On Thu, Sep 18, 2003 at 06:27:24PM +0000, dsharris@mchsi.com wrote:
> Alan commented (in part): ....ramping down head of time is a good idea (not to
> mention helping the blood pressure reading as well as hydrating your body).
>
> I think those are the key points to be made here.
>
> 1 - A major (if not the primary) reason the Philmont medical staff has for not
> allowing an adult to hit the trail is blood pressure. With all the potential
> stress of simply getting there, plus (for most of us) the altitude change,
> there are already enough ways to elevate your BP. I'd hate to see the caffeine
> be the thing that pushes it over the top;
oddly enough, as much caffiene as I consume daily, my BP still hovers
around 135/85. And I haven't been to the Doc since I started training
for philmont in Feb. (2-3 times per week, 30-45min on eliptical trainer
averaging 75% Max HR) I'm going to increase my workouts starting around the
beginning of the year both in frequency and duration, and add a pack
(ramping up to about 40lbs) starting in mid-march.
I just read an article about staying fit for the trail in Backpacker Magazine
and they suggested 3/week 60%HR for 30-60min either ellipitical, stair stepper
or treadmill. And they also reccomended adding a weighted pack 4-6wks before
the trek.
> 2 - While there is apparently some debate on whether or not caffeine
> is 'dehydrating' there is little doubt that it is a diuretic, leaving you
> needing to drink that much more just to keep up.
There is no debate that it is a diuretic correct, so the catch-up factor is
there. I read an article in Outdoor Magazine that said the University of
Texas Health Science Center found that Caffiene does not have pronounced
dehydrating effects if it is consummed before exercise.
> Also, I would submit that
> coffee (or soda, tea...) is not as hydrating as plain old water.
I've seen no research either way on this, but wouldn't doubt it. It just
seems common sense that water is the best hydrator.
> There is certainly no harm done by reducing your caffeine intake as part of
> your preparation for a Philtrek.
I've got a friend that goes on and off diets now and then. Invariably,
when he is dieting, he's off caffiene. Seeing what a difference there is
in his energy level for about a week after he stops the caffiene, I sure
wouldn't want to have that happen to me at philmont.
-- Rob ------------------------------------------------------- Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe at http://usscouts.org/lists/ Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp ------------------------------------------------------- Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com ------------------------------------------------------- As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. -------------------------------------------------------Received on Thu Sep 18 14:30:04 2003
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