[ChadB]

I've never dealt with an ultra-long trip like the one he's talking about in the article. However, for "normal-"length vacations you might take as a software engineer (i.e., 2 weeks or so), I've found that my body actually benefits from the time off.

I've done two two-week trips this year (Peru and Spain). In both cases, I was in excellent shape before the trip (155-160lbs at 5'11" with low body fat and good muscle definition). I work out three to four times per week, plus box twice per week.

I lost about 10lbs during each trip. When I got home from Peru (the first trip), I was mortified. I tried to bulk up like crazy by eating a ton of good fat and protein, and I lifted almost exclusively heavy weights. I was bigger and stronger than before the trip in three weeks.

After the second trip I was less scared, because of the previous experience. I was just as strong as before the trip in about three weeks again, but I didn't gorge myself as much, so I stayed a bit leaner.

I guess what I took away from the experiences was that you're bound to loose body fat while traveling, simply because you do so much walking. If you're in good shape beforehand, though, your muscles will "remember" and come back to you remarkably fast. You may even be able to improve your overall fitness level and put on leaner muscle afterwards.

[georgieporgie]

Don't you think that most of your weight loss was water?