I think I will need some help working out an eating plan for myself as I'm losing weight.
The problem started when I got my Garmin 200 and put it onto the computer this week, my wife looked at the data and said I used over 1000 calories on my last ride (36kms off road on mountains) and on checking my weight I have lost 5/6 lbs over the last few weeks and being on the slim side this is a slight worry. I'm 5' 10" and was 10st 10lbs but that is now down to 10st 4lbs.
My general health is OK but I do have pancreatitus which slightly governs what I eat as I can get constipated if I eat doughy bread and my body doesn't tolerate too much dairy/ full fat milk. Having said that I do eat ice cream and a bit of chocolate which seems to be OK,
As my fitness improves so will my milage, I've done 40 miles with no problem but as I want to do a lot more but I need an eating plan to suit.
I dont think my diet is too bad but perhaps I should add a few things here and there to keep the calories up.
Can you help?
Sounds like we are in the same situation...I've lost 4kg (9lb) in January without trying - no idea where it went to because I have been eating loads recently (lunch last Monday was 2 rounds of wholemeal toast, 1/2 can baked beans, 2 fried eggs & 2 (vegan) sausages and what was really annoying was I was still hungry after all of that - usually it is only the 2 toast, 1/2 beans & 1 egg).
Want to cycle more not less, but can't afford to loose too much weight, already thin as it is, but ironically 2 inches shorter than you, female and heavier!
(Info: I'm veggie allergic to all dairy, so effectively vegan+eggs which meant we needed to cover nutrional requirements quite a bit when it came to my dietary needs whilst on tour).
Try not to suppliment your diet with empty calories. Mars bars/chocolate/more sugar are not going to help you in the long run - they are short term sugar rushes that will leave you more drained of energy then before and needing another fix. Better to eat slightly more from breakfast/lunch/evening meal and add in more protein & carbs (cashew nuts (one of my favourites)/eggs/lentils/pulses) into the diet than it is to add sugar. I find regular small snacks of dried fruit & nuts more helpful along with plenty of water. If you have issues digesting buts or seeds, both can be soaked in water for a couple of hours (or added to a meal such as a stew or soup) to aid digestion.
Of course me randomly loosing 4kg in 4 weeks suggests I may need to go off and look at my own advise again, possible not making me the best person to advise you, but the one thing I do know is that sugar/empty calories are not going to help either of us.
