Weird stuff that happens to my body on the Camino
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Sausage fingers and hiker's rash... these are the "fun" parts of long-distance walking! Please comment with the weird body stuff that happens to you when you walk a Camino!
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Not a camino story, but I can relate to your discussion about embarrassing tan lines. Several years ago, I did the Erie Canal bike ride from Buffalo to Albany over several days. Riding due East every day wearing a new bike helmet, after a while I noticed people laughing when I took it off. I looked in the mirror and, due to the design of the ventilation holes in the helmet, I had a tanned spot in the shape of the Star Trek emblem smack in the middle of my forehead. I used sunscreen on the trip but didn't think to apply it where the helmet "covered" the skin. I hope to do the camino in a year or two and while there will be no helmet problem, my awareness of tan lines has certainly been heightened. :o)
I have been binge watching all your advice videos about the camino since I am going to be walking the camino frances next June through July. I cannot tell you enough how appreciative I am of you doing all this for us. I am a fellow youtuber and I know this is hard work. So THANK YOU
Thank you for this comment, it really meant a lot! I’ll check out your channel :) And good luck with the Camino prep, the anticipation and planning is half the fun!
@@NadineWalks thanks for posting all your content and for answering the post. I am currently reading Walking With Sam by Andrew Mccarthy. They just arrived to Pamplona. It's a memoir. I can't think about anything else and my friend and I are texting each other often during the day. 😄
Love your bunny picture in the background 🐇
I gotta say, on my first camino I washed my hair rarely, but I found that afterwards my hair did not only not smell, but it looked great! I decided to do an experiment, and ever since then I dramatically reduced how often I wash it. I rinse it with water every couple of weeks and use shampoo maybe once a month and it has never seemed healthier! And I have a lot of hair now haha...
I'm just amazed at how many commenters here don't regularly wash their hair and have seen great results (and I don't know that I've seen a photo/video of you recently, but last I remember, yes, you've got a great head of hair!!)
I can relate to sosme of these! I use hiking poles to help with balance and to keep sausage fingers to a minimum, but the result is a funny "hand tan." My hands get really tan, except for a white stripe where the straps of my hiking poles go around my wrists. I have learned to put sunscreen on my hands, but eventually they still tan on a multi-day hike.
Thank you for sharing this! I too get sausage fingers when I go on a long walk.
Their water must be awesome! I live in Florida and the water is suuupppeerr hard and makes my hair feel yucky. But when I got to the west coast where they have low humidity and softer water, my hair looks and feels fabulous!!
I'm sure it probably IS the water!! And maybe, as others have suggested, using less product is actually helping my hair? Who knows, but it sure is nice to have those good hair days!
Thank you so much Nadine. I am leaving in three weeks for the Camino. Remembering this video will make feel in good company when these things happen to me. I know they will. Buen Camino!
Your Camino is coming up so soon! I hope this video gives you some reassurance if any of this stuff happens to you (but hopefully it will just be the good hair days!) :)
I love watching your videos, thank you for sharing,I walked my first Camino (Camino Portugues Central) in September 2023 from Murtosa (Aveiro district) to Santiago. Hahaha, all things you talk about in this video happened to me except i sweat all the water i drank so no additional bathroom runs to pee, but all other 5 instances were exact to my experience. Obrigada por partilhar.
So happy that others can relate to these things!! It's so good to know that we share similar experiences of the Camino :)
It is normal that if you do not use any products for your hair and only wash with water that you will always have a good hair day. I have been doing it this way for years and I still have lots of volume and long hair even though I am over 60. Definitely try it at home!
Thanks for this thought- I'm always so hesitant to try it out when I go into work every day (in case my hair looks so flat/greasy, etc). But I suppose it takes a little time to adjust!
Haven't used anything on my hair for years...
@@NadineWalks You can try it out on the camino and then continue at home. I always work like this and no colleague notices. My hair also smells fresh when washed only with water.
You're right, the Camino... or any long hike... would be a great time to experiment with this!
@@NadineWalks maybe watch Sam Bailey "Here's Why I Quit Shampoo" (even quit soap). Though I won't endorse her other opinions...
When I was in Greece, I had the best hair days too! I think it was the lack of humidity. Those are the best days!!
My hair does NOT like humidity (or, I should say, I personally don't like what humidity does to my hair, ha!!) I'm sure that's probably part of it! (now adding Greece to my list... ;)
I get sausage fingers unless I am using walking poles. The only real problem is if you are wearing rings which can become painfully tight.
The other thing to manage is lack of appetite. I tend to only snack during the day with a big meal in the evening. But then I get hit with “hikers hunger” and eat twice as much as normal. I lost 7lb on my last Camino but also put on a little muscle.
Oh yes, appetite can be a 'weird' Camino thing... it takes me a little while to develop my 'hiker hunger' but once it hits I tend to eat a lot (probably TOO much sometimes!!)
