Diet

Popcorn

to much salt for me

Decided I'm 100% buying a packet of fig rolls after my shift.

I hate the shit, stinks like ass in cinemas and whenever I eat it I need to floss for ages, but this thread is descending into popcorn...

Keep the flirting to pm's guys ;)

I was never really talking specifically about racing. Was trying more so to stick to the broader scope of the thread.

So when you said

my basic point was to be cautious of high GI carbs, or large intake of any carbs during sports activities.
you didn't actually mean 'during sports activities'. Ok. That's fine.

But just for the record, if I was going to "ride hard and fast for an hour" or run etc... I would exactly be scoffing a hefty meal of fat, protein and complex carbs. Id actually find malt loaf too sugary. Thats what works for me.
DURING the ride? Good luck to you.

Or have you changed your tune and are you now talking about four hours beforehand?

[QUOTE=MotherGirl;2071802]Urrrgh 2 hours before pedalling... my issue is just not having enough time to prep food and let it digest in the morning.[QUOTE]

This is quite common Jess, and can cause all manor of complications. If you have had enough of technical bollocks - then please skip the following and just read my last sentence!

I have two clients that will not get out of bed that little bit earlier to fully digest a breakfast, so what suits them is a breakfast of medium to high GI, that they consume 30 minutes before exercise. This empties into the bloodstream rapidly, and means that they have sufficient fuel and can get onto a bike, or run (their methods of getting into work), without any bloating feelings or gastric complications. The thing is, exercising straight after eating like that provokes a similar response that this "insulin spike" does. The exercising muslces empty the bloodstream of the food that has just been consumed, so its vital to eat after your activity - where hopefully you have a little more time. Without eating at this time, you are running on low, and is a tough cycle to break, as you are more likely to crave sugary foods. And so the cycle continues. Throw caffeine into the mix and you've created quite a chaotic environment for balancing sugar levels.

For journey's like yours - would you consider eating a yoghurt-pot-sized portion of cereal, that has been soaked overnight in soya milk, with raisins? Then follow that up once you get to work with something like half a bagel/peanut butter?
These are just suggestions, but hopefully you see where I'm coming from. Something small before, and something afterwards means your body is better prepared. :)

Pista, what do you do for the commute home?

You mean eating before i cycle home and when i get in?

PISTABOY!!! If I wanted to drop some weight, what would be the quickest way to go about this, I can't handle being dropped on the hill anymore.... please don't say Bonk training as I'v been there and while it's ok, I just can't take the blurred vision.

You mean eating before i cycle home and when i get in?

I'd like to know your opinion on this one, please.

You mean eating before i cycle home and when i get in?

Yeah, your morning routine seems easier as you're in your own home and can eat 2hrs before you leave, and snack 30 mins before too, but while at work it's harder to schedule this stuff.
My commute is short, ten mins, so it's not really of concern to me but I'm sure others here have a long commute and struggle on the homewards part.

Fucking ride more = eat more. Simpls

@ Aeronaught - let me see......

1. How often are you exercising/riding.
   
2. Do you drink caffeine?
   
3. How long is your commute to work if you are riding in?
   
4. Is this just for hill climbing?
   
   

Get back to me, and i'll respond asap.

@ Aeronaught - let me see......

1. How often are you exercising/riding.
   
2. Do you drink caffeine?
   
3. How long is your commute to work if you are riding in?
   
4. Is this just for hill climbing?
   
   

Get back to me, and i'll respond asap.

1.Daily
2.Yes, x2 coffee ( never instant ) per day

1. No more 4 miles commute but do extra 50 (approx) weekends/eves
   
2. Yes, I'm too heavy.. have more weight to power ratio. That said I can S M A S H it on the flat - call me Gavendish.
   

Pista, what do you do for the commute home?

If i ride into work, which is most days, I eat to simply "top up" so that i am fuelled for my return home.
As my commute forms part of my training, I am exercsing twice a day for 2 periods of 45 minutes, which means that i can ride hard - providing that i eat well.
So eating well....
Recovery drink on arrival means that i am getting nutrients into my system very quickly, before my body becomes catabolic.
Usually 2 hours after arriving, i have 2 scrambled eggs on toast (11am) with a piece of fruit.
2-3 hours following that (1pm) I'll have a pitta bread stuffed with salad, carrot and chicken. Its quite small, but substantial.
Water throughout. Nothing else.
30 minutes before leaving work (and this is where a lot of people want to stuff their faces to combat the late afternoon lull) I have a coffee, with an oatcake or two. I strongly feel that people mess up here as they are mentally weak in their food choices, and once they eat *something *they need to eat loads. This is because, and this is opinion based - from client experience - they have stuck to that "three meals a day" routine.
I eat to top up, so that i'm not hungry. I use caffeine for the ride home, as i tend to get massive benefit from it and because i'm riding hard, but hydration levels at 3pm-4pm will have a massive impact on how motivated you are to exercise later on in the day.
Bearing in mind that the respiratory system is primed around 3pm-4pm, its worth maximising that with a great ride/run/swim/row etc etc.

