JaimeRiley

I'm 18, 133lbs. I ride about 10-13 miles almost everyday(started last thursday). I eat 4-6 meals a day. I'm eatting very healthy but I've been logging my food intake on fitday.com and I noticed that I eat a lot more carbs than anything else. So I'm trying to reduce my carb in take..not trying low carb diet or anything just trying to reducing my intake. When I add up foods that are lower in carbs it annoys me because when I choose foods that are lower in carbs the calories aren't adding up. It's 5:54pm and I've only had around 600 calories..ahhh. It's really annoying trying to balance foods that are healthy, low in carbs, and not huge in calories. Can someone help me please?!

manual_overide

carbohydrates are your body's preferred fuel source. why do you want to deny your body the best fuel it can get?

JaimeRiley

Because I think I'm consuming too many carbs a day.

VanceMac

+1.

Cyclists should pay no attention to low-carb advice.
Teenagers should pay no attention to low-carb advice.
Teenage cyclists (who weigh 133lbs) should become best friends with carbs!

JaimeRiley

VanceMac that's what I thought, but I guess I have just been reading too many articles and stuff in biking forums about carbs and other stuff and I'm alittle confused. I know I am not technically overweight but I am 5'3 and I guess a small frame because I have lovehandles and a gut. I just want to look and feel healthy.

DannoXYZ 

The main point to remember is "Calories IN = calories OUT" to maintain steady weight. The biggest problem with the recent obesity epidemic the past decade or two is that people are eating WAY TOO MUCH and not getting enough exercise. It's almost irrelevant the type of food you eat. Actually the worse food to eat in terms of excess calories and gaining weight is fats. There's no digestion or conversionn needed, and 99% of the fat you eat goes directly into fat on the body. Carbs & proteins however, lose about 50% of their calories just in the conversion to fat. So basically if you're gonna eat that extra plate of nachos, the majority of the weight you're gaining is from the cheese-sauce and fatty meats. The minimal amount from the chips is nothing to worry about.

In your case, cut back on total calories eaten to lose weight (caloriesIN < caloriesOUT). More fruits & veggies. And ride 20-30 miles a day instead. If you can't do it during the week, then do a 3-4 hour ride on the weekends. It's really the 2nd and 3rd hour of a ride that really burns off the fat. Then get into the gym and do some strength workouts to rebuild the muscle that was lost along with the fat (really impossible to lose fat without some muscle loss as well).

VanceMac

I would suggest focusing on the miles for now... the weight will take care of itself. As for food, rather than worry about going low-carb, just try to get complex carbs whenever you can (except immediately after a hard ride, which is when simple carbs are just dandy). And make sure you are getting enough protein to fuel the new muscle you will be building.

There is a TON of more specific info in this forum (just do a search on all posts by Danno -- above), but I find that I am more successful at making major changes by making small, general changes first, and then gradually fine tuning the process.

chinarider

At 5'3" & 133 I wouldn't worry too much. Its very possible you have an unrealistic self image. Also give yourself some time. I notice you've been riding less than a week. Body composition changes take time. Don't be too compulsive about riding every day & counting calories. This will only lead to frustration & could cause you to quit entirely. Enjoy your riding, try to eat sensibly without being too anal about it & give yourself a break. You succeed not by losing a few pounds or inches in the next month or two, but by making your riding & the healthy lifestyle that will almost automatically follow a lifelong activity.

ericgu

Exactly. Don't think "low carb", think "avoid simple carbs" (or, more specifically, carbs with a high glycemic index).

slowandsteady

+1 to everything that has been said. Carbs are not evil. Minimize the high glycemic index foods, but other than that, don't worry about it.