Training & Nutrition - after big effort-eating everything not nailed down??

Often, but not always, after a big effort on the bike, I can't seem to eat enough. It will either be a few hours afterward, or possibly the next day. This is not emotional eating(no 17-cookie binges here :notamused: ), this is my body screaming REPLENISH!! If it helps, I don't always take in carbohydrates while riding.

However, as soon as I get off the bike, I typically have either a recovery drink, or 10-12oz chocolate 2% milk. Sometimes I'll munch on raw almonds or a few veggies until dinnertime. I'll eat a decent meal, nothing too big. But a little bit later, watch out, it's like I can't stop eating. Fortunately, the food I have available is typically veggies, raw almonds, peanut butter, celery. Sometimes it will take a huge glass of milk or a bowl of cereal to get things under control. Sometimes I crave either a sports drink, or even eating the sports drink powder straight(in small amounts). Sometimes after a really big effort, I'm not really hungry later that night, but am then ravenously hungry ALL DAY the next day.

I'm pretty sure I exercise good portion control, when I'm reaching for the additional food, it's never more than a few bites at a time. I don't believe I'm eating just to eat, I just stay really hungry.

Is this typical? Is it caused by not replenishing while riding?

A few key points
1-I drink enough water. Lots of it.
2-I don't always eat very well on the bike
3-I was DX with low iron 2 months ago and am taking a supplement
4-I try and eat a decent breakfast.
5-My rides are usually in the two hour range and are usually later in the day
6-My rides typically include a climb, due to the fact that I live on a 'bench'. I also have access to lots of Canyons
7-Portion control: I think I'm pretty good. I usually try and stick with 5-6 meals the around size of my fist.

heh... sounds like me. I can eat a big dinner after a long hard ride through the hills and be hungry again in a couple of hours.

Have you tried eating a small meal before your ride? If you don't feel naseous on your ride after eating you might want to try an extra snack before your ride because it sounds like your metabolism has increased.

Me too!

After a century I am bottomless the whole next day. I don't fight it. I eat a lot of good healthy food the next day.
I also get in a 15 -20 mile recovery ride that day so at least I burn off some of the 3000 calories :eek: I eat.

Not I. However, I did have that issue sometime ago.

I eat before I ride, while riding, and afterward.
Occasionally I goof up or simply feel like eating because I can and then binge.

I used to have a similar problem with training. High-cardio workouts (swimming, biking, and running -and thus the bane of the triathlete) can either work two ways:

You start with adequate glycogen stores and finish feeling not-hungry.

OR

You start without adequate glycogen stores and finish feeling famished.

Eating breakfast high in fiber and whole grains is important. Eating something small 30 minutes before you exercise helps a whole lot.

Since I started adhering to these two general guidelines, I have to force myself to eat after riding. I just am not interested in eating. I eat anyway because I know I have to, but it gives me the chance to really concentrate on what I'm eating instead of taking the whole pantry apart.

Before every Century I have a good old pasta dinner, and then event day I have 2 cliff bars and a banana for breakfast.

I eat during the ride, Gu, PB&J, Endurox etc. and I eat a good post ride dinner.
It is the next day for me that is crazy hungry.

Often, but not always, after a big effort on the bike, I can't seem to eat enough. It will either be a few hours afterward, or possibly the next day. This is not emotional eating(no 17-cookie binges here :notamused: ), this is my body screaming REPLENISH!! If it helps, I don't always take in carbohydrates while riding.

I love it when people put the answer in the question.

I should ask, is this is a problem for you? Are you gaining weight because of it? Or trying to lose weight and remaining steady?

I should ask, is this is a problem for you? Are you gaining weight because of it? Or trying to lose weight and remaining steady?

Actually, I wouldn't consider it to be a problem...But I am holding steady and wish I was losing weight!

I should say that this doesn't happen EVERY time I have a hard effort, but it seems to happen quite often.

I have filled my stomach and still had urges to continue to eat.

If you want to loose weight -- as umd pointed out -- take in some more carbs/cals while on the bike. This will limit the binge and make it easier to create a cal deficit if you "wish" you were dropping a few pounds.

Start eating 250-300 calories per hour while you ride and see how you feel.

I have filled my stomach and still had urges to continue to eat.

If you want to loose weight -- as umd pointed out -- take in some more carbs/cals while on the bike. This will limit the binge and make it easier to create a cal deficit if you "wish" you were dropping a few pounds.

I try to break even on big rides even when I am working on dropping weight. Bonking or having a lousy ride are not worth it. It seems to me that keeping your daily calories down is much more effective than trying to loose weight with big rides. Normal length riding is a vital part of weight loss.
My 2 cents.