Diet tips for Cyclists

[RogerThat]

This just in from a friend who's been training (and losing weight) for the Raid Alpine : Since sleeping with his windows wide open and a thinner duvet he's lost an extra pound per week than before. This can accounted for by a thermogenic effect, when the body has to work harder (it's already working very hard over night to process all the toxins and useless materials from our bodies as we sleep) to maintain a steady core temperature. Worth a try if you find you're stuck or losing weight too slowly.

[Mark1978]

Since it's gotten a bit lighter I've started to go out for half an hours ride in the morning before breakfast, seems to be ok, I don't feel hungry or down on power.

[RogerThat]

I've been doing 50 mins on the ride into work and the only difference I feel is a lot perkier and hungry when I get into the office!

[Mick F]

I spent most of my cycle-commuting life riding to work without a breakfast.
Never made much difference to me.
Up out of bed at 0545, wash, shave, dress, cup of tea, check my bike over, and away with a cheery wave at 0630. Hour later, I was at work and the first meal was lunch, though I may have had a choccy bar mid-morning.

Good meal in the evening before, and less than 12hrs later riding 17miles to work. No probs whatsoever, and I don't think I lost any extra weight because of it.

[RogerThat]

What was your weight all those years ago...!? Was it stable? I think you'll find your ability to maintain a healthy weight then was certainly a by product of your early morning, no breakfast commute

I've been keeping a steady eye on my weight the past 6 weeks after losing another 6kg since the start of the year. It hasn't fluctuated by much more than 500gr in all that time, which I'm mainly putting down to my increased metabolism and a relatively well behaved diet with no eating of carbohydrates after 6pm at night, the major cause of my weight gain before.

Tell me you're not having more bacon for lunch Mick!!?

[Mark1978]

The way I think about morning rides is less about the fat burning that you're doing at the time, but more that it kick starts your metabolism for the day.