What's Your Secret For Energy?
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#28
Senior Member
No change in diet whatsoever. I eat what I eat.
But I do drink coconut water before a ride, and carry SaltStick capsules (usually 2) on my ride that I consume with water. And packets of yellow mustard in case I get leg cramps.
But I do drink coconut water before a ride, and carry SaltStick capsules (usually 2) on my ride that I consume with water. And packets of yellow mustard in case I get leg cramps.
#29
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There is no miracle food, no "wonder potion/pill/powder" that'll turn you into a bicycling dynamo. All those ads for food supplements and specialty drinks are just a lot of marketing hype and snake oil sales tactics. Just eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and add a few more calories if you'll be doing multi-day long rides.
A better method to increase your endurance is to do some type of interval training - hills, sprints, etc. Try doing them 1-2x per week. I personal run stairs 1-2x per week and have found it helps quite a bit. Google it and you should be able to find some good info on how to set up an interval training plan.
A better method to increase your endurance is to do some type of interval training - hills, sprints, etc. Try doing them 1-2x per week. I personal run stairs 1-2x per week and have found it helps quite a bit. Google it and you should be able to find some good info on how to set up an interval training plan.
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#32
Senior Member
No doubt sleep, and good sleep at that, is very important. But it seems, on some of the big rides I've been on, I had more energy after having very little sleep the night before. Maybe more adrenaline kicking in, who knows?
#33
Senior Member
Many years ago, my grandfather tried to impart the secret to me, but to my great misfortune, I failed to heed his sage advice, and though it's too late for me, I will pass his words of wisdom on to you.......
Here's what he told me............................................"Son, don't grow old".
Here's what he told me............................................"Son, don't grow old".
#35
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on an all day ride last fall, I tried a suggestion a late friend gave me. 2 PB&J sandwiches cut into quarters. wound up being an awesome suggestion. I did take a break at the 1/2 way point & drank/ate other stuff. I finished the ride w 1/4 sandwich left over which was good to reward myself with in the car for the drive home
gotta remember to sip a little water to aid swallowing while riding. wrapping them & carrying them was interesting but I managed
I would do it again for similar circumstances
gotta remember to sip a little water to aid swallowing while riding. wrapping them & carrying them was interesting but I managed
I would do it again for similar circumstances
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#36
Senior Member
There are many minerals/nutrients that help to keep your body running efficiently. Think of them like additives to your gasoline in your car. Without them it prevents your body from processing food, properly delivering energy to your muscles and keeping your brain from performing effectively. When you are putting out power your body will quickly use up these resources. The key to efficiency is having these nutrients readily available for consumption.
Quick reference -
Zinc - Helps to process carbs, increases the body's ability to process oxygen through the lungs
Salt - Need this to live. By drinking water alone you can decrease your salt and it will lead to cramping, headaches, overheating, nausea
Potassium - Needed for proper nerve and muscle function. Helps eliminate cramping (Cramping rather can be a sign that you are short on potassium reserves) its like an instruction for your body on where/how to use water and other nutrients.
Calcium - Stronger bones for sure but also helps with a protein that makes your muscles contract and elongate efficiently.
Magnesium - Someone above mentioned Adenosine triphosphate, this is the cellular energy magnesium creates in your body. It also works alongside Calcium for effective uptake of oxygen, calcium and energy burned by your muscles.
Vitamin B - Helps your body to store glycogen and give you stamina in a long ride.
Iron - Helps deliver red blood cells to muscles
I am not a doctor nor nutritionist. These are just hings I have picked up along the way so do your homework and work with a nutritionist or doctor to help get you dialed in. A good unprocessed foods diet will help your body to naturally produce most of this but electrolyte supplements are key for replacing these nutrients on longer harder rides.
-Sean
Quick reference -
Zinc - Helps to process carbs, increases the body's ability to process oxygen through the lungs
Salt - Need this to live. By drinking water alone you can decrease your salt and it will lead to cramping, headaches, overheating, nausea
Potassium - Needed for proper nerve and muscle function. Helps eliminate cramping (Cramping rather can be a sign that you are short on potassium reserves) its like an instruction for your body on where/how to use water and other nutrients.
