Originally Posted by
markwill
Thank you - I appreciate the response. So it sounds like you are saying that if I transition to normal (non-fasting) patterns this coming weekend, that will likely be long enough in advance (my ride is the following weekend). That makes things nice and tidy
The funny thing is that I really enjoy the fasting now. I do tend to look forward to midday each day (merely because I like food!), but it's amazing to me how little appetite I have generally. I have no problem at all skipping breakfast now and, in fact, it is very common for me to actually forget to eat at midday, even after 16 hours without food. Last Wednesday, I was working on something and realized at 3:30pm that I hadn't eaten a thing. Given my previous eating habits (quite the grazer here!), that is astonishing to me!!!
Thank you again.
In preparation for a hard or long duration work-out I'd say the
#1 mistake is changing your eating plan, i.e. if it is working for you don't change it. (#2 would be going out too fast.) I've been IF'ing for some 4 years or so, if I was planning a tough century I might taper distance work-outs the week before and increase fats and starches in my evenings meals, but that's about it. Otherwise, I'd pack a few bars, chews to take along if I started to feel punky.
Going 18 hours without food is no big deal once you get use to it. I ran a half marathon in a fasted state, without training for it. If I was a competitive racer I might think about it differently, and I might increase my carb intake, and I might consider a light breakfast. A banana usually does it for me, but I'd be craving some coffee after the first couple of hours. Espresso flavored chews, I'd go for that...
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