Alright so I will be leaving for my thru-hike NOBO on march 25th. I am a little burdened by family trying o discourage me from going but I have my heart set on the trail. I have seen so many wonderful stories about those who had severe health issues completing the trail. people of all walks of life every color shape and size. I have Been planning for a year now. I feel that I need to rediscover life, savor each day and recalibrate everything. I have anxiety issues primarily fueled by my father. who also has Anxiety and control issues. I have been advised by both my father and mother (she works in the medical field) that my going on the trail could be life threatening. Here's my situation
I am quite overweight weighing in at 235lbs at 5'7 ( I have lost roughly 50lbs recently) I am 24 years old
I have weak ankles
And a prior smoker (I recently quit after much procrastination)
I have pcos (a female issue you can google it)
my blood pressure etc is all pretty much average no extreme risks,
I gain weight in my stomach because of my stress and panic attacks I get due to my overly controlling fAther (they have since tapered down a lot since I moved out on my own) . Long story short I am not in the best of shape. I do love to camp hike and backpack (most of my experience in in the adirondacks) I wear an aircast under my boots to support ankles. My pcos puts me out of commission once every twos months (pain killers make me unfunctionable) I do not take any medication on a daily basis. I feel my best when moving and I focus way too much on bills and work I want to remind myself why I'm here to live my life. If I go my family will not give me their blessing they keep saying that my life is at risk. That I will have a heart attack and die, i will black out and hit my head and die, that I have undiagnosed "metabolic syndrome" , that I am "pre-diabetic" although my doctor said my bloodwork shows that my heart is healthy that my numbers show low risk for diabetes. I want to complete this trail to continue my weight loss, finish getting healthy and stop worrying so much about work and bills. And remember to enjoy life. when I look at everything I know if I do not go this year I wouldn't be able to go until I am at retirement age. This is the year to do it. I want this more than anything but I am finding no support from anyone aside from my boyfriend who will be thru hiking with me. And his parents. am I not taking into account how serious these warnings are from family. Or do you think they are overly concerned when there is no need to be? I know the biggest demon on the trail is yourself but does health ever come into account? Am I too overweight be to able to do this in one go? I feel otherwise but from those who may have more knowledge than me how do you feel? I feel that this would be just the thing to keep me on the right track. Can you use the trail to get healthy or must you be healthy before beginning? I will add I had lost weight last year then gained it back plus some more as a result of my anxiety and not eating at proper intervals I have a horrible habit of eating only once a day and sometimes not even eating at all.
I am quite overweight weighing in at 235lbs at 5'7 ( I have lost roughly 50lbs recently) I am 24 years old
I have weak ankles
And a prior smoker (I recently quit after much procrastination)
I have pcos (a female issue you can google it)
my blood pressure etc is all pretty much average no extreme risks,
I gain weight in my stomach because of my stress and panic attacks I get due to my overly controlling fAther (they have since tapered down a lot since I moved out on my own) . Long story short I am not in the best of shape. I do love to camp hike and backpack (most of my experience in in the adirondacks) I wear an aircast under my boots to support ankles. My pcos puts me out of commission once every twos months (pain killers make me unfunctionable) I do not take any medication on a daily basis. I feel my best when moving and I focus way too much on bills and work I want to remind myself why I'm here to live my life. If I go my family will not give me their blessing they keep saying that my life is at risk. That I will have a heart attack and die, i will black out and hit my head and die, that I have undiagnosed "metabolic syndrome" , that I am "pre-diabetic" although my doctor said my bloodwork shows that my heart is healthy that my numbers show low risk for diabetes. I want to complete this trail to continue my weight loss, finish getting healthy and stop worrying so much about work and bills. And remember to enjoy life. when I look at everything I know if I do not go this year I wouldn't be able to go until I am at retirement age. This is the year to do it. I want this more than anything but I am finding no support from anyone aside from my boyfriend who will be thru hiking with me. And his parents. am I not taking into account how serious these warnings are from family. Or do you think they are overly concerned when there is no need to be? I know the biggest demon on the trail is yourself but does health ever come into account? Am I too overweight be to able to do this in one go? I feel otherwise but from those who may have more knowledge than me how do you feel? I feel that this would be just the thing to keep me on the right track. Can you use the trail to get healthy or must you be healthy before beginning? I will add I had lost weight last year then gained it back plus some more as a result of my anxiety and not eating at proper intervals I have a horrible habit of eating only once a day and sometimes not even eating at all.