Snacks during a ride?
10-12-23, 08:28 AM
#76
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I've only bonked once since I started biking, I wasn't eating and I was only drinking water. That was not enough. I now mix my own electrolyte drink which is basically lime aid with a little more salt than the sports drink. I did a bunch of research and the over the counter sports drink does not replenish the salt fast enough that your body looses, so on long rides, you may bonk. For food, it's Fig Newtons all the way. They are instant energy, provide everything I need to keep going and are easy to store and eat. I like to keep it simple. There are so many different choices with gels, drinks, pickle juice and what not, it can make your head spin. Mine works for me and it is extremely cheap on the budget. All my riding buddies are doing the same now, it's just too easy and cheap.
10-12-23, 08:57 AM
#77
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I've only bonked once since I started biking, I wasn't eating and I was only drinking water. That was not enough. I now mix my own electrolyte drink which is basically lime aid with a little more salt than the sports drink. I did a bunch of research and the over the counter sports drink does not replenish the salt fast enough that your body looses, so on long rides, you may bonk.
Drinking too much water, or doing a long ride on a hot day, can cause hyponatremia, an insufficient amount of sodium in the blood. I had this happen only once on a long and very hot ride (9 hours, 155 miles, 14,000', 114F). Hyponatremia is very unpleasant -- and potentially fatal.
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10-12-23, 09:22 AM
#78
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I've only bonked once since I started biking, I wasn't eating and I was only drinking water. That was not enough. I now mix my own electrolyte drink which is basically lime aid with a little more salt than the sports drink. I did a bunch of research and the over the counter sports drink does not replenish the salt fast enough that your body looses, so on long rides, you may bonk. For food, it's Fig Newtons all the way. They are instant energy, provide everything I need to keep going and are easy to store and eat. I like to keep it simple. There are so many different choices with gels, drinks, pickle juice and what not, it can make your head spin. Mine works for me and it is extremely cheap on the budget. All my riding buddies are doing the same now, it's just too easy and cheap.
10-12-23, 09:38 AM
#79
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To "bonk" is to run out of glycogen stores. It's impossible for someone to "bonk" from not getting enough salt. But adding salt to water will speed the uptake of fluids into your bloodstream, which is better than having a bunch of water sloshing around in your belly while riding.
Drinking too much water, or doing a long ride on a hot day, can cause hyponatremia, an insufficient amount of sodium in the blood. I had this happen only once on a long and very hot ride (9 hours, 155 miles, 14,000', 114F). Hyponatremia is very unpleasant -- and potentially fatal.
Drinking too much water, or doing a long ride on a hot day, can cause hyponatremia, an insufficient amount of sodium in the blood. I had this happen only once on a long and very hot ride (9 hours, 155 miles, 14,000', 114F). Hyponatremia is very unpleasant -- and potentially fatal.
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10-14-23, 08:18 AM
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I'm T2 and have been eating "keto" for 4+ years now.
Once you are truly fat adapted - after 3,4,5+ months of clean keto... then you add consistent cycling, you can ride 30+ miles without food - IF, and this is a big IF - if you keep in the fat burning range/level of exertion.
You need to stay well within Zone 2 / conversation pace levels of effort. Every time you go into higher levels of effort, you start to burn glucose. Hills, wind, catching the rider in front on the bike path - all can put you into glucose burning zone.
When eating keto, you have very little glucose in reserve and your body can only make so much from fat. If you go too hard - boom, bonk.
If I'm on flat ground, out for a easy ride - I can ride all day without food. This rarely happens, so I will add targeted amounts of carbs to avoid a bonk.
Before a planned hard ride I will add some carbs to the meals the day before, and consume small amounts of carbs during the ride - but typically only need about 1/4 the amount of carbs that are recommended by most cycling diet recommendations.
It took the better part of a year to figure this out - with many bonks during that time.
Once you are truly fat adapted - after 3,4,5+ months of clean keto... then you add consistent cycling, you can ride 30+ miles without food - IF, and this is a big IF - if you keep in the fat burning range/level of exertion.
You need to stay well within Zone 2 / conversation pace levels of effort. Every time you go into higher levels of effort, you start to burn glucose. Hills, wind, catching the rider in front on the bike path - all can put you into glucose burning zone.
When eating keto, you have very little glucose in reserve and your body can only make so much from fat. If you go too hard - boom, bonk.
If I'm on flat ground, out for a easy ride - I can ride all day without food. This rarely happens, so I will add targeted amounts of carbs to avoid a bonk.
Before a planned hard ride I will add some carbs to the meals the day before, and consume small amounts of carbs during the ride - but typically only need about 1/4 the amount of carbs that are recommended by most cycling diet recommendations.
It took the better part of a year to figure this out - with many bonks during that time.
I bonked once but I was pushing the fasted state and attempted a more than 30 mile ride while having fasted all calories 48 hours. I had to stop and lay down a couple hours and was able to finish afterwards.
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10-14-23, 09:42 AM
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I may not be doing keto. I am not comfortable eating that much fat so I am just doing low carb.
