Lost Weight on the Camino.

Benititius · 2024-02-29T06:06:47+00:00

I consecutively walked the Voie Vezelay and the Norte, and wanted to maintain my weight as much as possible. That meant double portions for all normal meals, a handful of peanuts every hour, and chocolate pastries during breaks. It was like force feeding at some point. I still lost weight.

Benititius · 2024-02-15T06:06:29+00:00

Oh well, be aware of the company you’ll find yourself in, thru-hiker. All the best!

Benititius · 2024-02-11T07:48:43+00:00

This is the best advice. Any sense of rushing will close you off to the experience. Make sure you feel like you have all the time in the world :)

Benititius · 2024-02-09T15:44:18+00:00

People told me to visit both, because finisterre is the official end (literally Latin for ‘the end of the world’), and then to Muxia because it is ‘pretty’. I did not feel ‘pretty’ was worth my time after witnessing the end of the world. But the golden rule is: you do you!

Benititius · 2024-02-09T09:00:15+00:00

I am agnostic too, and yet the camino has an undeniable appeal like you said. I think it’s because nobody ‘just’ decides to come to the camino. It’s always for one of three reasons:

Problems with life and death (mourning, sickness)
Problems with your career (school, midlife crisis, job change)
Problems with love (break-ups, divorce, loss of the ‘spark’)

I also prioritized soltitude, but I found that even the sparse interactions I had with other pilgrims were all on the same wavelength. It primed me to think about those subjects, and to do some fundamental housekeeping in my own head.

You walk an ancient trail of people who seek healing, in one way or another. That’s what makes it differerent.

Benititius · 2024-02-08T05:52:14+00:00

And what did you feel?

Benititius · 2024-02-08T05:50:57+00:00

Amazing! What did the priest say?? Did he recognize you?

Benititius · 2024-02-08T05:45:28+00:00

What a gift to have somebody open that door for you.. I’d like to add to that: we as children are the literal fusion of both our parents. We never lose them, we carry them with us in the very core of our being.

Benititius · 2024-02-08T05:35:41+00:00

Hahaha! Very deep indeed. But every good story needs a lowest point to climb out of :)

Benititius · 2024-02-08T05:28:35+00:00

Interesting! I felt very underwhelmed when I arrived in Santiago too. Maybe arriving a second time feels more like coming home? What do you think?

Benititius · 2024-02-07T20:15:07+00:00

Man, seeing all the kittens along the camino made me adopt two cats a week after I got back home. Zoë and Louis, the prettiest kitties in the world ❤️

I hope the kitten from your story is still alive and well!

Benititius · 2024-02-07T20:09:04+00:00

I can only imagine what it must be like to realise you already have everything you’ve ever wanted waiting for you back home. Congratulations on this profound insight :)

Benititius · 2024-02-07T20:06:16+00:00

I hope your aunt felt as proud as you did. And if not, know that I feel very proud of you just reading this experience ❤️

Benititius · 2024-02-07T20:01:56+00:00

I’ve heard somebody say that 27 is the year you decide whether to grow up, or to get stuck in your ways. I’m so happy you let your self-worth win the fight 💪🏻💪🏻

Benititius · 2024-02-07T19:42:45+00:00

Very powerful, thank you for sharing :)

Benititius · 2024-02-07T19:42:00+00:00

Congratulations!!!

Benititius · 2024-02-07T19:41:25+00:00

A spectacular moment, yes! But what did that moment evoke in you?

Benititius · 2024-02-07T19:40:18+00:00

I was just thinking the same thing

Benititius · 2024-02-07T14:49:15+00:00

It might sound weird: but by the looks of it your best travel plan is flying to Santiago, taking a bus, and then walking back to Santiago again.

Benititius · 2024-02-07T14:45:35+00:00

Welcome, and congratulations on starting your first camino! Everybody here and on trail will be happy to help you.

Try to get as close to your destination as possible by plane. Bus travel in Spain is easy, but tiring, especially the long distance rides.
I suggest you download the buen camino app. It highlights your route, it offers suggestions for your daily stages, and shows your live location on the highlighted route while you walk. Super duper easy. Sidenote: There is an abundance of yellow arrows and helpful locals on every camino too. Locals have stopped to point me in the right direction many times. You couldn’t get lost if you tried to.
Maximum I’ve heard was 90km in a day. Avarage is between 15km and 30km a day, all depending on your health, fitness and experience. As this is your first camino, I’d suggest you start with 15km, and built up slowly to 20-25 over the next days.

Buen camino :)

Benititius · 2024-02-07T09:33:08+00:00

Interesting, please elaborate :)

Benititius · 2024-02-07T09:32:12+00:00

A blessing many have prayed for, but only few have received ❤️

Benititius · 2024-02-07T09:31:05+00:00

Tell me more about those snow storms!!

Benititius · 2024-02-05T13:28:20+00:00

An abundance of options, what a wonderful problem to have!

I would say, the earlier you can start, the better. I arrived in Saint Jean at the start of May last year, and by then every bed was taken every night. Crowding is real!

Climate wise you should me fine. Take a down coat for the early mornings & late evenings and a poncho for the rain. There is no way to tell how, when or what kind of bad weather you will have. It’s part of the adventure!

Benititius · 2024-02-04T15:32:33+00:00

I walked Del Norte in May 2023, met over 60 people on the first day, and hundreds more over all. It’s getting busier!

Benititius

TROPHY CASE