Post ride hunger

[fastdogs]

how was the ride? did you ride the shorter one twice to get your miles?
I made the mistake of eating only a south beach diet bar (180 calories) for breakfast before my mtn bike ride.
I used that up walking up the first hill. About the second or third hill I stopped to eat some of my trail mix. I should have ate the trail mix waiting for the ride to start! They had bananas and peanut butter sandwiches at the first stop.
vickie

[indysteel]

Your body is telling you that it's hungry and/or dehydrated (thirst is often confused for thirst), and the salt craving is an indication that you need to replace lost electrolytes.

If you're counting calories, then bagging something before the ride to eat at the end of it is your best bet. I don't do it as much anymore, but I used to bring a thermos of chocolate milk to drink after rides. It was pretty good at staving off bingeing once I got home.

As a side note, I'd suggest being careful about relying on the calorie "estimates" from HRMs. They usually overstate calorie expenditure.

[limewave]

I did a 20 mile mntn bike ride yesterday (mostly flat, don't be that impressed). I was STARVING all day. I had an Amy's burrito with some steamed veggies right afterwards for lunch. Then later, I ordered a thin crust pizza with lots of veggies minus the cheese--I about ate the entire thing! And then I ate 1/2 a Ben and Jerry's Sorbet! And then I wanted popcorn! But I stopped before the popcorn.

I probably should have had a little more protein to help me out. I just don't like meat and I can't handle dairy very well.

[Brandy]

As a side note, I'd suggest being careful about relying on the calorie "estimates" from HRMs. They usually overstate calorie expenditure.

lol...I should read ahead before posting. At least I agreed with you.

[Brandy]

Oh, and as far as post ride nutrition. I get Endurox in within 30 minutes and then eat a regular meal (so many people go overboard with post-ride meals) about an hour later.

[mtbdarby]

Ironically, I am the most hungry for the rest of the day on rides under an hour and a half. Over 2 hours and I'm fine. And I have to say the reason is that I plan better and take in more carbs on the bike if I know I'm going to be out for more than 2 hours because I don't want to bonk out in the pickers.

I was just reading an article in Bicycling magazine that says: "you need to take in .455 grams of carbs per pound per hour on the bike" to prevent bonking and to improve your proformance. I wish they would have specified how much protein you needed as well.

They also went on to give the following recipe for a post 2 hour ride drink:
- 25 grams of whey protein isolate
- 70-100 grams complex carbs (1.2 kilogram of body weight. Look for a maltodextrin powder)
- 8 oz. grape juice or other sugary liquid
- 1 banana
- 1 cup frozen fruit
- 8 oz. water.

Blend all until smooth and it makes 3 cups = 1 serving. Drink within one hour of finishing your ride. I haven't figured it out, but it calls this a high calorie munition without stating the number of calories. I personally drink chocolate milk after a ride and don't know how this stacks up. Just thought it was interesting and appropriote to the topic.

[uforgot]

There must be something to the chocolate milk. It appears as a post drink ride a lot. I'm definitely going to try it next time.

Thanks for all of the replies. Good to know I'm not alone and the advice was all good. As for the heart rate monitor, if I ate all the calories it said I burned, I would gain tons of weight. I figured out a long time ago that it wasn't all that accurate, but I figured it was just my metabolism.