Gaining weight after a long ride?

[OakLeaf]

Would you be eating this brown rice bowl for lunch or breakfast??? for a ride.

A late lunch, before an evening ride. That's why it really takes an effort, because it's all about the timing! I haven't found anything else that gives me the same sustained energy.

[Crankin]

OK, I never thought I would be writing here, but I seem to be having the "gain weight after a ride" issue. I noticed it last year a bit, but now it's definitely a pattern.
It's not just after long rides, either, but it's more after a long ride. My weight fluctuates 2-3 lbs. normally. I have to be uber disciplined, or I will gain 5-6 lbs just looking at food. I eat healthily, and I don't starve myself. I have had to mix up my exercise, which seems to help, but now that cycling season is here, it's a noticeable trend. When I first started riding, I lost about 10 lbs (needed). After long rides, I would actually lose weight. In the past couple of years I have tried to be aware of not eating too much i.e. Luna bars and if it's less than 25 miles I only drink water or use Nuun, which is only 5 calories. I do use Accelerade on long rides as I bonk easily. I usually drink skim chocolate milk as a recovery drink.
I am not overweight, but I see definite changes in my body in places I don't like. I guess it's back to weight lifting, which I hate, but...

[tulip]

I rode nearly 300 miles on a weeklong cycling vacation a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't lose any weight. I wasn't trying to, but I found that interesting. Could it have been the post-ride recovery chocolate malts??

[Crankin]

It's true that much of my cycling involves social stuff and eating. I have never expected to lose weight on tours where visits to gourmet restaurants are involved, but I do expect to be able to maintain my weight during normal week day and weekend riding.
I cannot ride and restrict my calories too much. I normally try and eat a low glycemic diet, but I absolutely have to add in some good carbs when I ride. It seems that I am at the point that eating a whole wheat bagel causes me to gain a pound! I don't want to obsess on my weight, but I have worked hard to still be thin at age 55. I's not effortless, as some people think.

[OakLeaf]

I haven't been following this thread too closely, and I think it did sound like the OP's issue was likely calorie-related.

BUT. I read something a while back that said the #1 predictor of hyponatremia after a long run was weight gain. Not total water intake, not anything else - weight gain.

I really struggle with electrolyte replacement, so I don't have any good advice on how to know when plain water is enough and when it isn't. Often it seems I just can't get enough salt, but my BP tends to run a little high so I'm careful with it, and I wind up hyponatremic. Thank goodness, never so severely that my heart has been affected, but enough that I've wound up severely dehydrated after a few days of just trying to sip plain water because I couldn't keep anything down. It honestly took me over a decade to figure out what was going on, including a trip to the ER for rehydration where neither the ER doctors nor my PCP figured it out. At least I know now that whenever I'm nauseous, it's probably hyponatremia. But I still have no idea how to figure electrolyte quantities preventively.

Just another thing to think about. As if there isn't already enough in this thread to think about.

[maillotpois]

I rode nearly 300 miles on a weeklong cycling vacation a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't lose any weight. I wasn't trying to, but I found that interesting. Could it have been the post-ride recovery chocolate malts??

Nah!

[Karma007]

I love this thread. I woke up this morning after a 60 mile ride this weekend, having gained 2 lbs. What's hardest to take is that I'm still so tired, and to have gained weight on top of it's pretty irritating. (I have a hard time relaxing on weekends even after a long ride, and by the time I'm ready for a good night's sleep, the Monday morning alarm goes off). Glad to know I'm not alone. I could cut the beer back on Saturday nights, but honestly, I'm so tired at that point, I only have a couple.

[Veronica]

I could cut the beer back on Saturday nights, but honestly, I'm so tired at that point, I only have a couple.

You know an ounce of beer has about ten calories. I'd rather have an ice cream than a couple of beers.

Veronica

[Karma007]

You know an ounce of beer has about ten calories. I'd rather have an ice cream than a couple of beers.

Veronica

Deal! You can have the iceream and I'll take the beer

[KellyBRunning]

Thank you so much for everyone who responded to this thread!

I have 20 more pounds to lose (after losing 95) and I have been frustrated with those giant jumps in weight after key workouts. Now that I understand why they are happening, it will definitely help my attitude!

Thanks to all!