Does Lactic Acid affect the gastrointestinal system?

Hi betagirl. Glad things are ok with you. I've just started cycling after not being on a bike for 30 years (hit 50 a couple of months ago and decided it was time to take things in hand!) So far I'm just doing short trips locally over a variety of terrain to try and build up some strength in my legs without over tiring myself. I've noticed that my abdominal muscles seem to be more painful than my legs (I think this is what is irritating my guts rather than being a flare up of the Chron's)...is this normal or am I doing something wrong? :confused:

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Originally Posted by bikerbarb

Bicycling magazine had an article this month on stomach upsets, you should look for it. Basically, it said that people shouldn't overdo the carbohydrates while riding--sports drinks or food carbs, but diagnosed this guy's problem as his system couldn't handle too much.

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Hello everyone - bikerbarb - I did read this article in Bicycling, a couple days ago actually. Don't think that's my problem though.
I do have IBS, and know my sensitivities. I typically don't eat much before a ride - maybe a Lara bar or something. But my point is that I am perfectly fine on the ride. The effect isn't happening until many hours later, or the next day. Nothing terrible, it's just that my IBS is the "stopped up" kind. The more stressed I am, the longer it is between....BM's. (sorry, TMI)
So, since I am not someone who really has that everyday, regularness...it is surprising to me that after a long ride, I have to go like 3-4 times the next day. Like everything wants OUT. It's not that I have eaten a huge meal or anything either. I don't know where it all comes from. :o this is embarassing to talk about.

cheri don't be embrassed. from other things we've talked about on here this is nothing!

i would keep a close eye on the ibs thing. it does weird things to you. i got the tummy fiber from here: help for ibs and it helped big time. being up here i don't get a lot of veggies and fruits so my fiber intake is low. i noticed personally if my diet had lots of fiber in it my ibs didn't bother me. that websight is good for a bunch of other stuff too, not just the tummy fiber. i did this dr natura cleanse and it helped with the ibs (and weightloss).

happy movements http://www.smileypad.com/v224/Rude/On-Can.gif

Hi, I noticed on my longer rides if I drank gatorade endurance during the ride, as soon as I stopped riding my tummy would start gurgling. And the next day I would go more (kinda soft). So I have been trying different things. Last night I tried just regular gatorade and tummy was ok. So maybe you just have to experiment with differnet drinks? just a thought :confused:

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Originally Posted by cherinyc

Hello everyone - bikerbarb - I did read this article in Bicycling, a couple days ago actually. Don't think that's my problem though.
I do have IBS, and know my sensitivities. I typically don't eat much before a ride - maybe a Lara bar or something. But my point is that I am perfectly fine on the ride. The effect isn't happening until many hours later, or the next day. Nothing terrible, it's just that my IBS is the "stopped up" kind. The more stressed I am, the longer it is between....BM's. (sorry, TMI)
So, since I am not someone who really has that everyday, regularness...it is surprising to me that after a long ride, I have to go like 3-4 times the next day. Like everything wants OUT. It's not that I have eaten a huge meal or anything either. I don't know where it all comes from. :o this is embarassing to talk about.

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Do not be embarassed. I have the same issues, so you are not alone. I do not know why it occurs after big events, it just does and for me, I just know it will happen and expect it. Not fun, but it is what my body does and I have learned to except it. If it is really distressing you, it is definitely worth a talk with a doctor. I just wanted you to know you are most definitely not alone.

I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone. And especially since, most of time I feel like I have to go to the bathroom (gas, gurgling, bloating, etc) and I can't go,iIt's actually, ummm....refreshing? when I feel like I have "flushed" out everything :D
I am laughing to myself at all the puns and jokes that are just flying around in my head.
Anyway - I have been eating for my IBS (monitering fiber intake, etc) for many years, so I really don't think it's what I am eating.
My other thought was that I have been fairly nervous, before and during these rides - afraid my lungs would give out, or I wouldn't be able to go the distance. Maybe just the relief of being finished with the ride is relaxing my colon (which is usually very very spastic).
Mosaic's explanation of the blood moving away from that area and then moving back after the ride kinda makes sense too. Like how I get at the beginning of my period.

I think you summed up everything quite well. Yes, it is how I am as well. On the upside I know where every restroom in the area is located. ;) My family has been very tolerant. I too watch what I eat, yet there are times when the nerves just kick in. Hang in there, you have a lot of support. :)

that was actually what I wanted to ask, but I didn't want to go out on that limb until it'd been reached by someone else. I've found the 'stopped up kind' reacts wildly with that much physical activity. Yeah, it's cleansing, but I know what you mean thinking "Okay, ENOUGH ALREADY!"

