Need energy, need to live for years to come

[madscot13]

I have been upping my biking this summer. I want to do century distances, not centuries per se just know that I can go the distance. So I have been biking 6 days a week and weightlifting another 2 times a week. The result? I am always hungry! Before my ride I have yogurt/ granola and a banana. After I get home I have eggs and buttered toast. Currently I am only having one serving of meat a day either chicken, beef, or pork. There is ususally pasta or rice involved somewhere. Cheese is usually inserted somewhere in my day (gotta stop making those crazy casseroles). I don't eat junk food of any sort or go for dessert when it is not fruit. I am hitting at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (maybe just because I am eating so much).

I am really just eating without thinking about it though and I am reasoning that if I am exercising this much my body can handle it. Should I be worried? How should my food consumption be balanced- fat, carb, protiein. My weight is stable and I am feeling fine. I just want to feel fine when I am my parents' age. I don't want to wreck my body at 22 by being neglectful or overanxious.

[KnottedYet]

You aren't eating junk.

You're eating lots of fruits and veges.

You're active.

You feel good.

Sounds great to me!

[madscot13]

If KnottedYet says so then I am good to go!

[KnottedYet]

If KnottedYet says so then I am good to go!

Ooooh, who knew I had such power?!?

I CAN RULE THE WORLD!!!!! NAY, THE UNIVERSE!!!!

[Trek420]

Ooooh, who knew I had such power?!?

I CAN RULE THE WORLD!!!!! NAY, THE UNIVERSE!!!!

Listen to the wit and wisdom of Knott, soon to be an infomercial, then a book and then a major motion picture showing near you. Knotted is very wise.

[Zen]

My weight is stable and I am feeling fine.

Just keep doing what you're doing for the next sixty years

And have some cake.

[madscot13]

Just keep doing what you're doing for the next sixty years

And have some cake.

But then how can I have it and eat it too?

[Eden]

ooohhh skip the hotdish and you can probably add cake without too much penalty....
(hot dish = scarey ingredients )

[madscot13]

I usually don't have dessert becuase I don't have a very big sweet tooth. I still have all of my Halloween candy. Now don't ask why I have Halloween candy. but if you will look to the left you can see what I wore.

But hotdish (casserole to everyone in the other 49 states) is a dream. I can make one dish and eat for the whole weekend. I also used to make my housemates sit down for a family dinner once a week, and during Lent the rule was "if it could be served in a casserole dish it was dinner". How is that for piety?

[Zen]

I like hotdish
I will confess to liking hamburger helper stroganoff flavor though i make it with turkey.

How did you keep from walking into things?

[Bikingmomof3]

But hotdish (casserole to everyone in the other 49 states) is a dream. I can make one dish and eat for the whole weekend. I also used to make my housemates sit down for a family dinner once a week, and during Lent the rule was "if it could be served in a casserole dish it was dinner". How is that for piety?

I was born and raised in MN and I still refer to the dishes at a hotdish. I get a lot of weird looks. There are numerous healthy hotdishes out there, as I am certain you are aware.

Plus Knot already said you are good to go.

[Keely]

I have been upping my biking this summer. I want to do century distances, not centuries per se just know that I can go the distance. So I have been biking 6 days a week and weightlifting another 2 times a week. The result? I am always hungry! Before my ride I have yogurt/ granola and a banana. After I get home I have eggs and buttered toast.

If you're upping the distances you're riding and you're hungry, have you thought about eating while you're out riding? On a ride that is under 2 hours you might not need to take anthing to eat, but when you are riding for more than 2 hours your body has started to run out of fuel. Your muslces can only store so much glycogen. Also when riding the most efficient and effective source of fuel is actually carbs... they are more easily transformed into glycogen. The standard rule is that you need to have 1g of carbs per 1kg of body weight per hour in order to not run out of energy and experience the dreaded 'bonk'.

Lollies/sugar is NOT an efficient fuel because it is burnt up too quickly and you need to keep feeding yourself with sugar. Once you start on the sugar you body will only burn sugar becasue it will start lookingfor the most simple easiest fuel to burn. Having said this... IF you do experience a 'bonk' lollies will give you instant energy.

[madscot13]

The standard rule is that you need to have 1g of carbs per 1kg of body weight per hour in order to not run out of energy and experience the dreaded 'bonk'.

Is this while I am biking then? I have actually switched the contents of my bike bottles from water to Gatorade. My rides have become easier, but I think it is because I am staying hydrated better. Maybe the carbs have something to do with it too?

[Keely]

Is this while I am biking then? I have actually switched the contents of my bike bottles from water to Gatorade. My rides have become easier, but I think it is because I am staying hydrated better. Maybe the carbs have something to do with it too?

It's probably a combination of both... but yes if you're doing longer rides you probably do need to start eating while riding as well. Everyone's different, so it does depend on how you feel. But when I do 100+km rides, this is what I take:

1. 1 bidon of water
2. 1 bidon of sport drink
3. at least 2 sport energy bars - Pria or Maxim Bars
4. a banana, if I have any in the fruit bowl

If I don't eat everything, that's OK. If you start getting hungry while riding it's too late to start thinking about food; your body has already depleted it's glycogen stores. You should try to eat before you get hungry. I try to ensure that I eat at least every half hour.

If you find you can't eat solid foor then you could try energy gels... These are a concentrated form of energy and can be easier to digest when your body is under pressure - like during a race or when simply riding hard... Here are a few links to ones that are available in Australia:
Maxim energy gels
Gu Energy Gels
Endura

[Tuckervill]

If I don't eat everything, that's OK. If you start getting hungry while riding it's too late to start thinking about food; your body has already depleted it's glycogen stores. You should try to eat before you get hungry.

I always find this statement (and the similar one about thirst) illogical.

What is the point of the feelings of hunger and thirst if it's too late by the time you feel them? I remain skeptical of these statements.

Karen