Forcing yourself into eating enough, a nice problem to have
Discussion
Since starting to cycle again and logging what I eat with the aim of loosing the flab, I now have the opposite issue, I can't eat enough!
The weekend was 70kms, with Sunday being 50. Now my Strava account and Myfitnesspal are linked so the total goal is auto adjusted, but here comes the issue. I can't physically eat the amount it said I needed (daily total + burnt). I got to with 1000 calories but couldn't eat the rest!
Does this get easier with time or do you just have to force yourself to eat? Now I must stress I'm not in any danger physically by this 1 off, or once a week issue, but my concern is as I cycle more often as the summer gets here, it will be.
My calorific goal on Sunday was 4200 to give you an idea.
The weekend was 70kms, with Sunday being 50. Now my Strava account and Myfitnesspal are linked so the total goal is auto adjusted, but here comes the issue. I can't physically eat the amount it said I needed (daily total + burnt). I got to with 1000 calories but couldn't eat the rest!
Does this get easier with time or do you just have to force yourself to eat? Now I must stress I'm not in any danger physically by this 1 off, or once a week issue, but my concern is as I cycle more often as the summer gets here, it will be.
My calorific goal on Sunday was 4200 to give you an idea.
Just eat a bit more on the other days in the week?
MFP will adjust your daily calorie allowance to take into account the exercise you add in, but I don't think you will die if you don't eat those calories on the same day.
If you are not actively trying to lose weight, make up the difference over the week, just make sure you take in enough energy on the bike riding days to ensure you don't actually run out of steam whilst out
MFP will adjust your daily calorie allowance to take into account the exercise you add in, but I don't think you will die if you don't eat those calories on the same day.
If you are not actively trying to lose weight, make up the difference over the week, just make sure you take in enough energy on the bike riding days to ensure you don't actually run out of steam whilst out
You feel my pain OP, I'm the same , my metabolism is very fast, I lose weight real quick and put it on quick
I have huge portions 4 meals a day and at the peak of summer I still go too skinny, it might be great for cycling but my face looks like a skeleton
Im ok at the moment as I drink a lot of beer and have cut down on long distance cycling, just doing shorter more full on rides
I have proper blow outs and have eaten whole cheesecakes in one sitting before
I ease off the cycling around Christmas and eat the same and put on about a stone in the fortnight
I have huge portions 4 meals a day and at the peak of summer I still go too skinny, it might be great for cycling but my face looks like a skeleton
Im ok at the moment as I drink a lot of beer and have cut down on long distance cycling, just doing shorter more full on rides
I have proper blow outs and have eaten whole cheesecakes in one sitting before
I ease off the cycling around Christmas and eat the same and put on about a stone in the fortnight
i suffer with this too. i don't get a regular lunch when at work, and sometimes not at all. i take all my own food, so can grab bits here and there. i seem to have a quick metabolism, and after lots of boozing and roasts, am now up to 71kg! i was thinking of taking something like complan or some other meal replacement, to eat as well as my usual food, to bolster the extra calories i burn off. i guess something like that would be better and more complete than a protien shake?
Jesus man, you're buying into this way too much! Garmin's calorie algorithm is famous for being way off, so chances are so are other software algorithms. Just ride the bike and if you're hungry eat something. Over time you'll learn what works for you, and you'll get ideas from posts like this, but it really doesn't matter what the forums say, it's what works for you that matters.
Daveyraveygravey said:
Jesus man, you're buying into this way too much! Garmin's calorie algorithm is famous for being way off, so chances are so are other software algorithms. Just ride the bike and if you're hungry eat something. Over time you'll learn what works for you, and you'll get ideas from posts like this, but it really doesn't matter what the forums say, it's what works for you that matters.
Agreed, plus your body will adjust the more you ride regardless of what your garmin says you have burned in calories! If I know I am going on a hard or long ride I usually eat well the night before and have a decent breakfast, milkshake when I get back and then eat if I am hungry - I don't look at Garmin or Strava and think 'right, time for 2,500 calories!'.....I think it is more important to think about what you are fueling you body with rather than how many calories it contains.
