lf111561

Hmm. Interesting thing happened to me today/thought I'd throw it out and see what you all thought. I usually consume 10-12 glasses of water a day. Am pretty active. Today i know I didnt have my usual allotment. Consumed 1 cup on awakening, 4 cups on the ride-which was a fairly hilly and windy 33 miler @ 16mph avg,, came home and consumed maybe another 2 cups in additon to some seltzer water. Didnt eat much today: had half banana and half piece of whole wheat toast and peanut butter before ride, an egg white/mushroom omelet and piece of ezekiel bread toast and a couple strawberries post-ride, and an orange and some pita chips mid afternoon around 330. Was EXHAUSTED and went to sleep for an hr. I felt like I didnt -whats the word- "void" the liquid like I usually do. And just didnt feel great-so curiosity got me and I jumped on the scale-a 2 lb gain in one day. I am thinking its due to fluid retentiion?? Has this ever happened to anyone? I should also mention I rode pretty intensely last nite as well, a 30 miler and my HR was up there. (today i kept it more in my endurance zone). Would be interested to see what you all think. Needless to say I downed another 3 cups of water!!

Machka 

Water retention happens a lot for people who ride long distances (100 miles and more) ... but not so much for short distances like 30 miles.

How is your electrolyte consumption?

lf111561

probably not good, I would say! would this be a factor??

lf111561

I should clarify: I tend not to use salt. Dont usually consume sport drinks unless a looong ride.

Carbonfiberboy 

I'd say you're drinking vastly too much water and not eating enough. You're flirting with hyponatremia and glycogen depletion, both. Eat, drink, and use salt normally. You have to get at least 3/4 teaspoon table salt/day. 1 teaspoon maybe better for most folks. 2 quarts of fluid per day, plus what one drinks while riding, is plenty. You're jacking yourself around so much it's hard to say what's going on. Some of that is probably glycogen depletion and reloading.

Machka 

This is about hyponatremia. Read: https://www.ultracycling.com/sections...onatremia1.php and also: https://www.ultracycling.com/sections...onatremia2.php

Why on earth don't you use salt? You shouldn't go overboard with it, of course, but the body needs electrolytes in order to function properly.

lf111561

i just dont like it i guess.

lf111561

Ok just read those 2 articles. Holy cow-I think I will make note going forward to be more careful!

lf111561

Some of that is probably glycogen depletion and reloading.-I would say, after googling definition of "glycogen depletion"-this is exactly what I felt like. Like I hit a wall, or "bonked".

lf111561

reporting in after this weekends riding. Did MUCH better. Had my gatorade, shot blocks and felt much better doing my 50 miler on Sunday. lesson learned here! Thanks guys.