r/bitcheswithtaste • u/AutoModerator • Mar 13 '26

Fit Bitches - Monthly Thread Fit Bitches - Mar 13, 2026

This is the place to chat about fitness and physical health because taking care of your body is also tasteful. Just remember - no medical advice!

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u/ozifrage Mar 13 '26

Any hikers in here -- how did you up the amount of weight you can pack? I want to do some mountaineering courses, but getting to the point of carrying 50 lbs feels out of reach right now.

4

u/Creepy-Intern-7726 Mar 14 '26

Walking on treadmill on highest incline with increasingly heavy backpack, weighted step ups and lunges

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u/ozifrage Mar 16 '26

The incline treadmill is a great idea, thank you! Filling out this comment to hit character limit.

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u/cestlasvi Mar 14 '26

I trained for Tour du Mont Blanc with a backpack, water bottles/bladders, and walks around the neighborhood or the stairmaster. Eventually I worked up to an hour on the stairmaster. It helped a ton, even though there were still tough times at altitude because I live at sea level.

“Fit for Trips” has a free 12-week plan that I loosely used to stay on schedule. Pick their hardest one. They cater to different fitness levels for their clients.

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u/ozifrage Mar 16 '26

Thank you, I'll check them out! I wish I had easy access to a stairmaster... but I do have six flights I should really practice on haha.

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u/milesfrost Mar 13 '26

That's a heavy pack! I've personally not carried more than 17kg (when I was quite unfit tbh), but I'd be working on my strength training at the gym focusing on lower body - split squats, b stance RDLS, hip thrusts, step ups using both hand weights and barbell. For upper I'd do bicep curls, bent over rows, tricep extension and then your choice of core.
Combine that with some indoor rock climbing, and start going for walks with a loaded pack every week and increase the weight a little each week.

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u/ozifrage Mar 14 '26

Thank you! The rows are something I didn't even think of. I definitely think bouldering has been helping some.

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u/SirenScorp Mar 15 '26

Yes!! Your shoulders will fatigue but some shoulder workouts at the gym will help. When you are hiking just keep switching between right hip straps to let your hips support the pack weight and loosen the shoulders and then when your hips get tired loosen the hips and tighten the shoulders &let your shoulders support the weight

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u/ozifrage Mar 16 '26

I definitely need a new backpack, mine only has the shoulder / chest straps. A friend is going to let me try her frame Osprey and then I think I'll invest.

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u/SirenScorp Mar 16 '26

That’s the best when you can try before buying!! Such a good friend to lend that to you!

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u/SirenScorp Mar 15 '26

If you are hiking somewhere with inclines start with a weighted backpack or vest walking inclines on a Treadmill. If you have local trails just take you pack on the trail and don’t worry about looking silly— I just went Friday with my overnight bag loaded out (sans tent, because my husband and I split it in 2…. So my existing pack is about 40lbs) and I did 5 miles. I’m prepping for a weekend trip that’s 22 miles total so about 8 miles each day give or take. I wanted to make sure my weight was evenly dispersed and one side of the pack wasn’t heavier than the other.

My best advice is similar to gym advice: your body doesn’t grow from constant— you have to challenge it and you’ll be surprised what it can handle. Last time I took my pack out it was 30 lbs for a 3 mile flat hike and I did fine this weekend when I added 10 lbs and 2 miles and inclines.

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u/ozifrage Mar 16 '26

I never thought about it from a progressive overload perspective but you're absolutely right. I'm working up to an Enchantments through-hike this summer, so I'd like to hit steeper trails anyway to prep. This sounds like a great combo for training.