I've been following this thread with interest and I have a couple of questions. First, my weight has remained unchanged and my clothes aren't any loser--even though I'm cycling more. Could the gels be the culprit?

I usually start reaching for a Carb-boom or honey about 45 minutes into my 2 hour ride. My pre-ride meal is 1/2 c oatmeal, coffee and water, or a banana with coffee, or lately, a slice of low calorie wheat bread with a tbs. natural pb with tbs. raw honey. I used to drink Gatorade on my ride, but I've since ditched that for the sport beans on a really hot day. I carry more water now than anything else.

My post-ride drink is a Boost with 240 calories and 33 g carbs.

I've noticed after I take in carbs, I feel sluggish and sleepy, but I'm afraid if I don't take in enough post-ride, I'll never catch up and end up feeling beat with dead legs. My appetite is suppressed and I don't eat big meals, so I'm wondering why I'm having to work really hard to get just a little weight off. (My blood levels are within normal range for thyroid and glucose.)

When I did Atkins, my weight barely came off. I felt good and I knew my glucose levels were stable, but I didn't have endurance for the eliptical trainer at the gym. In fact, I felt weak and I just didn't have enough steam when I worked out for 45 minutes or so. So I'm a little leery of doing a low carb diet again only because I don't want to become frustrated with poor performance on my long ride.

Any suggestions for me?