I have lost 75 pounds since the first of February butcrecently my weight loss has plateaued. I just don’t have any energy.
I have lost 75 pounds since the first of February butcrecently my weight loss has plateaued. I just don’t have any energy.
10-14-23, 11:00 AM
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How much do you still want to lose? I found a low carb diet easier to lose significant amounts but for smaller amounts I prefer higher carbs and lower fats. I switched back and forth between high fat low carb, and high carb low fat for a month at a time also to give myself a reset so to speak. I only did that though when I had lost 90% of my weight to provide myself a more varied diet. I always have and continue to avoid all processed foods, sugar and seed oils like the plague. I eat fruit occasionally of all kinds as part of a varied healthy diet but no processed sugars or bread products at all. I've kept the weight off 5 and a half years. My nemesis is red wine, but I am honest with myself and disciplined enough to leave it alone completely for extended periods when I need to.
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10-14-23, 12:05 PM
#83
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How much do you still want to lose? I found a low carb diet easier to lose significant amounts but for smaller amounts I prefer higher carbs and lower fats. I switched back and forth between high fat low carb, and high carb low fat for a month at a time also to give myself a reset so to speak. I only did that though when I had lost 90% of my weight to provide myself a more varied diet. I always have and continue to avoid all processed foods, sugar and seed oils like the plague. I eat fruit occasionally of all kinds as part of a varied healthy diet but no processed sugars or bread products at all. I've kept the weight off 5 and a half years. My nemesis is red wine, but I am honest with myself and disciplined enough to leave it alone completely for extended periods when I need to.
10-14-23, 12:38 PM
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I'll have to be under even 170 lbs to show good abs. I do intermittent fasting to deal with loose skin but it's still somewhat of an issue. I'm not nearly as flabby as some who lost drastically by stomach restriction surgery, but I went from a 48" waist to a 29" waist in about 18 months.
10-14-23, 12:45 PM
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Can you define what realistic means? Personally, low enough body fat for well-defined abs has been my goal, while trying to maintain as much muscle as possible proportionally. I'm 6'3 and I got down to 170lbs for nearly a year. I got injured and gained nearly 40 lbs. over a year and a half. I had surgery to correct the injury and am back down to 185 lbs. I do calisthenics and some yoga and some light free weights, kettlebell. Hardest thing is getting back on a strict routine after having quit for a while.
I'll have to be under even 170 lbs to show good abs. I do intermittent fasting to deal with loose skin but it's still somewhat of an issue. I'm not nearly as flabby as some who lost drastically by stomach restriction surgery, but I went from a 48" waist to a 29" waist in about 18 months.
I'll have to be under even 170 lbs to show good abs. I do intermittent fasting to deal with loose skin but it's still somewhat of an issue. I'm not nearly as flabby as some who lost drastically by stomach restriction surgery, but I went from a 48" waist to a 29" waist in about 18 months.
I am also 65 years old and my body just doesn’t respond the way it used to.
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10-14-23, 02:00 PM
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I still want to drop about the same as you. I'm doing it by eating a whole food balanced diet within a 4-hour window every day. I might eat two smaller meals or just one but only in a short window. I don't count calories, but I weigh myself every day and adjust my meals according to my Immedient needs and fat loss rate. I would eat more after a good work out and probably less the next day or less if I am not as active, or not losing for several days in a row.
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10-16-23, 04:31 PM
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I often make my own snacks. I toast some old-fashioned oats and mash in some dates, raisins, nuts, and low sugar cholate. You can roll it up into little bite sized balls of goodness. At least I can pronounce all the ingredients if I make my own.
10-16-23, 04:56 PM
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Are you doing resistance training as well? I forget what you’ve said.
Do some gross motor movement weights: bench, squat, deadlift, overhead press, pull-ups/lat pulldown, abs. More muscle will burn more calories. Doesn’t have to be body-builder level work, and that will work against your cycling goals anyway, but will help your riding positioning and overall strength, fitness, and daily calorie burning.
Do some gross motor movement weights: bench, squat, deadlift, overhead press, pull-ups/lat pulldown, abs. More muscle will burn more calories. Doesn’t have to be body-builder level work, and that will work against your cycling goals anyway, but will help your riding positioning and overall strength, fitness, and daily calorie burning.
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10-19-23, 09:32 PM
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Today I did 46 high intensity miles powered by one Cliff Bar quartered, but only ate 3/4s, and one high energy SIS gummy. Also drank two water bottles of SIS carb drink. Recovery drink upon returning home.
Edit: The next day…. I feel remarkable good with zero leg cramps or tiredness issues even though my head was encrusted in salt at the end of the ride. Don’t know it was the recovery drink or chugging a little pickle juice or what, but have never felt this good after a hard day out. Will try the same method next time, just to see.
Edit: The next day…. I feel remarkable good with zero leg cramps or tiredness issues even though my head was encrusted in salt at the end of the ride. Don’t know it was the recovery drink or chugging a little pickle juice or what, but have never felt this good after a hard day out. Will try the same method next time, just to see.
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Last edited by rsbob; 10-20-23 at 10:42 AM.
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