Being a regular hiker

[hunsta]

OK to clarify the topic. I don't mean being a regular hiker as one who hikes a lot. Basically I mean regular in the number 2 area. Now before the thread descends into double meaning statements and 3rd class giggles (although feel free somewhere down the track), what do people do to stay regular on long multi day hikes. Although I haven't done any more than 2 day hikes, the though occurred to me that one who is eating lots of rice, pasta or other high carb foods simply because they are light and easy to carry and cook, doesn't this make ones bowels tend to bind up. Now I know this may not be a topic that you may want to discuss in to graphic detail, but the thought of being bound up not being able to go, would be a real pain in the "you know where"
I know one can eat things like dates or sultanas as trail mix snacks, but these can work on some people and not on others.
So what do you long haulers do to keep a happy set of innards.

[pazzar]

I eat a mixture of things - basically I try not to do too much out of the ordinary.

Usually breakfast is made up of high carbs, low protein cereals with either water or milk. It is in my opinion not to overload on protein early in the day before physical activity.

I have high energy snacks during the day, I haven't got a lunch menu settled just yet though.

For dinners I go for more carbs (usually pasta), but increase the levels of protein (add meat and veg) for muscle recovery.

I attempt to do this as my regular diet, but often it doesn't work out. I guess being regular on my walks isn't at the forefront of my planning. I just carry a trowel and deal with it!

[Swifty]

In a word, roughage. Put some bran in your muesli in the morning. Porridge works well too.
I've never had that problem thankfully.

[Snowzone]

Don't have that problem and usually have Imodium on hand in case it goes the other way. I try to take a few fresh vegies and fruit if I can manage the extra weight and I think this helps but you can always dry fruit out or make into fruit leathers.
On longer multi day walks I find things settle back into a normal routine within a few days and the daily exercise moves things along.

[neilmny]

Roughage (all bran) dried fruits and plenty (enough) of water.

[stepbystep]

Two words.

Muesli & coffee.

[tibboh]

Two words.

Muesli & coffee.

+1......works at home and works in the bush

[wayno]

refined carbs. with white flour or white rice can constipate. if you eat wholemeal carbs. like muesli, brown rice. and wholemeal flour based foods hte fibre in these foods will help keep you regular they hold more water in the gut, also have enough fat in your diet, and maybe a bit of spiced food. dried fruit is also good and you'll be as regular as clockwork!
white flour is the pits. the gluten in it makes it hard to digest and it goes quite hard and can stop things up...

[ILUVSWTAS]

I find the physical exertion on a bushwalk (not hike) makes me much more regular than when at home.

7am on the dot Hanky pokes his head out to say hi.

[Son of a Beach]

Real porridge made from scratch from actual rolled oats each morning while bushwalking keeps me clockwork.

[hunsta]

Ok. Some good sound advice there. I have been corked on occasion due to too much white rice and such when doing multiple day bike rides, and take note of the leaning toward wholegrain/wholemeal varieties. I want to plan some long multi day hikes and being regular is important to me.
Cheers
Craig

[TerraMer]

I try to carry my everyday regularity across to multi day walking.
When I have a healthy diet it is like clockwork. But i can also make myself go sooner or later than usual if i can take advantage of facilities like hut long drops and camp grounds so long as I don't wait more than 48hrs.
For myself personally, the less animal fat, including milk chocolate and powdered milk, and the more fruit, seeds and nuts on the menu the easier it is.

[north-north-west]

Fibre, fluids and plenty of uphills.
It's odd, but walking uphill tends to get the bowels going, while the downhills enliven the bladder. I wonder if there's some sound scientific reason for that, or if it's just my crazy body?

[hunsta]

Fibre, fluids and plenty of uphills.
It's odd, but walking uphill tends to get the bowels going, while the downhills enliven the bladder. I wonder if there's some sound scientific reason for that, or if it's just my crazy body?

I dont know about scientific, but most hills give me the S@#TS.
Sorry. Somebody had bring it down to a purile level. Might as well be me.

[photonaturally]

Fibre, fluids and plenty of uphills.
It's odd, but walking uphill tends to get the bowels going, while the downhills enliven the bladder. I wonder if there's some sound scientific reason for that, or if it's just my crazy body?

This is gravity working.

[Scottyk]

Two words.

Muesli & coffee.

+1......works at home and works in the bush

+2 yep, muesli with water and coffee in the morning, does the trick usually!
Dried fruit will always help to keep things moving aswell

[Taurë-rana]

I would think that you would have less trouble with constipation when walking than bike riding, just because of the different action. I'm more likely to have the opposite problem, usually put it down to the hip belt being tight on my tummy.

[cooee]

7am on the dot Hanky pokes his head out to say hi.

Spat my coffee on the monitor. lol