Not looking forward to the sausage fingers! I'm leaving for my Camino Frances tomorrow and watching this as I finish my packing. Thanks for all the tips Nadine, your channel has really helped me to prepare!
Maybe you won't get the sausage fingers! But if you do, just stretch your hands and elevate them from time to time, and I bet it won't be too bad! I'm so glad the videos/tips have helping in your preparations... Buen Camino!!
You are right about using walking poles causing less problems with swelling of fingers. Hikers rash is real especially around the tops of your socks in the heat, often irritated by sand or dirt on the trails and suncream.We live in the South of Spain.
I think you're absolutely right about the skin around the ankles being irritated by dirt- I always seem to have several layers of dirt on the back of my ankles by the end of the day!
Sausage fingers to good hair days - A Camino Memoir! hahaha. Actually, you've listed some really interestring body phenomenon on long hikes. Cheers and adventure on!
hahaha that's a great memoir title!!!
Thank you for making these videos. They help me a lot in preparing for my Camino.
I'm so glad that they're helpful!
Doing my first Camino in 3 weeks,...have hiked and back packed a lot,...glad to have these reminders. poles check, rash not yet but his could be my summer, weird tan lines bring it on, H2O and bathroom breaks,... I am concerned about finding the right spot (umbrella bathroom block?), good hair days sound fabulous, too bad I'm going alone,... I guess that is what selfies are for? great tips,... thx
Haha yes, lots of selfies on the good hair days!!
Nice explanation about hand swelling. One of the main reasons I use hiking poles. 😊
Definitely another 'plus' for using hiking poles!!
hi Nadine, I really enjoy your videos! thanks so much! when I did the French way myself a couple of years ago, I also had to go to the bathroom a lot because I drink a lot of water as well. Maybe this is too personal but did you use a she-wee or anything like that or do you just squat? I I had a heckuva time finding the timer place to be able to go to the bathroom so often. Every time I thought I was alone sure enough the minute I would try to go another pilgrim or two would appear on the path! lol. I'm just curious as to how you handled it! in the final analysis, I'm not personally sure that the she-wee itself was worth it. I hope this isn't asking for too much information, but I'm going back in April and I'm trying to figure out how am I going to deal with that aspect of things? thanks again !
Hi Nadine,
Another great video. Oh, yes I can relate to sausage fingers and yes, it happens more on hot days where I walk long distance and I believe you are correct in that it happens due to the lack of hand mobility. Sevondly, I also get the drastic tan line above the sock line🤭 And third thing in common is great hair & skin, which attribute to the water in Spain, sadly it goes away 5 days after I get home 🥴
The one thing that I get is a rash on my back and this I attribute to long hours prespiring with a backpack aggravating it. It goes away after a few days of applying baby powder after the shower.
Buen Camino🙋♀️
So glad you could relate to so much of this!! Luckily I don't get a rash on my back... just the legs!!
Great Video! Thanks for sharing!
You're very welcome!
Sausage fingers for sure , I try to remember to flex my fingers while walking . I find holding my pack straps high up helps with that . The need to Pee can be annoying lol but then I’m on the other side of 50 . Never considered good hair days , that’s probably a Girl thing . 😊Cheers
Hey, it's ALWAYS worthwhile to consider good hair days! ;)
I did get rash on my calves on the hot days too, and weird tan lines. The tan was worse on my left calves because the sun was mostly on the left side on my walk. First few days I wasn’t drinking enough water, I noticed my skin on my neck area looked dried and wrinkled. I did research, I was dehydrated. One other weird thing happened to my body was, I got rash at my lower back on last 1/3 of my Camino, it was a bit itchy. It went away after the Camino.
I wonder if the rash on your back had anything to do with your pack? But glad that it went away after the Camino!
Is it a valid Camino if you walk half in Spring and pickup the last half in the Fall or the following year ? Or do you have to pick one and finish in one go ...
Sweaty acid does wonders everywhere....for weeks. To start walking, may be better doing a short pilgrimage like to Fatima and back...from 80-90 km away...
Hello Nadine,
Just a question about the Camino de la Plata.
I see there are lots of longer segments that are too long for me. I would rather break them into 2 days. Are there enough albergues (other than ones at end of prescribed segments) so I could do this? Or would packing a tent be recommended...not that I'd want to add the weight, but....
A lot of your hiking-specific issues are related to electrolyte imbalance. Don’t just ‘drink more water’ - that contributes to the electrolyte imbalance b/c it’s the ratio of salts to water that matters. You sweat out salt and water, and then add more water without salt, means your body needs to really try extra hard to get rid of the water - peeing. Also note the color of your urine. It’s likely clear, which means you’re just eliminating the extra water. And yes, coffee is a diuretic. I’d guess you drink more alcohol on the Camino than normal life too, which can impact things. One bit of hiker wisdom is that if your wedding ring gets tight while hiking, time to drink more electrolytes. Yes, it’s normal for fingers to swell a bit anyway on long hikes, but will happen faster and sooner as a sign of electrolyte imbalance.
