Thread: I'm so hungry!
View Single Post
Old 08-13-10 | 12:49 AM
  #6  
bigbossman's Avatar
bigbossman
Dolce far niente
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,710
Likes: 33
From: Southwest Idaho
Originally Posted by noglider
I don't believe in sports formulations made of maltodextrin and crap like that.
While it won't fill the hole and address your problem, "crap like that" is a valuable aid in budgeting calories and fuel for long-distance rides.

Carbo-loading is great, but carbohydrates metabolize relatively quickly and you will get hungry again sooner than if you include some lean protein in your diet. Plus, if you don't use the metabolized carbs, the turn to fat pretty easily. Don't forget - if you're riding a lot you are not only needing to fuel the muscles (carbs), you are also needing to keep them healthy and in good repair (protein).

While I won't tell you specifically what to eat, I will tell you what works for me. Lean protein such as fish, chicken, ground turkey, a variety of steamed vegetables, and various complex carbs such as baked sweet potatoes, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta.

On long rides (especially strenuous ones), you need to metabolize about 250 calories/hour. Solid foods take more time to process, liquid calories do not. If you're gonna be out all day, energy laden drinks (maltodextrin mixes) absorb through your small intestine much more quickly and with a lot less stress on your body, which is preoccupied with moving the bike and fueling the muscles. You don't want to waste energy digesting a ham sandwich when you could be using it on the brutal climb in front of you.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."

S. J. Perelman
bigbossman is offline  
Reply