This is my normal day, but i reccomend using this "topping up" method throughout the day with protein and starchy carbs, and making sure that hydration is also on top of your list. I am really keen to offer more personal support here, cos for people like yourself owsley, you are stop-start-stop-start all day, so this habit is definately worth adopting, but may need tweaking to accomdate food preferences for example.

That said I can S M A S H it on the flat - call me Gavendish.

With this in mind mate, if we drop your weight too soon, the Gavendish may actually be slowed down, which we don't want.
(Unless you are happy to sacrifice such a weapon...... :)

I'm going to PM you my recommendations.

Dan, you're an absolute legend! Thanks for the tips. It's not that I don't want to get up even earlier, amongst other things I suffer from Crohns which first thing in the morning causes **incredibile **nausea and it takes a good few hours for this to pass sometimes. However, the little before little after thing seems really sensible. I should keep more food at work! I am hungry again usually about an hour after eating and I put quite alot away for a slim girl. My food absorption is all over the shop and no amount of knowledge on my part can fix this, it's just a case of trial and mainly error with different foods and then when I find something good I usually just eat it all the time and get really sick of it! More trialling on my part then...

Lots of carbohydrates really have pasta before and keep hold of isotonic drinks and energy tablets

My food absorption is all over the shop and no amount of knowledge on my part can fix this, it's just a case of trial and mainly error with different foods and then when I find something good I usually just eat it all the time and get really sick of it! More trialling on my part then...

That's so true..... No amount of knowledge can help, as you have clearly demonstrated. I know someone who gets on fine with fibre, but has to limit fats, whilst most with Crohns have to steer clear of fibre like crazy.
I imagine your absorption can be greatly affected by stress, lack of sleep and fatigue - at a greater level than most of us.....
Keep me posted. little and often is often harder than it seems...
:)

Question for Pistaboy=

I can follow all the advice i have been given about what to eat cycling blah blah.

But sometimes i wake up at say 2- 3 30 am and turn in to a secret lemonade drinker/fridge raider.

Not enough intake?

Really pisses somebody off. 'stop eating the fing ham!!!'

What you all need is a high protein diet. You can't get on the Pro Team without Protein

In all seriousness, and I typed about this before but deleted it as I didn't think you'd find it useful, but when I was vegan and couriering I'd go to Pak Supermarket in Cape Hill 2 or 3 times a week for fresh veg (mainly peppers, courgettes, tomatoes and spinach), and get a load of tinned chickpeas, broad beans, cannelini beans, dried lentils, brown basmati etc. Every day try to eat 3 or 4 veg in your evening meal, plus beans or lentil for protein, with brown rice or pasta. There is bound to be somewhere similar to Pak Supermarket in Balsall Heath, and they're much cheaper than the likes of Co-Op or T*sco especially for fresh veg and spices. Problem is if you lack time it can be difficult as you need at least half an hour to prepare something decent. In addition to fresh veg, pulses and grains try to get some spices in. Spices apparently have a good mineral content (shoot me if this is bullshit, but I read it on the internet so it must be true) and this might explain why I always feel fucking awesome the day after eating a home made Indian style dish. Try to find a book called Truly Italian by Ursula Ferrigno in Bham Library or second hand on Amazon, it's full of really good vegetarian recipes, most of which are veganizable. Also check Quick Inidan Cooking on the web, some good veggie recipes on there too. Obviously this is only useful to you if you have the time and energy to cook. Can't really give you any advice about snacks except that tahini on brown toast is awesome, if a bit dry. I tend to stick honey on it to balance out the dryness/slight bitter taste. Also, I forgot what else I was gonna type, probably some bollocks

Fuck, could do wuith some paragraph spacing

Thought i'd bump this as I'm currently at the end of day 1 of a weeks trial Vegan-ism.

I appreciate all the ethical/ecological benefits of it - but that's not my motivation, I wanted to do something drastic to make myself think about what I'm eating as I've been stuck in somewhat of a downward spiral since moving back home.

So far so good - Though i worry i'm just going to be stuffing my face on carbohydrates all week- See it as an excuse to eat loats of lovely bread. Any good tips for keeping it balanced?

Carbs are always good, mix it up with stuff like gnocchi and fruity (raisins and apricots) couscous though. Have seedy bagels instead of bread...it's all psychological! A good fruit smoothie with breakfast too.

You can make some great things with veggies and pulses...my fave (and my lunch today) is mushroom, courgette, carrot and kidney bean burgers. Easy to make, just grate and mash it all up with flour and fry.

Tofu and noodle stirfrys are really good too esp with aubergine-a great meat replacement as it feels chewy and good in your mouth.

Nothing beats a vegetable biryani too! Oh and make falafel...it's really easy and you can buy mix from Asda if you get lazy.