Losing a few pounds. Forget recovery drinks?

[Patriot]

I have noticed I put on a few pounds (about 8-10#) over the winter, and wanted to lean out a bit for summer. I have always enjoyed my chocolate milk after my ride. However, I am wondering if fore-going the recovery drink is a worthwhile venture in order to assist in losing weight?

Basically, I know ones body needs certain calories (carbs and proteins) after a ride to recover, but if I was to not take in this recovery, would my body pull the necessary carbs etc, from fat tissue as needed? Or, is it still best to use my lovely and delicious chocolate milk, and just cut back on caloric intake in other areas, such as less calories at meals, etc?


P.S. Aside of my love of chocolate milk and mochas, I eat a pretty well balanced diet, and very little (if any)junk/snack foods.

[matagi]

Hmm,the question is - did you sustain the same level of activity over the winter? If not, and you were still taking in the same amount of calories, then you would notice a weight gain.

Just my personal opinion, but I would stick with the recovery drink and maybe look at cutting back in other areas, or increasing the amount of exercise.

[kf5nd]

how long are your rides ?

[Patriot]

I commute to work on my roadie 2-3 days a week (45mi each day commuting), so I get about 90-135mi that way. Plus, on the weekends, I may go for rides with my good bikes, anywhere from 20-40mi or more, depending on weather, etc.

I have found that just cutting back in areas, such as my between meal snacks tends to be helping. I've already lost about 3#, but would like to drop another 7# by mid July. I am 6'2", and I started at about 178# this spring, but would like to end up around 168# so I can really do some good cycling this summer.

This isn't a major weight loss program. I am just trying to configure, and tweek my diet so it is healthy, and able to maintain my weight without much fluctuation through winter. Snacking on chips and ice cream are a couple of my weeknesses. It's tough not to snack while watching movies all winter as the rain poors outside (Seattle). :o

[ericgu]

Not having a recovery drink is probably the worst thing you can do.

If you don't replenish the glycogen and protein, your muscles will replace glycogen by breaking down muscle tissue. And you will delay recovery, which will mean you can't work out as hard.

You will also likely find that without the recovery drink that you actually want to eat more calories.

[Jarery]

Have a smaller chocolate milk, and a double mocha :)

No sense giving up pleasures in life, especially when they are not just 'indulgenses' but actually serve a healthy function.

[Boogs]

Cut down a little bit on overall food intake - especially if you can zap out saturated fats or processed sugars a little. The recovery drink and your next meal are very important for muscle repair/development, and that muscle tissue burns calories while you read a book.

[JPradun]

Just my personal opinion, but I would stick with the recovery drink and maybe look at cutting back in other areas, or increasing the amount of exercise.

x2