Training & Nutrition - Can't Stop Eating/Drinking

I'm 18, 5ft 10in and weigh 140. Recently I started riding my bike to school again (got a new bike), and I've been eating like a maniac. Today I calculated 3500 as my caloric intake. I only ride 11 miles round trip @ around 18-22 depending on wind. I drink 1.5 to 2 gallons of water everyday.. (before riding i drank a gallon and now I have to pee less even with double the water, im guessing because of sweating and losing water on the ride.) I usually have a giant bowl of cereal for breakfast w/ low fat milk. I dont get a chance to eat really before lunch so I end up eating roughly 1000 calories for lunch. Often its healthy tacos with no rice and just beans and chicken, a big salad and 3-4 big granny smith apples. After riding home I usually eat 2 cups cottage cheese 1 cup yogurt and maybe 1/4 cup of raisins. Before dinner, I usually eat a lot of nuts and maybe some more cottage cheese and 2-3 more apples. Yes I often eat up to 8 apples a day.. 1000 calores almost all from sugar. I live with vegetarians so dinner is often beans or fish and tons of cooked veggies and a ton of green salad. Before sleep I'll have 2 cups of milk or some yogurt/cottage cheese.

about 6 months ago I weighed 175 and I got down to 135 as of last month just dieting and some light pushups etc. Since I started biking to school, I've begun to do 250-350 pushups a day (30-40 at a time) and atleast 30 minutes of crunches. I had a 4 pack when I was at 135 but now you can really only see my abs when I flex and lean way back. I know that my 11 miles doesnt warrant 3500 (sometimes 4000) calories. But I eat extremely healthy, just a lot of it, and drink massive quantities of water, so I don't know what else I can do. I think I am gaining a little weight, but my muscles are more defined from pushups and biking, so that is probably some of it. Is it worth it to try and stay away from food when im hungry, or should I just listen to my body and load up on healthy food whenever im hungry?

uhm i would try and spread your meals out a little more.. and with that type of caloric intake it sounds more like a weight gain diet more than anything...

then again you say that you dropped 40 lbs in six months.. it doesnt sound very healthy..

i once heard that your body has a kind of ... natural weight.. for lack of better term.. where it will do anything and everything to get back to that weight.. whether it be storing fat or burning muscle in order to gain or lose...

not sure what to tell you... just spread your meals out a little more .. try to get less fats from dairy more protiens from meats. etc

if you're worried about your calorie intake, switch raw veggies for some of the apples. raw cauliflower, carrots, celery, etc.

However, 5'10" and 140 is a fine weight, especially if a lot of it is muscle.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of that is due to your age. When I was 18, I was eating most anything that wasn't nailed down. Your body is going through lots of growth and change right now which requires more energy. Just wait 20 years when your metabolism slows and it seems like nearly anything will make you gain weight.

Unless I suddenly start gaining weight I don't think Ill make any major changes, although ill try to tone it down a bit, cus almost 4000 calories a day is just insane. The reason why Im asking is cus this has all happened since I started riding. Could it just be all in my mind, i think that since I rode my bike I am entitled to a ton of food. Because 11 miles @20mph (actually only 2/3rds of that can I really let it go and ride like I want to - intersections etc.) doesnt burn nearly as many calories as I now consume in addition.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of that is due to your age. When I was 18, I was eating most anything that wasn't nailed down. Your body is going through lots of growth and change right now which requires more energy. Just wait 20 years when your metabolism slows and it seems like nearly anything will make you gain weight.

I agree, age will be playing a role here. You are also very active. All the pushups, crunches and the like burn calories too. A couple of suggestions, as I ride 10 miles back and forth to work each day and was also hungry all the time.

(1) Eat 5 smaller meals a day instead of the traditional three meals.
(2) Make sure you eat a good breakfast - don’t skip it.
(3) For snacks, eat filling items like oatmeal that will fill your belly without all the calories.
(4) You may also want to look into getting a good blender and make some healthy smooties for your in-between meal snacks.

2 gallons of water a day is insane.....

When my brother was in high school, he used to eat an entire box of cereal when he came home and always had room for dinner . . . and was skinny. You will continue to go through growth spurts of various kinds for the next few years. Lean protein and grains are also good things to add . . . and anything with high fiber. Perhaps you could eat a banana and a Balance bar after your bike ride.