Ok, a couple more thoughts for you:
Originally Posted by
jkemp9
I carry two bottles (probably 20 oz, I'm not sure). I usually drink 1 and a half on the road and finish the other when I get back from my ride.
Are you doing this on all your rides, or just the long rides? For everything up to an hour, you really don't need the supplement. Water will be just fine. This is especially true since it sounds like you are eating right after your rides too.
Originally Posted by
jkemp9
Ok, to give a more detailed description of my rides I wrote down everything from my cyclocomputer from last night's ride. 18.64 Miles -- 1 hour 6 minutes -- 16.9 Average -- 1253 Calories burned. I'm in central Illinois so 85-90% of the ride was completely flat but with a head wind for half of it (as you can imagine, I'm not the most aerodynamic rider so wind resistance is always frustrating). The 15% or so hills I attacked pretty hard; raise a gear and out of the saddle. Probably 20% of the ride was through town with stoplights and railroad tracks. I would consider this an average ride for me, a longer ride would be upwards of 30;
That looks ok. Are you going out and just riding, or are you doing intervals also? Especially since you're down there in the flatlands, I would suggest working some intervals into your rides (made 2 to 3 times per week, doing recovery rides the other days). The problem I had was that just going out and hammering along at a comfortable pace did nothing for my weight loss. Adding the intervals will help you get a better workout, and will increase your speed, endurance, etc.
As for the problem of wind resistance, I think all of us here understand that! Just wait until you start doing longer group/charity rides . . . everyone will want to sit in your draft!
Originally Posted by
jkemp9
Before my ride I had spaghetti with tuna . . . {snip} . . . I usually eat out of boredom
. Anyone have any tips on how to kick this habit? Obviously I know that this is very unhealthy, hence my posting in the Clydes forum. I'm excited to try the salmon though, and I do have a grill. Today I brought some unsalted almonds to work. I'm thinking of a snacking schedule, maybe a handful at 10 and 3? Someone mentioned eating >5 meals a day, this is about as close to that as I can get. I see that almonds have A LOT of fat, is there a better nut? Or a better snack in general?
Heck, you eat more healthy than I do! Veggie burgers, kashi, etc. I really don't see anything too outta wack with your diet other than perhaps too much fast food/resturants. Not really sure you need to eat before AND after a ride, but depending on how much you had with each meal it might not be that bad.
For me, the best way to avoid eating out of boredom is to simply remove the temptation from the house. When I eat in boredom, its usually the unhealthy snack foods (chips, ice cream, etc.). I'm not likely to grill up a burger just cause I need to eat. So I just don't buy any of that stuff. Stock up on apples, pears, etc and eat those instead.
Don't worry about the almonds. They are high in fat, but its monounsaturated which is good for lowering LDL cholesterol (that's the bad kind). Studies also suggest that eating fats helps you feel full longer = less urge to eat. Just don't over indulge on the almonds because all that fat contact will sneak up on you (even if its "good" fat, your body still needs to use it for energy or store it as fat).
Originally Posted by
jkemp9
but I'm very self-conscious of my physique compared to the people I ride with, I'm by far the most overweight...
Don't worry about it. Most groups that I know welcome anyone and your appearance won't mean anything to them. Riding with a group is a good way to really push yourself, get in a good workout while still having fun (assuming that the group rides at or above your capabilities).
