TechKnowGN

Ok, So I've been riding for a couple weeks now. Im commuting a relatively short distance (10 Mi roundtrip) 2-3 days a week and averaging now about 10 MPH. I did 1:10 of hard riding on sunday, and that made for 30 miles fri - sunday.

What Im finding is that I AM STARVING! Not literally of course, but that I am nearly constantly very hungry. And the cravings Im getting are for meat, specifically beef (cheeseburgers, etc). The problem is, these types of foods are my biggest weakness, and since I got on WeightWatchers over a year ago, I usually can shut the cravings down. But since Ive started riding the cravings have come on with such strength its been tough to resist (and Ive failed more than once).

I expected my food intake to uptick slightly because i knew my metabolism would be rising, but unsure what the dealio is.

Any thoughts?

Tom Stormcrowe

Sounds like you need to up your protein. Maybe your fats a little as well and drop back on the carbs to compensate for a bit. Your body is craving something it needs.

TechKnowGN

That's what I sort of figured, it's what my nutritionist would have told me, but I swear I've never felt anything like this. I love the rush of the bike, but sometimes I'd be biking by White Castle or whatever is on the route, and just picture myself sitting there eating like 5 of them ! LOL

lil brown bat

A 5-mile ride isn't that much and shouldn't leave you "starving". At a guess, since going on WW you've cut your calories but still aren't necessarily getting the best nutrition for your calories. "Get more protein" may or may not be the answer; I'd suggest starting by taking a close look at what you're eating and what nutrition it's getting you.

TechKnowGN

Generally I eat very nutritiously since about September of 2006. Lean meats, vegetables, etc. I know 5 miles isnt very much but at the end of the ride Im feeling pretty tired. I dont run (other than short burst) for fear of what it would do to knees, etc. And while my walking gets my heart rate up, its nothing compared to what I get from riding, which Im not used to.

Neil_B

Tom, could it be his metabolism is increased now from the new type of exercise? Even at five miles, it's a lot more cardio than he had been getting.

Tom Stormcrowe

Yeah, and also, he may be experiencing prolonged insulin production due to what kind of foods he's eating as well. The attendant low blood sugar will increase the appetite. There are a number of possible factors, and the increase in proteins/fats without increasing the calories is a fast and dirty method to maybe compensate for the cravings and control them.

lbb makes an excellent point about the types of foods you are eating though techno.....

Keep a journal of everything that you eat and drink and see if there is a trend of foods that may stimulate increased insulin production.

edit: Also, with the higher protein intake, remember to up the hydration. Your kidneys will thank you for it.

also, keep some glucose tabs in case you experience a severe low blood sugar event, and think about a diabetes screening as well, since these "cravings" can be an indicator of a prediabetes condition.

twilkins9076

I agree completely. What you indicate you're riding shouldn't be enough to cause you to be hungry all the time. I'm guessing you're not getting the right proportions of fats, carbs, and protein to support what appears to now be addition of exercise to your weight loss program.

Admittedly, I'm not an expert, but I've managed to maintain my weight at a nice level by eating a balanced diet and getting a lot of exercise. My wife tends to fight the same ten pounds over and over, and I've definately observed that when she's trying to lose weight, she can't ride worth a darn on the high protein, low carb diets.

If you've got access to a sports nutritionist through a fitness club, gym, or health care provider, it would probably be a great investment to sit down with him/her to develop a plan to keep you on the right track and still provide fuel for exercise.

TechKnowGN

All good advice.

I keep a food journal as part of weightwatchers its part of the plan. Know my calorie/points intake at pretty much any time of day.

Recent diabetes screening (less than 1 month ago) was very good (78), as were all my cholestoral numbers. My good cholestoral was a tad low, got the fish oil pills for that (need to take them more regularly though).

Maybe I overstated the constant part of being hungry. I get hungry sooner after being at work (usual lunch is 11-1130 am, now hungry about 1030), within half an hour of riding home from work (about 430-5, usual dinner between 6 and 7) and wanting late night snacks. so it maybe it just feels like its all the time.

I think i just need to suck it upo a bit and remember im going to be hungrier until my body adjusts.

TechKnowGN

I walk with mild exertion 3 or 4 times a week right now with my fiance, generally 1 walk race every other week with high exertion, and my commute has taken the place of my 3 days of hard walking training. When racing or training heart rate usually peaks in the 140s, im seeing in the 160s or higher when riding (especially on inclines) I was playing hockey once a week for most of the past few years but had to take this session off due to financials from the wedding.

I dont think its more cardio, just harder cardio.