Calcium - Stronger bones for sure but also helps with a protein that makes your muscles contract and elongate efficiently.
Magnesium - Someone above mentioned Adenosine triphosphate, this is the cellular energy magnesium creates in your body. It also works alongside Calcium for effective uptake of oxygen, calcium and energy burned by your muscles.
Vitamin B - Helps your body to store glycogen and give you stamina in a long ride.
Iron - Helps deliver red blood cells to muscles
I am not a doctor nor nutritionist. These are just hings I have picked up along the way so do your homework and work with a nutritionist or doctor to help get you dialed in. A good unprocessed foods diet will help your body to naturally produce most of this but electrolyte supplements are key for replacing these nutrients on longer harder rides.
-Sean
#38
Senior Member
I stay about 15 pounds overweight and find that it keeps me from bonking on longer rides. A little bit of built in storage gives me energy for days.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
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#39
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There are many minerals/nutrients that help to keep your body running efficiently. Think of them like additives to your gasoline in your car. Without them it prevents your body from processing food, properly delivering energy to your muscles and keeping your brain from performing effectively. When you are putting out power your body will quickly use up these resources. The key to efficiency is having these nutrients readily available for consumption.
Quick reference -
Zinc - Helps to process carbs, increases the body's ability to process oxygen through the lungs
Salt - Need this to live. By drinking water alone you can decrease your salt and it will lead to cramping, headaches, overheating, nausea
Potassium - Needed for proper nerve and muscle function. Helps eliminate cramping (Cramping rather can be a sign that you are short on potassium reserves) its like an instruction for your body on where/how to use water and other nutrients.
Calcium - Stronger bones for sure but also helps with a protein that makes your muscles contract and elongate efficiently.
Magnesium - Someone above mentioned Adenosine triphosphate, this is the cellular energy magnesium creates in your body. It also works alongside Calcium for effective uptake of oxygen, calcium and energy burned by your muscles.
Vitamin B - Helps your body to store glycogen and give you stamina in a long ride.
Iron - Helps deliver red blood cells to muscles
I am not a doctor nor nutritionist. These are just hings I have picked up along the way so do your homework and work with a nutritionist or doctor to help get you dialed in. A good unprocessed foods diet will help your body to naturally produce most of this but electrolyte supplements are key for replacing these nutrients on longer harder rides.
-Sean
Quick reference -
Zinc - Helps to process carbs, increases the body's ability to process oxygen through the lungs
Salt - Need this to live. By drinking water alone you can decrease your salt and it will lead to cramping, headaches, overheating, nausea
Potassium - Needed for proper nerve and muscle function. Helps eliminate cramping (Cramping rather can be a sign that you are short on potassium reserves) its like an instruction for your body on where/how to use water and other nutrients.
Calcium - Stronger bones for sure but also helps with a protein that makes your muscles contract and elongate efficiently.
Magnesium - Someone above mentioned Adenosine triphosphate, this is the cellular energy magnesium creates in your body. It also works alongside Calcium for effective uptake of oxygen, calcium and energy burned by your muscles.
Vitamin B - Helps your body to store glycogen and give you stamina in a long ride.
Iron - Helps deliver red blood cells to muscles
I am not a doctor nor nutritionist. These are just hings I have picked up along the way so do your homework and work with a nutritionist or doctor to help get you dialed in. A good unprocessed foods diet will help your body to naturally produce most of this but electrolyte supplements are key for replacing these nutrients on longer harder rides.
-Sean
other than that: great list!
#40
Senior Member
Other than a multivitamin, I don't believe in supplements either. Stay hydrated, eat half way decent and drink coffee. If I don't do any one of these, I notice a drop in energy, whether I ride that day or not. On rides over 20mi the Cliff blocks with caffeine keep me from bonking.
#41
Senior Member
#42
Senior Member
Since I follow a ketogenic diet: bacon, eggs, beef, leafy greens, cheese (there's more to a keto diet than that, but I thought I'd stereotype myself)
Supplements include electrolytes, collagen powder, vitamin D.
