Help! Just can't do it!

Hi all,
I apologize if this has been covered before in a different thread. I just cannot eat power bars, luna bars, etc while I ride. I just can't do it. I cannot stand the sweetness. And it isn't just my tastebuds that disagree, I have actually thrown up every time I try. i have to water down my gatorade for the same reason...I can't handle the sweetness. I can do apples. I can do a little bit of trail mix (my own trail mix: plain cheerios, peanuts, wholegrain chex, a very few M and M's and raisins). But I cannot do those bars. Apples are the best but they get kind of nasty after they've been in the pack for a while. I can barely choke down peanut butter when I'm riding or resting during a ride. I don't know what to do.
After a ride I can usually handle peanut butter with some apple slices or a smoothie with yogurt.
Gray

How long are your rides? If they are short enough, maybe you don't need to eat.

Sounds like you need to experiment with things that aren't so sweet. I don't do bars either. I just don't like them.

Veronica

I'm doing 20 miles on basically rolling hills (not a lot of flat anything around here) and some pretty steep parts but I am about ready to start going further and I know I'll need to eat. I also try to do between 30 and 40 once a week.

Salty stuff - crackers? Cheese Bagel? dried fruit? Nuts?
I once had a period of eating oat bisquits with (!!) pepper, they tasted good.
Can you handle a Banana?

You don't have to eat sweet stuff, just get in some carbs. You'll be out there ~3 hours on a 40 mile ride - one food stop should be fine.

definitely can't do bars during a race, and training, only a few will work. I like dried fruit bars from the health food store.

I know that if I am riding less than two hours, I don't need to eat. Of course everyone is different.

Bananas and kaiser rolls are things you might try. There is nothing wrong with carrying a baggie full of cereal. You have to eat what's going to work for you.

Personally, I get most of my riding calories from a liquid diet if I'm riding more than 4 or 5 hours. I combine Sustained Energy with Gatorade and water. But it took a lot of experimenting to find what works for me.

Veronica

I go through "real food" phases sometimes, and like dried fruit, Fig Newtons, granola bars (salty or sweet), and pretzels. For drinks, I use water in one bottle and Vitalyte mix in the other. The lemon, citrus, and fruit punch flavors are all pretty light and not too sweet. I find the orange to be a little too strongly-flavored though.

Good luck finding something that works for you!

fig newtons? little pb&j sandwiches? When I had my very hard ride yesterday, chocolate milk and potato chips saved me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Veronica

I know that if I am riding less than two hours, I don't need to eat. Of course everyone is different.

Bananas and kaiser rolls are things you might try. There is nothing wrong with carrying a baggie full of cereal. You have to eat what's going to work for you.

Personally, I get most of my riding calories from a liquid diet if I'm riding more than 4 or 5 hours. I combine Sustained Energy with Gatorade and water. But it took a lot of experimenting to find what works for me.

Veronica

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Yup. Liquid too. You might try something like Gu2O powdered drink mix -- it's not nearly as sweet as Gatorade -- I like the raspberry Gu2O mixed with Perpetuem. Not sweet, but keeps me going for hours.

How about pretzels?

How about salted and roasted potatoes?

Ya'll Rock!
Thanks so much for the suggestions. I don't know much about what's out there. Peanuts are ok. Pretzels are good. I have never had these kinds of concerns before. I have always had nutrition concerns but was able to address them before and after working out. Never had to figure out what to do during exercise before. This whole thing is a learning experience. I appreciate all your input. Sometimes I start thinking about all of the stuff I have yet to learn and do and get very very intimidated. But, I just keep telling myself that I have to look at this the way I look at my rides: I keep my mind on the mile I'm on not the one's coming up or the one's already behind me.
Gray

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zen

How about salted and roasted potatoes?

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Who is going to carry the grill?

Sorry Zen - I just had to.

Look into getting a custom blend by Infinit Nutrition. You can make your own sports drink. You adjust the calories, electrolytes, and best of all, the amount of flavor. I can't handle solid foods on long rides and I don't like the sweetness of a lot of drinks. Infinit works great for me.