Tony V

In about September or October I'm to do my first century (100mile).I want to do everything as right as possible (training,diet etc.).Although I'm not a big meat eater,what I would like to know, how long does it take for meat to get out of your system?
Cheers,Tony.

RT

I think if you're consistent with it, it regulates. I had chicken for dinner (5 hours ago), rode 8 miles uphill, and it's already...processed.

Machka 

Here ... have a look at my article full of tips for a century ride: https://www.machka.net/century.htm


And what difference does it make how fast meat processes?

Tony V

Thanks for the info. guys.I was'nt going to eat meat on the ride.The thing is, a guy in my bike group seems to think it takes up to six days for meat to get out your system.I don't want carry any fat in my stomach while doing the ride.

Machka 

Protein and fat are very important parts of the diet of a long distance cyclist. I eat beef jerky, hamburgers, and pizza on my long rides.

Read up on the nutrition information on this site: https://www.ultracycling.com/

The_Spaniard

i dont understand why that is said, usually the people that tell me that are vegans or vegetrians, i got nothing against them just saying. but yeah from my knowledge meat should be pretty much be digested anywhere from 4 to 6 hours depending on the size of the meal. im thinkin what they mean for meat being in the system for 6 days is a bit of it my stick to the outsides of your large intestine just kuz its a bit hard for you body to digest some forms of proteins and fats. but i guess some fiber while you eat meat would clear that up. ok so i just looked it up, and to my understanding i kinda was right, it says that some of the meat cna get stuck in the intestine. apparently its called colon plaque. i wouldnt worry about it, im pretty sure a little bit of allot of oyur food will do the same.

barlows

The only thing about meat is that it's not terribly useful on the morning before the ride. I prefer to stick mostly to carbs with a little protein thrown in, where meats (especially the red type) will have more protein and saturated fats than I want. It's not the end of the world, I just don't like to risk making unscheduled stops.

But that's just how I do it. Experiment during your training, and stick to whatever works for your century ride. There's nothing magical about the 100 mile mark that makes your body act any differently, so if it works (or doesn't) during your training rides, there's no reason to expect any different on the longer ride.

Oh, and the thing about meats taking six days to get out of your system sounds like an old wives' tale if you ask me.

Az B

Red meat is more difficult to digest than white meat. Years ago, when I raced, I kept detailed logs and noticed that I was consistently a bit faster if I limited red meat intake about 12 hours before an event.

Now I don't worry about it too much, but I don't eat steak for lunch during a long ride. Although spaghetti with meat sauce is an awesome lunch or recovery meal.

Az

Nickel

Nothing gets stuck in your colon. That is a fallacy promoted by those colon cleanse junkies. Probably 4-5hrs to leave your stomach, and close to 20hrs for 'exiting' but by then it hasn't been meat for a while.

unixpro

FWIW, when I ride a century, I try to eat a good meal of whatever the night before, have a reasonable breakfast of something like oatmeal and a banana the morning of, and carry PB&J and bananas for my lunch. Personally, I don't know when I'll feel like stopping for lunch and having some good food in my bag means I can stop whenever. YMMV.

frugivore

what to do, what to say, I'll try answer your question as best I can. It is great you are trying to do everything you can for your best results. You are trying to stack the deck in your favor as much as possible and that is great. I'm new to cycling but I've been studying nutrition, health and fitness for a couple years. Since you are not a big meat eater, you probably know not much meat is required for human health and performance. In fact, is any required? Is any indicated?

In regards to how long meat takes to get out of your system, I think you are referring to your whole body as system of systems. But let's take it system by system. First system is digestive. Meat takes longer than any other food to leave your system unless such foods are unnatural artificial ones like deep fried foods or factory made foods, cereals. I think it takes like 36-48 hours to leave the colon, minimum, but i'm not exactly sure. I agree, nothing gets stuck in your colon, unless it gets distended through years of abuse, but no mucoid plaque or anything.

Then what you eat gets absorbed into the bloodstream, and assimilated into the cells and eliminated via kidneys and liver. I have no idea how long that takes, only I know that fat leaves the blood very slowly and clogs the circulation and red blood corpuscles, preventing fast flow of oxygen and other nutrients like sugar. After it leaves the blood, including all the toxin from animal protein and fat and waste matter, the usable fats and proteins have to be metabolized. This is what I see as wrong about a high fat diet (and protein too) is that it causes numerous digestive problems, then numerous blood imbalance problems, and then metabolic problems. Our bodies are designed to metabolize carbohydrate. only carbs burn completely clean. Fats create toxic ketones when they are used for fuel, and proteins are highly acid forming. Of carbs, the ideal are sugars found in fruits, if you can get used to eating lots of bananas, and persimmons, figs and grapes, and dates and sapotes and melons and oranges, etc. along with lots of veggies and then the compromise foods you allow yourself because you just want them.

Conduct experiments on yourself to see what works best for you. I am all about letting people make up their own minds. I am convinced we are all fruitarians yet I also recognize the power of the mind, that if we believe we will be deficient on such a diet, or that we can't do it from peer pressure or whatever, then as ye believe it shall be. But you can't eat something bad and believe it's good and it will burn clean. Straight and narrow is the path. Stack the deck in your favor as much as possible. Check out Doug Graham's book Nutrition and Athletic Performance if you get a chance. it will help you a lot, I think. It can be found at foodnsport.com (and I'm in no way financially affiliated with this business, I am just a satisfied customer.

Also, I see you are from australia. I just heard about tall poppy syndrom.. what a stupid thing. You have to get to know a harley johnstone- he's a crazy long distance biker who wants to take a trip all around australia. https://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...ndid=162957014

peace and joy

Hobartlemagne 

My favorite long distance riding food is Sausage rolls with cheese. On my last century I bought
a dozen of them before starting. I had 4 for breakfast, and ate one about every hour during the ride.
They give you fat, protein, carbs, and salt. The perfect ingredients for the job.

mateo44

Is it lunch time yet? Seriously, that much protein and fat tends to be tough on some riders' stomachs, especially on a long ride.

I have an iron stomach off the bike, but on a long (or hard) ride, that kind of stuff would kill me.

But if it works for you, that's what ultimately counts.

Machka 

It's all right if you ride slowly for a while after eating it.

But that's why riders who are new to long distances should experiment with a variety of foods as they build up their miles and find out what works and what doesn't.

JLauren

Your system IS meat. You animal .

aikigreg

Wow. Just when I thought questions on this forum couldn't get more ********.

The_Spaniard

nice info. i learned a good amount, for me i dont eat meat before any competition that involves physical activity, the belly just runs mroe smooth off carbs and low amounts of protein. i guess they say the standard is 4 to 1 ratio. i dont know so much about that one. i should be different for everyone. i usually do really well if i take a breakfast of a mix of complex and simple carbs, and usually take white bread type things for during the competition as its easy on the belly. i usually perform a bit better when i am a tiny bit hungry, like the type of hungry wher eu are holding it off barely with a little food and lots of hydration. i dont know exactly why but it works for me.