Digestive type questions

[crazycanuck]

I am unsure exactly how to pose the questions I have about "digestive issues" but i'll try.

I can't seem to eat regular porridge or semonlina or gluten free rice porridge without my digestive system working super duper overtime & having to use the loo for a while afterwards. I seem to be ok w toast & vegemite but not toast & jam. I don't drink regular milk & use Oat milk.

Is it normal to have a sensitive digestive system in the mornings?

Does it make a difference in terms of energy if you're doing a long ride if you expel everyting beforehand?

I hope what i'm trying to say makes sense...Perhaps a naturopath might be able to help?

Ta
C

[Dogmama]

Do you use caffeine in the morning? Sometimes this gets everything working overtime. In terms of exercising, I'd be concerned about dehydration. Make sure your sports drink has electrolytes.

[crazycanuck]

I can't have coffee first thing in the morning and don't make it at home. I have to drink quite a bit o water before even pondering buying a coffee..

Yeup, my drink mixture has electrolytes & doesn't bother my tummy. If I don't have breakfast before I ride in the morning, the drink mixture's ok & have no issues. (www.highfive.co.uk)

I must have one odd digestive system.

[ladyicon]

I too have digestion problems in the mornings when I ride. I usually carry Tums with me for really bad days. Try experimenting with different foods and see which one works for you. Good luck.

[emily_in_nc]

My digestive system is always unusually - ahem - active before a morning ride. I attribute it to coffee plus a slight case of nerves, which melts away once I get on the bike.

I never have this problem with afternoon rides, which is why I think the caffeine is a major contributor in my case.

[OakLeaf]

Do you put anything in the porridge? Salt, butter, fruit, sweetener?

[Crankin]

Porridge (oatmeal?) has the same effect on me. So, while it's good for energy before riding, it makes me spend too much time in the bathroom. Since I already "go" at least 3 times in the AM (normal for me) and riding often adds an element of nerves, which adds more bathroom time, I definitely do not eat it before riding.
I have one cup of coffee before a ride, but if it's a long or important ride, i have tea, and have my coffee later in the day. My stomach is extremely sensitive, although no one can give me a specific diagnosis. Mostly, it's in the AM, too. My pre-ride meal (40+ miles) is scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, and fruit.
I often feel somewhat "off" for the first ten miles of a ride; I think most of this is digestive, so I also need to eat at least part of a Luna bar right before I start, no matter how much I have eaten at my last meal.

[huffandpuff]

what a relief to read this - thought I was weird with all the morning bathroom activity I have!One thing I have discovered is that too much acidic stuff in my stomach with the bent over position on the bike gives me horrific heartburn. Eating a few nuts or a few tums generally clears it up but I have to lay off the coffee, tomatoes, etc before I ride if I don't want that to happen. Kind of bad cause I'm a serious caffeine addict!HAd a surprising bad case of heartburn on ride today. First time I have put powerade in my camelbak. Any connection I wonder?

[crazycanuck]

Oak-I put a bit of honey in the porridge for some taste.

Crankin-your pre ride brekky is what i sometimes have but still have the loo issues after..:rolleyes:

No coffee in the morning before a ride, just plain water.

I picked up some new porridge stuff yesterday & trying it now. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ta

[nscrbug]

Add me to the list of those that suffer with bathroom issues in the AM. I am not a coffee drinker, so I know for sure that coffee is not the culprit. My "normal" breakfast (which is always pre-ride/workout) is 1 slice of toasted Ezekial bread, spread with a thin layer of natural PB, a drizzle of honey, and 9 thin banana slices on top with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Sometimes, I will substitute the Ezekial bread with a Van's blueberry waffle (the gluten-free one). On days where I know I'll be doing a long (75+ miles) ride, I usually opt for plain oatmeal with some blueberries or banana slices thrown in.

Now...here is where things get "weird" for me. On most riding days, the bathroom issues are minimal. However, on the days that I go to the gym (which is every weekday morning), regardless of what I ate for breakfast...the minute I step foot into the gym, I have a sudden (and often uncontrollable) urge to go #2...:eek: I sometimes can barely make it into the women's locker room in time! And...it's usually very "loose" (sorry if that's TMI). So...I'm not sure what's up with that. I've been tested for celiacs (negative), have had a colonscopy done, and had a stool test for parasites done and everything appears fine. My GI doc stands by his diagnosis of IBS, which I think is just his way of saying "I don't know what's wrong with your gut, so let's just say that it's IBS".

[OakLeaf]

My stomach is pretty much iron on the bike, but I can't have anything with much fructose before a run, and that would include honey.

I was just trying to make an analogy to toast with Vegemite vs. toast with jam.

Maybe try the porridge without any sweetener? Or with brown sugar rather than honey?

[Bike Chick]

I swear all I have to do is put my bike shorts on in the morning and my stomach starts cramping. It doesn't matter if it's 5 am or 8 am--the stomach just knows and it's off to the bathroom. Glad to hear I'm not the only one!

[Kiwi Stoker]

I cannot eat porridge or creamed rice before a ride. Both make a hasty exit.

I find eating museli is best. I think the roughness and hard to digest factor means it stays in my gut longer.

[crazycanuck]

The porridge I tried this morning with some honey worked like a charm & had no urge to use the loo afterwards like i do when I eat normal oats. :)

I'll def be eating it again!

Another odd thing..I can't bend over & pump my tires in the morning(have to do it at night) as i'll end up spending more time in the stupid toilet :mad: