Fat Cachers - Not Models?

[+Ellteejak]

Okay I admit that I am overweight, but I would think that active cachers would be relatively thin, like marathon folks. (I am not that active a cacher). I am not seeing thin folks. Maybe caching gets your apetite a little more active?

 

I guess this is perception. I just remember when I was younger and trying to climb all the mountains in the northeast (aka 4000 footers club), that all the folks I passed on the trails were relatively thin. Maybe these digital cameras are making us look heavy?

 

Or maybe we have all been super-sized by the evil "micky Ds". OR maybe I have been watching "model type" folks too often on the tele. Or maybe I am bored with a lame opinion on a lame issue to discuss.

[WH]

I blame all the fast food I grab as I pause between caches.

[+Ambrosia]

Who knows how fat we would be, if we did not geocache?

Edited August 26, 2005 by Ambrosia

[+Mopar]

I blame it on the Wings & Beer.

[+badlands]

Blame it on urban micros Drive up, grab and go.

[+eaglespirit0]

When I first started geocaching, I was a 16 year old who weighed 184 pounds -- :/

 

Now, 10 months later, I'm a 17 year old who weighs a much healthier 165 pounds. Not a model, but I do attribute it to the 3/3 and some badly miscalculated 1.5/1.5's.

[+Wander Lost]

Who knows how fat we would be, if we did not geocache?

I don't even want to think about that!!!

[+Stunod]

I'm not fat...I'm big-boned

[+Ambrosia]

I'm not fat...I'm big-boned

Yeah! I'm not fat, it's just fluff!

[+briansnat]

I'm larger than I should be according to doctor's charts and not particularly happy with the sight of myself in front of the mirror. Still, I'm in decent shape and do a lot of hiking and skiing and play some soccer and softball.

 

I do notice at events that there are a lot of fairly "large" geocachers. I'm not sure if its just a representive sample of American society, or that a lot of former couch potatos have used geocaching to get away from sitting in front of the TV with a bag of potato chips.

[+Ambrosia]

I'm larger than I should be according to doctor's charts and not particularly happy with the sight of myself in front of the mirror. Still, I'm in decent shape and do a lot of hiking and skiing and play some soccer and softball.

 

I do notice at events that there are a lot of fairly "large" geocachers. I'm not sure if its just a representive sample of American society, or that a lot of former couch potatos have used geocaching to get away from sitting in front of the TV with a bag of potato chips.

That's a really good way to look at it!

[+Mastifflover]

While I'm no model, I am a lot smaller than I was before I started caching.

[+pdxmarathonman]

Okay I admit that I am overweight, but I would think that active cachers would be relatively thin, like marathon folks. (I am not that active a cacher). I am not seeing thin folks. Maybe caching gets your apetite a little more active?

 

I guess this is perception. I just remember when I was younger and trying to climb all the mountains in the northeast (aka 4000 footers club), that all the folks I passed on the trails were relatively thin. Maybe these digital cameras are making us look heavy?

 

Or maybe we have all been super-sized by the evil "micky Ds". OR maybe I have been watching "model type" folks too often on the tele. Or maybe I am bored with a lame opinion on a lame issue to discuss.

Who you callin' thin? You're not even a relative!

[4wheelin_fool]

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...50-3c98fd82858d

[+Pork King]

Read my forum title!

 

Tipping the scales at around 290, I am definitely not what one would call thin, but I like getting out there to those physically hard geocaches.

 

I've been geocaching a little over a year, and with over 500 finds, I haven't noticed any change in my weight. Must be all those vienna sausages I keep in my pack!

[+Ed Rad]

I'm not fat...I'm big-boned

Yeah you wish...

[+Iceburger]

I've dropped about 15 lbs caching this summer. Though I still have another 45 or so to go before I'm happy, caching has been a big help. I'm out on the trials and driking water instead of in front of the tv, watching the ball game and pounding beers Nancy (the team in team iceburger) has also developed some wrinkles in the bum of her pants thanks to caching or from her walking with her butt tightened up (I have a tendancy of poking her in the butt with my trekking pole as she's ahead of me) hehehehehe

[+Metaphor]

I like beer... I like it a lot. (6', 210lbs)

[WH]

I'm not fat...I'm big-boned

[+ADKcachers]

I've actually done some modeling, woo hoo!

[+Langner91]

The week before Easter, I weighed in at 260. My blood pressure, blood sugar, and Chloresterol were starting to worry my doctor and my wife.

 

I made a vow to lose some weight and get healthy and, today, I am 200 pounds. It hasn't been easy, but Geocaching has helped.

 

Keep Moving!

[+shawhh]

another fat boy here. caching, at least in my area, is more time driving than walking. better than sitting around the house snacking, but not exactly burning a lot of calories on the hunt. -harry

[+dykediva]

You know, I've regarded cachers as being a little edgy and even a little anti-establishment. . .I am surprised anyone would give a fat rat what anyone looks like. Being out in 110 degree heat looking for some flipping tupperware that eludes me; bleeding from thorns and scratching from bug bites I hardly care what I look like. Besides this FAT girl really needs some exercise.

