Does mountain climbing make you lose weight?

Question

Does mountain climbing make you lose weight?

Answer 1

I just climbed Mt. Rainier and I lost 3 pounds in 5 days - I could not eat enough to replace the calories I was burning up.  My food supply was also limited to what I could carry on my back, too.  When I skied the last 73 miles to the South Pole I lost 12 pounds in 9 days.

Answer 2

It doesnt MAKE you lose weight but it definitely drops calories. If you work at it and make it a work out, it really does help in losing weight.  One of my friends has lost weight and just gotten healthier overall.  It tones muscles really nicely which is great!  The more you sweat the more you are working out.  its also a great stress reliever too.  Just make sure you stretch really well before you start.  ZGood Luck!!

Answer 3

How to answer this question...

If you are considering indoor rock climbing, then it is not a cardio exercise by itself.

If you are outdoor rock climbing, then the hike from the car to the actual climbing area will provide cardio workout, and the climbing itself will provide the non-cardio work out.

Alpine climbing (think Everest) is a cardio work out just from being at a higher elevation.

Climbing alone wont get you the results.

I was in my best shape of my life my last year in college. I biked or walked to class every day. At night I would ride my bike across campus to the rock wall, climbing off & on for 4 hours then bike home.

Climbing, however, does give you goals that a treadmill or stairmaster wont. It breaks up the monotony of working out. I would suggest incorporating climbing into a work out routine along with reviewing your diet.

Answer 4

Compared to sitting on the couch at home, it is a great workout. The outdoor hiking to get to the routes and day long peak climbs are very strenuous exercise and you will loose weight IF you eat right.

It is true that indoor climbing does have the duration to be a true cardio workout, but my climbing friends and I do some things to give us a better workout:

1. Climb up and then climb back down (plus down-climbing is an important skill)

2. Climb the same route several times in a row - especially if it is an easier route or a warm up

3. Do an "around the gym" traverse a couple of feet from the floor - this can take up to 20 minutes.

No workout is good if you don't do it - and climbing is fun. I have been climbing in the gym for over 10 years and doing some outdoor climbing, hiking and snowboarding and have maintained my weight for 10 years.

Good Luck

Answer 5

As previous posters mentioned, the key is what altitude you're at. If you're under 12,000 feet or so, it's great cardio but no more of a weight loss method than other forms.

Above 12,000 feet is a different story. If you're doing one of the big mountains of the world (15,000 feet and up), you can expect to lose around 1/4 pound to 1/2 pound PER DAY on average - at least I do (and have spent several months total at that altitude and higher). I lost 30 pounds in 60 days in the Himalayas. It's simply impossible to take in as many calories as you burn - you have little to no appetite and have to generally push yourself to eat.

But when you come down you'll put it all back on fairly quickly, so I wouldn't recommend it as a weight-loss method.

Answer 6

yes, any type of activity will make you loose calories. some more than others.

Answer 7

Generally, no. Climbing rock walls in a gym or trad climbing is not aerobic enough to make you loose weight by itself. If anything, you will gain weight because you will increse muscle mass. Diet and other exercise will help you lose weight and become better conditioned for climbing.

Mountaineering, especially at higher altitudes will make you lose weight, and rather rapidly. In this case you are burning enormous amounts of energy hauling gear and yourself up steep slopes.