Training For Trek

[Dia Minha]

I'm really struggling with my training for the Trek in just five weeks. For those of you that don't know, we will be walking 16 miles each the first two days and 4-5 miles the third and fourth day.

I'm up to 4 1/2 miles a session, but only getting in 6-7 a week. My goal is to get up to 40 miles a week in the next two weeks and then walk 40 miles a week for the next three weeks. However, I'm tired all the time and I'm always hungry. I'm trying to get more sleep and have found that I really do know how to take power naps (I feel really good after about 20mins). I'm trying really hard to eat more protein and complex carbs, but my cravings for simplified carbs is through the roof. I've also added more healthy fats thinking that would help, but I'm not seeing any improvements yet.

I'm thinking that I'm going to have to add in some longer walking sessions. We have a 10 mile stake trek walk Saturday the 30th of May so I feel like I should do a couple 10 miles walks, before then. What would be a good longer walk to add and how many times a week should I do a long walk to prepare me for that 16 miles two days in a row?

[Erudite]

I just found this thread and saw that it was posted in 2009, but it resonated with me. This week I have FINALLY gone back to the pool. I can only do 15 minutes of VERY easy swimming, but the first day I found myself terribly munchy eating all day long. Today is the second day and I'm just about to go make myself a smoothie. I wondered if you had any advice? Did you figure out the munchies related to adding more exercise?

My Mom recommended adding a half teaspoon of cinnamon to my smoothie to control blood sugar, which is I think what causes the munchies. So I'm going to try that. Protein is a good idea too, I think, so maybe I'll add some peanut butter...