that nuts and seeds can help cholesterol, even though they're fatty.]

I have a tiny pot of kids strawberry yoghurt with a few desert spoons of granola , half a small apple and blueberries and a few nuts ?