I think the best way to 'treat' this problem is both knowing that it's the result of being 'stopped up' and the activity moving things along, and that you'll have to just keep proper fiber/hydration in mind all the time to minimize being stopped up. =(

D*mn inconsistent guts!

I'm not IBS or Crohn's, I've got gluten enteropathy. It's also autoimmune, and also gets grumpier with stress. As soon as I read the first post of this thread I thought...

GATOR GUT!!!

I cannot drink Gatorade much at all without a serious case of the runs-bloats-gurgles later and the next day. (same thing with alcohol, but that's the price I pay...) I switched to the most natural/normal sugar drink I could find and that was Clif Electrolyte. Oh, happy joy! Not only do I have no nausea etc with Clif, it also helps calm my gut down when it's in a bad mood.

So I'm a Clif devotee: Clif Electrolyte, Clif Bloks, and Clif Recovery. (the Recovery is fun, but not so important)

My gut handles it just fine. Try a few different drinks/energy foods and see if one works better. I also eat a lot of candied ginger when I'm having a bad day, and that helps.

You know, I don't think my tummy, and other parts like Gatorade either.
Also, the bf and I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on Luna bars, Clif Bars, Powerbars, Lara Bars, and a Clif - Nectar bar.
Turns out that soy really really bothers me. Which sucks, because it seems to be in EVERY DAMN THING!! :mad:
Except the Lara bars and the Nectar bars, which are nuts and dates, pretty much.
I actually like Tofu too - but I have found that consuming even a little bit of soy - anything - causes gastrointestinal distress for like 2 days. Edamame is the worst. Seriously, it causes the "I wish I lived alone" type of bad.:eek:
Oh well.

Cheri,
One of my boys has the same intestinal issues I have, only soy REALLY causes him discomfort and it is in almost everything. If you know of some sport bars he can eat, please let me know. Poor kids just gets miserable and he needs to gain weight. :(

Lara bars and Clif Nectar bars have no soy.

Clif Shot Bloks have no soy, and are like easy-to-swallow-and-chew gummi bears.

(no gluten, either! Regular Clif bars have oats in 'em, which make me sick sick sick)

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Lara bars and Clif Nectar bars have no soy.

Clif Shot Bloks have no soy, and are like easy-to-swallow-and-chew gummi bears.

(no gluten, either! Regular Clif bars have oats in 'em, which make me sick sick sick)

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Thank You! I am writing these down. I have not personally tried Lara or Clif Shot bloks, but I like The Nectar bars and so does my son. I will look for the other two. Thanks. :)

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Originally Posted by bikerbarb

I was amazed on a week long 500 mile tour that some people would down big cafe breakfasts of pancakes and bacon and eggs, coffee, etc. and get on their bikes and ride. I would start w/a banana and eat another or half a cup of cereal and milk by 25 miles. Then they would repeat the process with lunch stops. I just can't do it, much as I love food.

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I don't see how people eat that much fat & ride. I can barely choke down a protein drink before I go out.

I have IBS too - same kind as you, Cheri. They call it "IBS-C". You might want to start a food diary & see what upsets you. Soy is obviously a culprit. Coffee and carbonated soft drinks can affect IBS too.

I've seen lots of docs & they don't know what is up with IBS. Stress is a biggie, though. I take "gentle fibers" by Jarrow and "greens plus" (get the berry flavored, otherwise you won't be able to choke it down.) plus probiotics and that seems to help. I also take Miralax daily with my "green fiber cocktail." Drink fast!

Dogmama - IBS-C - is that what they're calling it? Hmmm. About 2 years ago I had a colonoscopy just to make sure that there was nothing else - and the doc said he could see the signs of IBS. Not sure how, but....
Thankfully I am not a big fan of carbonated soft drinks, though every once in a while (1 in 2-3 months) I crave a diet coke from the fountain (never bottle or can). I do have an ice coffee in the morning - but it's pretty watered down. Other than that, I have tried acidophillus (sp) and every brand of anti-bloating/gas remedy available OTC - nothing seems to work.
Anything made with white flours will hurt me for 2-3 days. Can't eat beans (except green ones). Can't eat pasta or rice. I can eat some whole grain stuff though, so I don't think I have a wheat allergy. Corn about kills me. Popped -kernel - or cob - doesn't matter. Can't eat potatoes - but I can eat french fries for some reason. I think it's the grease - helps it move along;)
Sorry - rambling now.

But I should mention - I eat lots of greens...I love veggies. Most don't bother me at all. I eat PLENTY of fiber. Lots of nuts.