Indie

I had a similar thing going on when I started, and I was riding similarly short commutes (5 mi / 8 km each way). I'd get home from work and I'd be hungry and wanting protein. A veggie burger or a tofu-heavy stir fry would take care of it (granted, I haven't eaten meat in fifteen years). My body got used to the new higher activity levels, and as I started being able to ride this distance without being completely dead at the end of it, I also stopped having urgent hunger after rides.

flip18436572

My wife was think prediabetes with me, but I looked at my diet and did a full day of what I was actually eating, and my carbs were much higher than I thought, and my 40 mile ride just zapped me the last time and that was a clue that I needed to look at my diet again. I was having the hunger pangs, and decided that I should just eat something small, but I then wanted more.I also noticed that my water intake was just barely at the 64 oz/day and with over an hour of hard exercise for me I need to add at least 20 more ounces. And for a 40 mile ride I should be over 100 ounces of water for the day. My urine color also made it pretty obvious to me that I needed to increase my water intake.

Mr. Beanz

I agree with Tom's need protein advice. Hard exercise demands more from your body so you need a bit more than the usual weightwatchers diet. Protein helps the bod recover and feeds the muscles.

When I was in good shape, I was riding hard. Eating high in protein diets. Other than that, rather balanced too. None of theat low carb diet hype. I'd eat right and on a daily schedule. When lunchtime arrived, my body craved the chicken and protein. Almost like an auto alarm!

At that point, if I were to substitue a big fat burrito from Taco Bell, my body was not nutritionally satisfied. I could stuff my face but I'd still end up hungry. Give my body what it needs and craves, it was happy.

TechKnowGN

Thanks for all the help gang. For lunch I had a salad loaded with turkey and egg, stayed reasonable on points, but definitely stronger on the protein. I had a roll, as i didnt want to reduce the carbs too much. Im going to keep an on eye how i feel over the next few days and shift the diet a bit.

JusticeZero

Not a fan of rolls, soft white breads spike your blood sugar too hard. All my breads are sourdough now; pumpernickel is better but i've never cared for the stuff. Lean protein is definitely a good thing to incorporate.

lil brown bat

Sounds like he's got plenty of lean protein, but is maybe a bit light on the whole grains and other high-fiber foods. Those are great for hunger pangs. When eating bread or pasta or rice, try to make it whole grain -- I predict you'll see a real difference.

djnzlab1

HI,
Many of the Diets are ok IF you sit at a desk all day and never walk farther than to the parking lot to get in your crate,
As we increase our activites each day we can depleat our glycogen stores, this will cause fatigue and food cravings.
Find a balance of protein and carbs that are healthy but stil increase the energy stores, SOme people do it with protein bars and protein drinks,My wife only cooks whole wheat pasta a great source of energy and protein. I can take a raw egg in skim milk and its pure energy with a drop of vanella and honey its almost as good as a shake. I dont care for really heavy meals if I am planning a hard ride, My weight liflting freinds take a 1 or 2 tbs of honey before and event to spike the energy, its all burned off pretty fast.
Doug

scrapmetal

Problem with food? All my life

MFaust

Yup.... I am on the See Food Diet ......I see food and I eat it ( rimshot)

TechKnowGN

generally thats what we do around the house, but at work its been crazy this week and have had no time to pack. Will be packing again next week though. Light whole grain bread for lunch sandwiches, non-instant oatmeal, raisin bran, or shredded wheat for breakfast and dinners of variety healthy natures.

lil brown bat

I hear ya. You might take the time to investigate something like Clif Bars or Odwalla Bars. Find one whose taste and nutrition are agreeable to you, and keep a couple in your desk drawer at work. If you choose well, you'll have a good meal substitute that's got a decent amount of protein, whole grain and fiber -- filling and nutritionally adequate. Obviously it's not as nice as a sandwich, but it'll get you through.

flip18436572

I haven't found an Odwalla bar that agreed with my taste buds or my system. Others swear by them. I use some Clif bars and they seem to work. Each body is different, so that was a good post to tell them to try different types of bars to see what will work for their body. We also have changed to whole grain pasta. The kids haven't noticed at all.

TechKnowGN

I like the EAS Myoplex lite bars, but at $2 a bar, they make an expensive snack. The PowerBar Harvest are a personal favorite and can regularly be found on sale at $1 each https://www.powerbar.com/Products/Harvest/Flavors.aspx

Sort of a toss up between the two. Id always buy the EAS if they were cheaper. The PowerBars have more calories.

And keeping some in my desk is a good idea.

lil brown bat

But they're not a snack -- they're a meal. Calorically and nutritionally, these bars are a lot more than a snack.

TechKnowGN

150 calories is not a meal.