markdavid570

So I've only been cycling for just over a month or so, but I already feel so much better. I thought I wasn't going to get out for a ride today, because I heard it was raining (no windows in my office, so I didn't know). Then I get out of work and it was sunny and nice out, so I decide that I'm definitely going out. Well, just as I get going and I'm feeling really good...like I'm going to beat my best time on my 18-mile ride...I notice how dark it's all of a sudden gotten and how it looks even darker over where I'm going to ride. At that point I decided that I'll just head home to avoid the rain/storm and call it a "resting day". I get home and my fiance and I don't feel like cooking and I had ridden past a bar and smelled the amazing food coming out...so we decide that we're in the mood for bar food. We were going to have salmon/rice/vegetables at home...we ended up having burgers, onion rings, and cheese fries.

I don't feel amazing, but I don't regret it either. Men's Health magazing is always saying that it's alright to do this every once in awhile. For me it's kind of a break, but also a reminder of how wretched it makes my guts feel after the fact.

Ugh...weather.com says it's supposed to storm the rest of the week here in central PA. Looks like I'll have to pay more attention to eating better and plan to make up for all this missed time this weekend!

gapwedge

I look at the weather the night before and also first thing in the morning. Today I expected a brief thunderstorm late afternoon, so today I used my lunch hour to come home and get my ride in. It worked. At 5PM the bottom dropped out of the sky and it rained hard. Watching what I put in my pie hole is my demon, but I am doing better. I try not to go nuts very often. The lbs are slowly dropping.

ntime60

My problem is I like to eat. I've only been cycling since May and it seems like every time I go for a long ride, all I want to do when I get back is eat everything I find. While I've had some success at losing some weight, it is not coming off as I thought it would.

I do however FEEL better and I can tell my endurance is improving, because the little hills that killed me two months ago, I don't even think about now.

But I have to remember, I didn't get this way overnight, as a matter of fact it took 22 years of happiness to get this way so I expect it to take a while to come off. So a little back sliding isn't that bad me thinks. ;-)

mtclifford

I always find my problem with backsliding is more in the perception of messing up than the actual effect of backsliding. My problem always is when I start to slip a little I say f$%^ it to myself and slip a LOT. I think the secret is to no be too hard on yourself when you have days like that, weight loss is a day to day effort, one incident one way or another is not going to have a huge effect on the net goal, the secret is to not be hard on yourself. Also I have always been a big fan of if you crave something really bad, give yourself a little bit of it, because if you deny yourself when you do finally snap its going to happen to the extreme. Many a pint of Ben and Jerry's met it's demise at my hands this way.

RatedZeroHero

that isn't a backslide...

that is living...

keep riding...

ntime60

I agree 110%.

A pint? lol, that's just a start for me when I get on one of those.

I am curious what I should be doing after I come back from a 18-20 mile ride when I feel like a hungry grisly just waking up from hibernation.

mtclifford

I said many a pint.....and my fave was to dip glazed donuts into them.....great now I am craving!

RatedZeroHero

more than one pint of B&Js has met it's demise with me running the spoon...

henceforth clyde status...

if I even think about ice cream and that isnt very often it is a SMALL blizzard from Dairy Queen...

end of craving

Bigboxeraf

Any beer with the meal? I find I drink more beer during cyling season. I'm losing weight, but man there is nothing better than a couple of pints after a long ride.

markdavid570

Haha...well...there were two bourbons at the bar waiting for dinner, and one beer at home after dinner. That didn't help much!

I have this problem too. Not just when I get done riding, but when I go home on lunch breaks. I find that if I win the battle at the grocery store and don't have a package of cookies at home, then I don't worry about eating them. That's a tough battle though.

As for after riding, I've found that if I eat an orange or something like that it helps me get by until I have a chance to get showered and make dinner.

I guess I don't feel too bad about this...I just need to remember how it makes me feel physically. I just feel so sluggish...and the whole point of getting in shape was to not feel that way!

Thanks for the responses!

bluegoatwoods

One of the beautiful things about being a serious rider is being able to drink beer, eat ice cream, etc, without descending into poor health. It sounds as though you are pretty much there. Good for you!

I'd urge you to take the next step; you need to be prepared to ride in the rain. Your riding will be cut in half, taking spring and fall into account, or more if you don't. The good news is that it's not as bad as it sounds (just like bicycling in general). Rain in summer is really pretty refreshing. In spring and fall when it's cooler or downright cold, you get a wonderful sense of accomplishment defying the elements.

mtclifford

I have to agree, I find a big bonus to be after a long ride I have no food guilt what so ever. (And trust me coming from me that is a BIG thing) Ice cream has always been my guilty pleasure, and after the Lancatser ride seeing the Turkey Hill truck at the finish was......sheer bliss.

turtlewoman

Ok, come on you guys---stop it with the food talk. Beer, cheese fries, ice cream-----I want it all and I want it right now!!!

markdavid570

I definitely feel a little better about eating certain things knowing that I'm riding about 18 miles a day (depending on the weather), but I'll tell you...there are definitely those days that I ride AND eat right...and well that's also an amazing feeling.

As far as riding in the rain, I'm definitely a bit hesitant right now. Moreso now because I'm thinking about selling my current bike when I buy a road bike in the winter/spring. I'm not sure yet, but just in case I want to be able to sell it knowing that there's no concern on the buyer's part. I've honestly not really considered riding in the rain, but in my decision on the frame material, I guess that could be a factor?

gapwedge

BIG mistake re-reading these posts. BIG mistake.

mtclifford

How about Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict?



Sorry I couldn't resist

eshvanu

I agree.

turtlewoman - Don't read the second line of my quote

cyclokitty 

I wouldn't worry about a night off from salmon. It's best to get back on your bike and eat better tomorrow. I noticed the toughest thing to do when I've gone off the rails is talking myself back onto a good routine. Kind of like kicking myself when I should grab my bike and head out.

RatedZeroHero

I have now backslid...
took bike i been riding to auto body guy to strip frame... took all of 15 minutes to strip comps off... still no frame
.
Trek is still too small and I don't care to ride it...
.
roadie has her wheels in shop (should get them tomorrow)...
.
hung out in bed eating jalapeños and crackers watching movies most of the day yesterday and today...
.
when i get those road wheels... going to shoot for 24miles each day from now on...
.
as long as i stay away from the shopping bag size bags of peanut M&Ms I'm still cool...