An American Adventurer’s 932-Mile Trek Offers Surprising Lessons For Your Weight Loss Journey
I want you to imagine this: A vast expanse of white as far as the eye can see.
Temperatures are so low they freeze your breath.
Winds that howl like angry spirits.
This was the world Colin O’Brady stepped into when in 2018, he began his historic 932-mile trek across Antarctica
But Colin’s journey wasn’t just about conquering a continent.
It was a masterclass in something we all struggle with daily: energy balance, strategic planning, and mental fortitude.
The Antarctic Expedition in Your Kitchen 🍽️⚖️
Colin knew that to survive his 54-day ordeal, he needed to consume about 7,000 calories a day.
That’s more than three times what the average person eats!
This high caloric intake was necessary to fuel his grueling trek across Antarctica’s harsh terrain.
To drag a 400-pound sled through snow and ice in subzero temperatures your body requires an enormous amount of energy.
Every step was a battle against friction, gravity, and the cold, causing his body to burn calories at an alarming rate.
But here was the problem – he was burning even more, causing significant weight loss despite his high-calorie intake.
His sled initially weighed 400 pounds, with 220 pounds dedicated solely to food.
And yet he kept pushing and made it in the end.
Here is where I want to talk about you and your goals.
Maybe you’re not hauling a sled across an ice sheet, but juggling work, family, and fitness can feel just as daunting.
And just like Colin, your success depends on finding the right balance between the energy you take in and the energy you use, all while making smart choices with limited resources.
The Weight Loss Paradox 🤔
Colin lost a staggering 25 pounds during his trek, but weight loss wasn’t his goal.
His focus was on something bigger – fulfilling his lifelong dream of crossing Antarctica solo and unassisted.
The weight loss was simply a side effect of his incredible journey.
By the end, he noted, “My calves feel more like the size of my arms at this point.
My watch is starting to slide around on my wrist and I’ve had to tighten the strap.”
This is where many of us go wrong in our weight loss journeys.
We fixate on the numbers on the scale instead of the life we want to live.
What if, like Colin, we shifted our focus to achieving something amazing?
Your Personal Antarctica 🌟
Maybe your ‘Antarctica’ is:
- Running your first 5K
- Keeping up with your energetic toddler without getting winded
- Hiking that trail you’ve always dreamed about
- Dancing at your daughter’s wedding without feeling self-conscious
- Or simply waking up each day feeling strong and capable
When we aim for these life-changing goals, proper nutrition and exercise naturally follow.
We start to view food as fuel for our adventures, not as the enemy.
Just as Colin prepared by bulking up to 185 pounds before his trek, your journey requires preparation too.
Think about what steps can you take today to prepare for your goal.
Packing Your Sled: Nutrition for Your Journey 🥗
Colin couldn’t pop into a grocery store during his trek.
He had to carefully plan every morsel. His diet consisted of:
- Oatmeal fortified with extra oil and protein powder
- Freeze-dried meals reconstituted with melted snow
- Custom-made “Colin Bars” packed with nuts, seeds, and coconut oil.
Start planning for your own weight loss journey way before you actually start a new “diet”.
Begin by figuring out how many calories your body is currently burning.
Then, cut at least 200-300 calories to create a deficit.
For example, if your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is 1500 calories, start by cutting 300 calories, so now you need to eat 1200 calories a day.
Since your body needs 1500 calories, it will be forced to take the extra energy from stored food sources, like fat.
Use an app like MyFitnessPal or Yazio to track what and how much you’re eating each day to stay within your 1200-calorie limit.
Once you’ve got this covered, plan your exercise routine. Do a mix of cardio and resistance training.
Yes, you need to build new lean muscles because even if your body is burning 1500 calories right now, it won’t always stay that way—it could slow down.
Building new muscles keeps your metabolism high.
Once you’ve followed these steps, you’ll start losing weight almost automatically.
The Daily Expedition 🗺️
Every day is a new chance to make progress.
Colin ate the same things in the same sequence every day, highlighting the power of consistency.
When the goal is to lose weight, we need to regularly assess our habits and make tweaks:
- Are we eating mindfully or mindlessly?
- Are we moving our bodies every day?
- Are we eating more calories than we need?
- Are we eating foods that don’t support our weight loss goals?
- Are we getting enough sleep?
Remember, Colin didn’t cross Antarctica in a day. It took 54 days of consistent effort, one step at a time.
Overcoming Obstacles 🌪️
Just as Colin faced brutal winds and treacherous crevasses, you’ll encounter challenges:
- The office donut box
- The voice in your head saying you can’t do it
- The temptation to skip your workout
- The social pressure to indulge in unhealthy foods
But when you have a goal in mind that you want so bad then you also have the strength to push through.
Each time you overcome an obstacle, you’re building resilience for the next challenge.
The Finish Line and Beyond 🏁
When Colin reached the end of his journey, he made an emotional call to his wife with tears in his eyes.
He reflected, “While the last 32 hours were some of the most challenging hours of my life, they have quite honestly been some of the best moments I have ever experienced.”
The point is that your health journey isn’t about reaching a specific number – it’s about creating a lifestyle that supports your biggest dreams and experiencing profound personal growth along the way.
So, what’s your Antarctica? What goal will inspire you to fuel your body right and push your limits? Share in the comments below and let’s support each other on this incredible journey! 👇