"Refeuling on the Fly"

[CycleChic06]

I've never really thought about snacking while swimming. As a former competitive swimmer, I don't think I've ever really seen anyone eating anything while swimming...sometimes people would keep a bottle of water on the side of the pool, but that's about it. I use sports beans mostly when I'm looking for endurance while riding, and while swim practice would often run 1-2 hours, I don't really see it as the same type of endurance as biking. Think about it, if you're at a meet swimming a 500, you can't really stop in the middle and eat some sports beans.

[Bluetree]

I'm at the gym at 4:30am to swim 2 miles, often on an empty stomach. If I've been fasting for the last 10-11 hours, my stomach starts seriously complaining by Lap 30. "Time to eat yet? Hello... Hungry here!" So I take a bag of Bloks with me and line up the pink squares at the edge of the pool on a paper towel. About every ten laps or so, one of the little suckers commits suicide by leaping off the edge into my gaping maw. It's quite a sight!

Seriously, I am usually so depleted after a long swim that eating bloks periodically also keeps me from scarfing vast quantities (aka overeating) afterwards.

[Rakekay]

Silly me. I always stop riding to eat and generally eat a whole bar at a time rather than little bits and pieces as I'm going along.

I clearly have so much to learn.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Silly me. I always stop riding to eat and generally eat a whole bar at a time rather than little bits and pieces as I'm going along.

I clearly have so much to learn.

Rakekay,
Don't feel bad. I usually pull into a cafe and have a croissant and latte, or maybe even some French Toast!

[spokewench]

Rakekay,
Don't feel bad. I usually pull into a cafe and have a croissant and latte, or maybe even some French Toast!

AHH - Lisa you really know how to live!

[Geonz]

I find anything that has as much packaging as product acutely annoying. I wish sport beans came in an economy sized bag - tho' I'd still be more likely to go for the other stuff without the additives and artificials.

Not-so-closet Granola here

[CycleChic06]

I'm at the gym at 4:30am to swim 2 miles, often on an empty stomach. If I've been fasting for the last 10-11 hours, my stomach starts seriously complaining by Lap 30. "Time to eat yet? Hello... Hungry here!" So I take a bag of Bloks with me and line up the pink squares at the edge of the pool on a paper towel. About every ten laps or so, one of the little suckers commits suicide by leaping off the edge into my gaping maw. It's quite a sight!

Seriously, I am usually so depleted after a long swim that eating bloks periodically also keeps me from scarfing vast quantities (aka overeating) afterwards.

I see your point, BlueTree. It's good afterwards to replenish the body of nutrients. I'd just never considered eating them during a swim workout.

[mlove]

I have to stop to eat and drink. I am not steady enough yet to let go of the handbars for more than a few seconds.

[inatree]

i dunno about where you all live...but around these parts, a little package of bloks cost about $2.50. i am a starving student who bought every single piece of cycling equipment (including the bike!) using my financial aid from school. i can barely afford clif bars which i can get on sale for a dollar a piece if i go to a certain store. i also love sharkies but they are pricey too, i get them from another store for 1.50 a piece and everywhere else they are 2.50. any ideas for *affordable* energy food? hah im probably being laughed at right now...oh well, at least im used to it!

oh, and i stop to eat, too. i know im still a beginner, but it just feels wrong to me to start eating while i'm excercising, i always think i will get a stomach ache. i make myself wait after i eat to, and i hate it. but i didnt wait one time after eating some sharkies, and i got stomach cramps during the ride home. how do you all not get stomach aches? i also have no idea how much to eat either. im trying to lose weight tho, but i havent lost any weight after riding vigorously for 3 mos i dont have very much to lose, thats probably why. oh well!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

...any ideas for *affordable* energy food? hah im probably being laughed at right now...oh well, at least im used to it!

Fig Newtons.

[sbctwin]

I use a bento box also...I get a little plastic bag and put cliff blocs in and I also cut up cliff bars to put together so I can have a variety. I put this into the bento box. I usually have it zipped closed and then when I finally feel like I need to eat something, I make the stop to open the bag and then I leave it open for the remainder of my ride. I would never eat before or during a ride because I felt like I would get sick, but when I started to take longer rides (30+ miles), I found I had to fuel along the way. My first long ride this summer, I didn't fuel and I only drank plain water. I went 45 miles...I got home and was feeling a little woozy. I was taking a shower and the next thing I knew, I was laying in the tub and the water was cold . I had passed out...hit my head on the side of the tub...not sure how long I was out...From then on, I realized I needed to be careful of my nutrition as I rode. It makes a difference!!! Even though, I want to burn the calories, I have to eat in accordance to the energy I was expending....

[Bluetree]

Fig Newtons.

Yeah, but can you stick them on your top tube?

[Bluetree]

i dunno about where you all live...but around these parts, a little package of bloks cost about $2.50. i am a starving student who bought every single piece of cycling equipment (including the bike!) using my financial aid from school. i can barely afford clif bars which i can get on sale for a dollar a piece if i go to a certain store.

Yea, they can get expensive if you buy them individually. I usually wait until REI or Performance has a sale, add on a coupon if I can find it and then buy a box or two. I think the last box(12) of Bloks I bought came out to about $15-16. Mmmm... Cran-Razz...mmmm

I went 45 miles...I got home and was feeling a little woozy. I was taking a shower and the next thing I knew, I was laying in the tub and the water was cold . I had passed out...hit my head on the side of the tub...not sure how long I was out...

Yikes – this week on TE has featured a number of poster children for preventative care... from helmets to semis to nutrition. Take care gals!