My hair and skin are better when NOT showering for several days. I assume the body naturally has various good bacteria and other stuff, and supposed ‘cleaning’ products remove natural stuff the body needs, and lots of soaps dry out the skin, which is bad. Basically, be skeptical of anything that people didn’t need or use 200 years ago. Supposed ‘clean’ products aren’t cleaning a damn thing, just adding toxic nice-smelling chemical junk. Water cleans most of what needs cleaning. That’s something you can test at home. Just do a quick 5 min rinse instead of shampoo and soap everyday for a week, and do sweaty activities to imitate hiking.
I put electrolytes in my water bottle to hydrate, quench the thirst, do away with leg cramps but also help my recuperating
I agree - if I drink more electrolytes I don’t get swollen fingers.
I notice lack of electrolytes- as my body just doesn’t feel so well or slightly off eg mild headache. When this happens I take electrolytes and almost immediately feel better.
I've sometimes wondered if I should be paying closer attention to electrolyte imbalance... I DO carry electrolytes with me and use them occasionally, plus I love my Aquarius breaks!
@@NadineWalks I wish I remembered about Acquarius in Spain; whereas in Portugal I ordered 'Pedras agua con limón' ... so delicious and we could not get in Spain🥺🥺🥺
Interesting topic! I always bring grip ring with me and pressing them from time to time. Never get my fingers swolen. And I never go peeing, I drink like elephant all day, galons of water, and all that water go somewhere hahah
Elevating the legs helps with golfer's vasculitis, aka hiker's rash.
Ah, good tip!
Sausage fingers yes and also a bit of tingling in the fingers as well.
I know that tingling can be common... that hasn't really happened to me (not that I've noticed anyway, but now I'll pay more attention!)
I had swollen fingers and also swollen legs (could also be because i got them burnet badly).
I'm sure the sunburn didn't help!!
Hi Nadine,
#5 I’m afraid I cannot comment, I haven’t enough hair.
#4 caffeine is a diuretic, (makes you want to go). Maybe one con leche a day, one glass of juice a day (vitamin C). Then water? Who knows, maybe I’m just a fuddy duddy, when it comes to such things.
#3 Tan lines. Have you noticed that there are whole albergues, full of pilgrims, with these tan lines? I wonder if the Spaniards think it might be an invasion.
#2 I probably do get rashes, I just need to listen to my body more.
#1 when marching (hiking), clench fists and swing arms. Do it with purpose (control), rather than just waving your arms about. At break times raise arms above head, stretch out fingers and wiggle them (this is called waving to the stars, they’re there even in daylight). Wave to the stars a couple of minutes at the beginning of a break and at the end.
Also, if you get the opportunity, lie on your back, yes in the dirt, preferably with your ankles, legs and buuuutocks supported against a wall. For a couple of minutes. This will allow all that blood to rush back to your heart and head….
The only thing I do different is I make sure I carry “dioralite”, it’s lighter than Aquarius because it’s in powder form, I use it for rehydration.
P.S. love the Durer, it adds to your study…
Thanks for relating to so many of these!! Yeah, I could probably cut back on my Camino coffee consumption... but it's just so good!! And thanks for the tips about helping with the sausage fingers, all so helpful :)
Just my 2 cents thought and I have experienced swollen hands. Found it had to do with backpack strapped to tight. Could be, may not be…
Yes I've heard a too tightly strapped backpack can also cause the finger swelling!
Interesting symptoms...I'd say you have a hiking problem...🤣 Not on a Camino, but long distances: Sausage fingers are the norm for me, though I rarely use poles, I'll try and keep my hands up and hold my pack straps, one thing I haven't tried is not wearing a pack to see if the straps add to this.. Sun hoodie and pants for me most of the time. Not sure about peeing that regularly, could be the food - I knew someone who ate a bowl of asparagus every day...he was peeing every 15 mins... I don't use shampoo anymore, so wouldn't know what a bad/good hair day is. Loving your channel ❤
So many people here don't use shampoo anymore! I love it!! I'm definitely going to have to look more into this... (and, haha, you're so right, all of these symptoms point to a hiking/Camino problem!!)
@@NadineWalks I've heard more people say trekking poles help with sausage fingers...
Maybe all the peeing is a hint that your body just doesn't need that much liquid!
So true!! I probably overdue it a bit :)
Excellent video! Very clear. Very concise. Very informative. Buen Camino!
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
did you notice any change in your sleep patterns? BTW, it may just be my computer monitor but your lightning gives your face and skin a yellowish orange shade. But your content remains informative as ever.
I really need to work on my filming setup... good tip to go for more natural light!!