[Team WorldPeaceTurtle]

Pardon me while I get all riled up.... There's a big ol' misconception that all fat folks are lazy slobs. NOT TRUE! No one has ever had to knock down a wall to extract me from my house (well, yet). But geocaching is definitely the way to lure me into the woods!

 

To me, the beauty of caching is that people of all physical abilities can participate and succeed.

Edited August 26, 2005 by Team WorldPeaceTurtle

[+wandererrob]

Okay I admit that I am overweight, but I would think that active cachers would be relatively thin, like marathon folks. (I am not that active a cacher). I am not seeing thin folks. Maybe caching gets your apetite a little more active?

 

I guess this is perception. I just remember when I was younger and trying to climb all the mountains in the northeast (aka 4000 footers club), that all the folks I passed on the trails were relatively thin. Maybe these digital cameras are making us look heavy?

 

Or maybe we have all been super-sized by the evil "micky Ds". OR maybe I have been watching "model type" folks too often on the tele. Or maybe I am bored with a lame opinion on a lame issue to discuss.

You're not alone. Another big cacher, and generally active outdoorsman, chiming in

[+the hermit crabs]

Not that I've met all that many cachers, but the ones I have met fall into all kinds of size categories -- from overweight to "normal" to rail-thin; from tall to average height to short. I think what you're seeing is just average Americans, and "average Americans" are getting heavier.

 

Yet another report on the subject was released this week by the "Trust for America's Health", indicating that obesity rates had increased in every state except Oregon in the last few years.

link to one of many summary articles

link to Trust for America's Health website, with full report

 

Ellteejak, you might find this interesting, since you cache in Conneticut: according to the report, three of the four "least overweight" states are Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Is it in CT where you are seeing the overweight cachers you mentioned? If so, it might be interesting to take a caching trip to other parts of the country .

[+LSUFan]

Read my forum title!

 

Tipping the scales at around 290, I am definitely not what one would call thin, but I like getting out there to those physically hard geocaches.

 

That's one of the things I like about finding caches after Pork King, he usually leaves a trail to it.

 

Instead of calling myself fat, I like to use the more politically correct term of having a low height to width ratio.

 

My theory is that if I can get as big out as I am tall, then I will be round. That way I can roll everywhere and save a lot of wear on my knees.

[+MountainMudbug]

<snip> (I have a tendancy of poking her in the butt with my trekking pole as she's ahead of me) hehehehehe

My husband does this incessantly. Makes me want to help *him* lose some weight, by slapping off about 8 lbs of head fat!

[+StarBrand]

....give me another year - 25lbs down in the last 6 months and a goal of losing 60 more by September next year.

 

Just need to run down to Colorado and chase some of Tahosa's.........

[+reveritt]

I've lost weight while geocaching...I've gained weight while geocaching. I don't think that caching has much effect on my weight either way.

 

As for my current weight, let me simply point out that in Nature, the fat animal is the successful animal--the dominant animal. While the skinny animal ain't gonna make it through the winter.

[+mrmnjewel]

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...50-3c98fd82858d

That is hilarious

[+TeamK-9]

I am in a situation very much similar to Briansnat. At 15 years old, I am much larger and a bit heavier than the growth charts suggest I should be at my age. I'm not too pleased at my appearance, but I am in no way out of shape. I am not in nearly as good a shape as many of my friends, but I seem to have built up endurance.

 

Big ole fat me managed to hike 15 miles in a major race this summer, whereas I doubt many of my friends could have matched that.

 

 

I agree with what someone else said. I don't know if I've lost any weight or become in any better shape because of geocaching, but I know for sure that if I didn't geocache, I probably wouldn't be in as good a shape as I am in..

[Hugh Jazz]

I've attained my considerable bulk by eating all the food I find in geocaches, especially any popcorn or quiescently frozen shaved ice treats. Because the food items are placed there vis-a-vis a violation of the rules, I don't feel bad about consuming the food and not leaving an equivalent trade item, or as you may call it, "swag."

 

All told, I have gained about two hundred and forty pounds since the early days, and despite my attempts to exercise each day, every pound of it has come from eating food that I found by one means or another, sometimes in trade, sometimes freely given to me.'

 

Fortunately despite my Hugh Jazz size, my wife Lara Jazz loves me just the way I am. We are alike in that she gained every pound of her bulk by eating food too. We both acknowledge that it's an addiction. When we try to stop (and we have tried many times) we end up getting faint and weak, our hands tremble, and then we always break down and go to find more food. It's some kind of chemical imbalance I think.

 

There is no known cure. Not even Scientology.

 

-Hugh Jazz

[+4leafclover]

Who knows how fat we would be, if we did not geocache?

this is exactly what I think!

OBMB

[+The Leprechauns]

I am in a situation very much similar to Briansnat. At 15 years old....

Wow, I never knew that Brian was only 15. Like Team K-9, Snat's posts demonstrate a remarkable level of maturity. Well, usually, anyways.

 

As for me, I was persuaded recently by a friend to pull my scale out of storage, dust it off, put in batteries, and check my weight. She worried I was losing weight because I haven't been eating well lately.

