Need advice

[ladypmd03]

Well I had weight loss surgery august (lap-band) So i'm not sure how to prepare myself for longer rides as far as nutrition. I am very resticted as to what I can eat due to stomach size.I can not eat a whole banana etc at one time. I completed the nyc 5 boro bike tour ok. But is was slow paced and 5 rest stops. I would like to ride sunday on a 50 mile ride . But is hilly and i'm not sure how to prepare for this. any advice?
I've lost 80 lbs so far now at 165. But nutrition is a challenge.

[jobob]

A hilly 50 mile can be challenging under the best of circumstances ! Could you go on a shorter ride instead, or would you be able to cut the 50-mile route shorter?

It just seems that you'd be asking a lot of your body if you don't have the nutrition aspects worked out. You would be better off figuring that out on shorter rides. And it will take a bit of time and a bit of experimenting to find out what works for you.

You'll probably need to eat small quantities of food at shortly-spaced intervals. It seems that most people can get by with a snack every 20-30 miles, more or less, but in your case you might need to eat small amounts every 5 or 10 miles.

[Dianyla]

Do you ever eat Gu or similar energy gels? I have relied on these for rides when my stomach was "on strike" and giving me fits. Maybe these would be a viable option for your ride nutrition?

[Nanci]

You should be able to get enough calories with a gel or "real" drink like Endurox (not Gatorade- nothing against it, I drink it all the time, but it is low calorie). (Or, of course, chocolate milk). There are a million gels out there- you should be able to find one you like. They run about 80 calories per packet, and you need about 250-300 calories per hour. Drink water with the gel. I am not sure how electrolyte caps would work for you (they are in geletin capsules) since your stomach probably empties immediately. I know someone I can ask, though. Ok- have sent off the e-mail to "my" expert- we'll see what she says. But if the answer is no, you need an entire stomach to break down the gel caps, you could still eat eGel instead, which has a much larger dose of electrolytes than other gels.

Nanci

[tulip]

A 50-mile ride is serious business. Are you riding regularly 20-40 miles at a time? By regularly, I'm talking several times a week, or more often for shorter rides of 10-20 miles.

You don't mention how long ago your surgery was. If you are still in recovery mode, then I would say that 50 miles is alot to handle.

Frequent, shorter rides are necessary to build up to a 50-miler.

Here's my story. You can see how it compares to your situation, and maybe it will help you make the right decision. I, too, am planning to ride a 50-mile ride on Sunday. It wll be my first in a very long time. However, I commute to work 4 times per week, 28 miles round trip (that's two 14-mile rides per day), and I've been doing that consistently since January (850 miles since January). And still, I'm a bit nervous about making it 50 miles.

This is what I will do, nutrition-wise. Eat some pasta and a salad for dinner this evening. Before my ride, I'll have coffee, cereal with milk, and a banana. During my ride, I'll likely eat two Luna bars, but maybe only one. After my ride, I'll eat an apple, and I'll likely be very hungry for the rest of the day. I'm thinking pizza and beer for dinner tomorrow night (my neighbor owes me a pizza anyways)!

Hydration is also very important, not just during your ride, but all the time.

You can certainly ride 50 miles, but from what little I know about you so far, I'd say that perhaps not yet (but then there are lots of details missing!).

Take care of yourself for the long haul.
tulip

[Popoki_Nui]

*snip They run about 80 calories per packet, and you need about 250-300 calories per hour. *snip*

Whaaa? 250-300 calories per hour? Does this apply to everyone? My calorie counter shows I burn ~1100 calories per hour. Is 250-300 enough to keep me energized throughout a ride??

Thanks,
Sherry.

[kelownagirl]

Whaaa? 250-300 calories per hour? Does this apply to everyone? My calorie counter shows I burn ~1100 calories per hour. Is 250-300 enough to keep me energized throughout a ride??

Thanks,
Sherry.

And I was wondering if I am trying to lose weight, is it ok to forgo some of those calories and just drink water and/or the odd sports drink? I'm not riding really far, but do about 40-50k rides on the weekend. I am doing it not only for fun and fitness, but also to burn calories. I don't really want to eat anything when I'm riding - just have a reasonable meal in the morning before I go and a snack or lunch when I get back. I carry a granola bar (because it has less calories than a power bar) in case I do get hungry. I'm afraid that consuming 250-300 calories per hour when I'm riding would defeat the purpose for me.

barb

[Grog]

Whaaa? 250-300 calories per hour? Does this apply to everyone? My calorie counter shows I burn ~1100 calories per hour. Is 250-300 enough to keep me energized throughout a ride??

Wow, that's a LOT. Even if I ride really hard for an hour (and my heart beats pretty fast) I don't burn much more than 600 calories/hour (according to my Polar watch, based on my weight and heart rate).

[mimitabby]

Whaaa? 250-300 calories per hour? Does this apply to everyone? My calorie counter shows I burn ~1100 calories per hour. Is 250-300 enough to keep me energized throughout a ride??

Thanks,
Sherry.

wow, 1100 sounds a bit high. I'd heard 250-300 before.

[Dogmama]

I really think you need to check with your doctor.

[KnottedYet]

I second the "check with the doc" bit. Tell them what you've learned here, and ask what they recommend. They know exactly what they did and what they expect and when.

I've seen more than my share of hypoglycemic disasters, and that's what I'm thinking about right now. There are other issues, too. Your doc is really your best reference at this point. Print up this thread and take it in to the doc and get his/her take on it.