Sorry if I came on a bit strong, I was typing the post on my mobile and it kept not sending just when I thought I had finished, and I double posted too, so that was stressing me out. I read your first post as meaning you were concerned about calorie intake just from what Strava etc was telling you. As I understand it, those calculations are at best an estimate based on some made up ideal person in ideal conditions, and at worst could be a concern. In my experience it's how you feel on the day on the bike that matters. I can ride first thing in the morning for 2-3 hours without eating anything (so long as I have a drink with me) but then I quite often eat like a horse 8-12 hours after a hard ride, in my mind that is my body getting over the exertion and replacing what I've used up.
I've lost 26 kilos since getting back on the bike a little over a year ago. Diet ( living in Singapore v France helped) and trying to average 125km+ a week in the heat here helps as well.
Although my intake of carbs is now much lower ( no French bread, less cheese, wine
) the exercise is the accelerating factor.
All the different calcs of fitness band and strava say I burn over 3k calories a day. I used to ride the 15k to work without breakfast before or after, now I have overnight oats with dried fruit, almond milk and Greek yoghurt which I carry into work, it helps keep me going through the week and I always have a decent lunch, I also have an evening meal. I'm still losing weight, but it has slowed down, but my distances are going up and the times coming down.
I definitely eat less than the 3k all the calcs estimate, but monitoring fat mass is the bit that really is noticeable in reducing the weight. I never try to eat up to the 3000, but I don't deny myself when I'm hungry either. I have to be careful I don't eat because I like to, which I find easy or snack on carbs when I'm tired.
Like others have said, eat when you're hungry, check you're not getting fatigued if you're riding everyday. I used to go out for 50kms trail riding XC stuff on a empty stomach, but not anymore. Typically I'll have breakfast and it hasn't slowed down the weight loss as I can ride harder for longer, but my fat mass is now down from 24% to 16%, weight from 110 to 84 - I'm 1.9m tall (6ft 2). Ideally I'd like to be 80kg and <15% body fat, but this next 4k is going to be tougher.
The only other advice I'd give which you're doing is to eat as much fruit and veg as you can, this is where food here at lunchtimes is on another level
My biggest issue here is keeping enough fluids going in 30 degree heat and 90+ humidity
Although my intake of carbs is now much lower ( no French bread, less cheese, wine
) the exercise is the accelerating factor.All the different calcs of fitness band and strava say I burn over 3k calories a day. I used to ride the 15k to work without breakfast before or after, now I have overnight oats with dried fruit, almond milk and Greek yoghurt which I carry into work, it helps keep me going through the week and I always have a decent lunch, I also have an evening meal. I'm still losing weight, but it has slowed down, but my distances are going up and the times coming down.
I definitely eat less than the 3k all the calcs estimate, but monitoring fat mass is the bit that really is noticeable in reducing the weight. I never try to eat up to the 3000, but I don't deny myself when I'm hungry either. I have to be careful I don't eat because I like to, which I find easy or snack on carbs when I'm tired.
Like others have said, eat when you're hungry, check you're not getting fatigued if you're riding everyday. I used to go out for 50kms trail riding XC stuff on a empty stomach, but not anymore. Typically I'll have breakfast and it hasn't slowed down the weight loss as I can ride harder for longer, but my fat mass is now down from 24% to 16%, weight from 110 to 84 - I'm 1.9m tall (6ft 2). Ideally I'd like to be 80kg and <15% body fat, but this next 4k is going to be tougher.
The only other advice I'd give which you're doing is to eat as much fruit and veg as you can, this is where food here at lunchtimes is on another level
My biggest issue here is keeping enough fluids going in 30 degree heat and 90+ humidity
Edited by Johno on Thursday 19th March 13:13
AyBee said:
Craikeybaby said:
What a problem to have! I've lost a bit of weight since I started cycling, but I'm sure I'd put on weight if I even cycled near a cake shop...
I cycle to cake shops - isn't that the whole idea of cycling? 
Stopped for a burger mid-ride by Lewis Craik, on FlickrAyBee said:
Craikeybaby said:
What a problem to have! I've lost a bit of weight since I started cycling, but I'm sure I'd put on weight if I even cycled near a cake shop...
I cycle to cake shops - isn't that the whole idea of cycling? Currently I'm cycling to work Tuesday to Thursday, a distance of 3.5 miles each way, on an old mountain bike, and doing a hour on the Bouldering walls of the local climbing wall once a week, and not actually losing weight. After easter, might have to take a longer route home, and avoid the cake and chips (lovely on the same plate)
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff