Training & Nutrition - A few Q's about training...

There are a couple of things that have been bugging me for a while and i was wondering if some kind people here could maybe provide some answers, here are the things that are making me curious:

1. - I walk to and from work everyday. It is bang on 3 miles each way and takes 35-45 mins each way depending on how fast i walk. My heart rate for the walk varies between 125-145bpm again depending on speed. According to the HRM i am burning off about 350-500 cals and a lot of it is fat. Firstly how accurate is the calories burnt off figure? Secondly how is this likely to help my cycling? I assume that this walking is strengthening my heart but what other benefits will it have and will it in anyway hinder my cycling?

2. - I am only currently cycling once a week (all i can do with the early nights). I ride on saturday for 2 - 2.5 hours. I ride outbound for half the time, stop for 5-10mins then ride back again. All the time i'm riding my HR is usually over 175 and occasionally gets just over the 200 mark on the hills. Is this bad for me as i only do it once a week? I am 17 and i never do anything on sunday so that is always a rest day.

3. - How do you stop yourself getting fat over christmas! My body is usually a finely tuned athletic machine with low body fat but over christmas the temptation of Mince Pies, chocolates and the like ALWAYS gets the better of me and i usually wind up a bit squidgier round the edges for it. How do you resist the temptation?

Well thats all the questions i have for the mo folks, i know there's lots there but they are things that have just been grinding with me for a while and i would like some answers if anyone would be so kind!

Cheers

Jon

After a meal when everyone else is going for the sweets, I reach for a cup of coffee. It's probably not the best thing for me, but it beats getting fat on sugar. Plus, caffeine is my favorite substance on earth (almost).

What are you training for? Once a week is not enough for racing, but if you are not training for racing, then you shouldn't really care about if walking hurts or not.

Keep up the walking, especially if you only ride once a week - in this case it will help. Walking strenghtens not just your cardio and legs, but all the muscles in you body needed to keep upright.

As to winter holiday gain, don't worry about a few pounds - you'll be able to burn it off in Jan if you ride a bit more. Just don't eat stupid amounts. Maybe go for some long walks, do situps, pushups, etc, chop and carry wood, etc.

Al

On the Xmas food question, the best thing is make less food last longer. Mince pies and cake etc are really rich foods, but we hardly even taste them because we shovel them in, chew and swallow so fast, and all while we're thinking about something else. Try emptying your mind of all distracting thoughts, and just concentrate on all the flavours and textures in every mouthful you eat. Probably you'll only be able to manage one mince pie before you feel completely satisfied, and it will have taken you about five minutes rather than ten seconds.

Having said that, it's not easy to do, for me anyway. Something's always knocking on the door of your mind, trying to make you think about something. But it's worth the effort.