To think I can walk The Cleveland Way even though I'm obese?

[Brightandshining]

I'm going on holiday from work to walk the Cleveland way and this came up with a colleague who said "are you sure you'll be able to do that? Dont you need to be quite fit?"
I didnt react to it really just said "yes, I enjoy walking, it will be fine" but inside I was pretty hurt tbh and it did make me start to doubt myself a bit..
I'm 5ft 6 and 15 stone. So yes obviously fat... but im also very active. Ive never done this walk before.. its between 10 and 15 miles a day for 7 days... but there's not too much elevation.
Last summer I did the Yorkshire 3 Peaks for charity which I completed within the time limit.. it was hard but I did manage it.
I've climbed Snowdon, Scafelll Pike and Ben Nevis. I've climbed a few others of the wainwright peaks as well.
I dont do any structured exercise but I love walking and average at about 18,000 steps per day according to my phone.
Am I right to think ill probably be OK to do this walk? I'm second guessing myself now..
I do have some experience carrying camping equipment but not masses. I've been wild camping in the lakes and Scotland covering a fair distance with all my gear..
I think I'll be quite slow but we will be starting out early each day.. shouldn't be too hard to cover 10 to 15 miles?
Considering I did 28miles in 10.5 hours last summer for the 3peaks... (that was arduous and I could barely move the next day but it was up 3 mountains too whereas the Cleveland way doesnt have that much elevation)
Has anyone on here who is overweight done this walk? How did u find it?

I've just had a quick read. I'd say that it's going to be tough on your knees. I only felt comfortable doing similar walks once I was just on 14 stone. It was a lot easier at 13.5. Weight does make a difference. The added carrying will make it tough going.

You are fit and you enjoy walking, what don’t they understand?

Enjoy the trip and the feeling of achievement when you smash it!

Also please rub the colleagues nose in it on your return with photos and tales of how incredible it was - they deserve that 😉

I imagine you will be fine given that you walk regularly and have done the Y3P

It sounds you are a lot fitter than the average obese person

sounds like you are fit enough do do it.
so do it.
good luck!

I think they were being pretty offensive. Sounds like you are fit and experienced and presumably have all the right gear, boots etc. Do you use/carry walking poles to give your knees a periodic rest?

Lots of other things make a big difference. Age, general fitness levels etc etc. there's not an arbitrary weight that makes a difference.

@Brightandshining id say with your fitness level, you'll be just fine. Does the office CF know how much walking you do? Or is he just assuming you don't do any exercise?

I'm shorter & heavier than you and I could do 1 or 2 days, but not 7 in a row.

it sounds like you'll be fine, but if you can't do the whole lot, you'll still have done more than him!!

rude git.

I'm way way fatter than you & would do that no problem it's only 3-5 hours walking a day.

Your colleague is rude & maybe a bit stupid if you move your body around a lot you build the bigger muscles needed to carry you!

have a fantastic time & look after you feet!

I havent done anything thats lasted 7 days like this before...
I do walk alot every single day... I often do 10 miles+ in a day, rarely ever drop below 5miles unless I'm ill.. however I dont carry a tent around every day!
And it will be in June so quite hot...
Theres not really time for me to try and lose a stone before then im afraid!

They think you're too fat to exercise? Doing an exercise you did last summer?

Go for it! I think there are bag carrying options these days (I don’t know any details, but a service where you can get your main backpack taken from point to point, so you just have to carry a daypack. I’d definitely use it if I was doing a big walk)

@Bathroomlove no they don't know me very well outside of work.. I wasnt too offended I think its just an assumption based on my size.. its sad people make those but they do dont they? It did make me second guess myself tho... the friends im going with are all in the healthy weight range but one of them did the 3peaks with me and the other has climbed other peaks with me.. im usually at the back but I've always managed to complete whatever we've done so far..

@Koalascling thankyou! Yes I've learnt about foot care since the 3peaks.. I lost three toenails lmao!

I am very thin but eat crap and am unfit. I could not do what you do. You cannot tell fitness from appearance. What a dickhead. You are well prepared to do that walk. Much more so than a thin inactive person like me. Go for it.

Also, irrespective of fitness, one of the days on the Cleveland is apparently /really/ long - 17 miles. The person I know doing it is splitting that day in two

Ignore the neggy fucker. Im fat and can walk a mile in less than 20 mins and do a 4 mile a day school run if I walk it, mck 2 ponies out, ride, groom, poo pick etc. Would it be easier if you were lighter? Probably but it is definitely achievable if you walk regularly anyway.

YANBU, you are going to smash this and show them!

@oknowimscared wow! That must be what we are doing.. my friend did the itinerary, she planned it all, and what she sent us didnt include any day longer than 15 miles so I guess she mustve split it. I dont think id be able to cover 17 miles after days of walking over 10!

You will be fine as long as you have a good pair of walking boots, waterproof coat & the will & determination

Buy some compeed blister plasters

Take enough water, snacks, map

I'm similar build to you. In recent years I've done the 5 highest peaks in the British isles, five different segments of the Camino de Santiago, a couple of walking marathons, I started all this after I was 50.

Just do what you want to do.

Hmm - you should be fine; the Cleveland Way is pretty flat and not a particularly difficult challenge for anyone used to walking.

That said, if you struggled with getting round the Three Peaks in 10 hours then you might find it tough by the end. It's that attritional, cumulative effect of several days walking that will start to bite, especially if you develop blisters etc.

I wasn’t sure until you said you walk 18000 steps a day. If you’re doing that, you’ll be fine. You’ll be tired but happy at the end of each day. You’ll have no problem completing that and it will be a lovely challenge and an amazing walk

I have great boots! Merrells. They arent the ones I wore for the 3peaks (those fell apart lmao) but they are well worn in. Got compeed and tape and an ankle brace
Got my chub rub shorts lmao!
Not got walking sticks but I've never used them before and apparently its not a good idea to start using them suddenly on a long distance walk.. my knees tend to be ok touch wood. Its one of my ankles that can sometimes be a bit dodgy but I've found a good ankle brace. Got an extremely lightweight one person tent. Got a large water bladder fits in the back of my backpack and has a drinking pipe that clips in front

@FunnyFox wow thats inspirational! Congratulations on living your best life! That does make me feel more confident.. ive always been bigger and my confidence with exercise has always been bad.. PEat school was always deeply traumatic and id try to avoid anything sporty.. so as an adult I find it very hard to believe that I could actually be fairly physically fit in spite of my size

I swear by my Merrells. I've got ankle high olive Siren Sports. They look good and grit doesn't get into your feet while you're walking but they are still light and supple. Unfortunately I think they've stopped making them now so I don't know what I'll get next time, but almost certainly Merrells. I'm on to my 3rd pair.

In really hot weather on the Camino I found Vaseline applied liberally early morning was remarkably effective.

Just go for it.

I went through a weight clinic via the NHS and I've read around every type of eating/exercise plan. There are often restrictions suggested until you are closer to 14 stone than 15. Age makes a massive difference, at least recovery is possible if you do your knees in.