 

Much to my surprise, I weighed in at 162... the exact same weight as when I started geocaching 3 years ago. If some physical exercise helps me from putting on pounds, that's a good thing. Also, I suspect that those pounds have been redistributed. The waistline on my pants always seems too loose, but my legs are stronger and bulkier than at any time since I used to be a distance runner 25 years ago.

[+4leafclover]

I do however, think that for my weight, I am in pretty good shape, and can do plenty of hikes that those 1/2 my weight cannot manage!

[+deimos444]

Okay I admit that I am overweight, but I would think that active cachers would be relatively thin, like marathon folks. (I am not that active a cacher). I am not seeing thin folks. Maybe caching gets your apetite a little more active?

 

I guess this is perception. I just remember when I was younger and trying to climb all the mountains in the northeast (aka 4000 footers club), that all the folks I passed on the trails were relatively thin. Maybe these digital cameras are making us look heavy?

 

Or maybe we have all been super-sized by the evil "micky Ds". OR maybe I have been watching "model type" folks too often on the tele. Or maybe I am bored with a lame opinion on a lame issue to discuss.

How did you know that we are " fat " although I do admit a few pounds.

[+Bear Paughs]

I do however, think that for my weight, I am in pretty good shape, and can do plenty of hikes that those 1/2 my weight cannot manage!

Same here.

[+tirediron]

I think it depends on where/what you 'cache. If all you do is urban micros, chances are, you're not getting much of a work out. Bottom line though... who cares what you like? As long as you're happy with you, that's all that matters....

[+Anonymous']

I gained about 20 pounds last year, only cause I"m still growing, and right now I'm hovering around 200 at 6'3" I figure that caching could possibly be keeping my weight at what it is, but I also attribute that to me not overeating which is the mistake many people make.

[+ADKcachers]

You know, I've regarded cachers as being a little edgy and even a little anti-establishment. . .I am surprised anyone would give a fat rat what anyone looks like. Being out in 110 degree heat looking for some flipping tupperware that eludes me; bleeding from thorns and scratching from bug bites I hardly care what I look like. Besides this FAT girl really needs some exercise.

It seems pretty consistent with the other flotsam on this board.

[+Thrak]

I've spent a LOT of time over the past 3.5 years playing an addictive online game (DAoC). Geocaching gets me out of the house, walking around, sweating, burning calories, etc. I think it's GREAT!

[+budd-rdc]

Oh cool, a topic using non-PC (politically correct) wording and no flames! Personally I found "horizontally-challenged" to be more offensive than "fat."

 

Having more muscle instead of fat does not necessarily reduce your weight. Being big doesn't mean you are overweight either.

 

Geocaching has allowed my body to carry more functional weight than before. My heart doesn't pound as much and my legs aren't as sore after a hike. With the mass media and Hollywood promoting skeleton as "beautiful", I believe most normal people are considered "fat" these days.

[+edscott]

Okay I admit that I am overweight, but I would think that active cachers would be relatively thin, like marathon folks. (I am not that active a cacher). I am not seeing thin folks. Maybe caching gets your apetite a little more active?

 

I guess this is perception. I just remember when I was younger and trying to climb all the mountains in the northeast (aka 4000 footers club), that all the folks I passed on the trails were relatively thin. Maybe these digital cameras are making us look heavy?

 

Or maybe we have all been super-sized by the evil "micky Ds". OR maybe I have been watching "model type" folks too often on the tele. Or maybe I am bored with a lame opinion on a lame issue to discuss.

When I finished my first round of the ADK 46 I weighed in at about 155. Now I am around 215.. but one 4000+ ft Adrirondack is about 20 ***/*** caches.

[+geognerd]

I've lost weight while geocaching...I've gained weight while geocaching. I don't think that caching has much effect on my weight either way.

Same here. But I know it has to be healthier for me to be out walking around instead of sitting inside watching TV, or playing computer and video games. During the week I try to hit caches near my office at lunch instead of eating or reading.

[+Nyarlotep]

All the people I know who geocache--or are aware of it, even if they don't do it--are tech geeks, and we're all undertall for our weights, some more than others. It seems to me there are 2 groups of people: those who already spent time outdoors and adding geocaching to the things they do outdoors, and those of us who like the gadgetry and geocache so we can play with another toy. There's probably some overlap, but that's how it seems to me.

[+The Navigatorz]

Never believe those stupid height-weight charts. For example, it says I should be 8 foot 6 inches. Sheesh. Thats impossible.

[+VegasCacheHounds]

I'm not fat...I'm big-boned

BEEFCAKE!

[+Isonzo Karst]

I've noticed the same thing at events. I think it's largely a function of age - folks in our society tend to pack on the pounds in their mid 30s - into their 60s. I see the same fairly heavy group when I go to Habitat for Humanity functions, which around here are dominated by the newly retired. Of course, there are a lot of newly retired cachers in Florida too. Also beer and caching have a natural affinity, which can lead to beer-gutitis as a subset of Geo-addiction.

[tttedzeins]

Jeez. I thought I was putting on weight at 170lbs 6'.

I used to be 150 about a year or so ago.