I tend to ride after my work day. I have nothing to eat from about 2 pm and ride around 6. I take a bottle of water with me on a 20 mile ride and feel more energetic when my ride is over than when it started. For longer rides I may have a GU pack as back up, but may not need anything at all.
Supplements include electrolytes, collagen powder, vitamin D.
I tend to ride after my work day. I have nothing to eat from about 2 pm and ride around 6. I take a bottle of water with me on a 20 mile ride and feel more energetic when my ride is over than when it started. For longer rides I may have a GU pack as back up, but may not need anything at all.
#43
☢
Energy comes from food, and the fast way to get energy from food is through carbohydrates.
Coffee is a stimulant. It might improve mental clarity but there's no energy in it whatsoever. All that other stuff just helps you utilize your energy stores better. That is, if you're deficient.
Someone already pointed out that supplements are effective when used properly, i.e. as "supplements."
Coffee is a stimulant. It might improve mental clarity but there's no energy in it whatsoever. All that other stuff just helps you utilize your energy stores better. That is, if you're deficient.
I stay about 15 pounds overweight and find that it keeps me from bonking on longer rides. A little bit of built in storage gives me energy for days.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
And yeah, supplements are all gimmicks and marketing. You're wasting your money and better off focusing on good nutrition. I eliminate almost all refined sugars from my diet, and that helps a lot as well.
#44
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I don't necessarily take them for cycling purposes, but here's my list:
Coq10 - 100 mg to 300 mg per day
Vitamin D - 400 IU
multivitamin
Vitamin C - 500 mg
Fish Oil
Potassium - 200 mg
Magnesium - 250 mg
Exercise specific:
GU or Bolt chews
GU gels
Recovery after long rides or hikes:
GU Recovery Drink Mix - I mix it with fat free, lactose free milk
Coq10 - 100 mg to 300 mg per day
Vitamin D - 400 IU
multivitamin
Vitamin C - 500 mg
Fish Oil
Potassium - 200 mg
Magnesium - 250 mg
Exercise specific:
GU or Bolt chews
GU gels
Recovery after long rides or hikes:
GU Recovery Drink Mix - I mix it with fat free, lactose free milk
#46
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#47
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Thanks for posting this link: "Vitamin supplements don't help people live longer, study finds". It provides some good information for consideration.
To me, one of the key comments it makes is: "I don’t think you can undo the effect of a bad diet by taking supplements." This would seem to be true, and really, it seems almost self-evident.
It seems to me that there is strong evidence to the benefits of certain supplements. The key is that if you have an unhealthy diet and an unhealty lifestyle, you can't expect supplements to make you healthy and give you a long life. Heredity plays a big factor in health and lifespan, as well. There are so many variables. Personally, there are some supplements that I take and will continue to take unless there is information that changes my mind.
There are certain supplements that are more applicable to some groups of people than others. CoQ10 is a much more important supplement for people that take statin drugs than for the general population - because statin drugs are known to deplete CoQ10 levels.
As with most things in life, individual freedom and individual choice are critical to everyone being able to decide for themselves, act accordingly, and accept the consequences, good or bad.
To me, one of the key comments it makes is: "I don’t think you can undo the effect of a bad diet by taking supplements." This would seem to be true, and really, it seems almost self-evident.
It seems to me that there is strong evidence to the benefits of certain supplements. The key is that if you have an unhealthy diet and an unhealty lifestyle, you can't expect supplements to make you healthy and give you a long life. Heredity plays a big factor in health and lifespan, as well. There are so many variables. Personally, there are some supplements that I take and will continue to take unless there is information that changes my mind.
There are certain supplements that are more applicable to some groups of people than others. CoQ10 is a much more important supplement for people that take statin drugs than for the general population - because statin drugs are known to deplete CoQ10 levels.
As with most things in life, individual freedom and individual choice are critical to everyone being able to decide for themselves, act accordingly, and accept the consequences, good or bad.
Last edited by Rje58; 07-05-19 at 09:37 AM.
#48
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My "secret" for having the energy to get on the bike and go is habit and routine. I find that my diet changes to compensate for my level of activity, not the other way around.
#50
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