How to encourage a change of mindset (nutrition)

[adamhearn]

My cycling buddy (close friend) has the mindset of riding is for weight loss and to achieve the most he refuses to prepare for a ride in terms of nutrition. We started riding a couple of years back with the goal of doing a local 100 mile ride. We went out pretty frequently increasing the mileage over time. However he seemed to hit a wall at 25-30 miles and eventually declared himself unable to do the 100 mile ride.

On a few occasions I tried to pass on my thoughts in that he should really consider fuelling himself for a ride but he went back to the weight loss angle.

This weekend we hooked up for a quick spin round the lanes but after 15 miles he said he had jelly legs and really didn't feel he could proceed any further. Of course the weight loss vs nutrition subject was approached but it just covered the same old ground.

Selfishly I'd like him to 'look after himself' so we can both ride. However, I don't want to preach as I'm not exactly sporting a cycling physique (overweight and pretty slow).

Has anyone experienced a similar scenario and been able to have an outcome other than "ride by yourself!"? TIA!

 

[Rob3rt]

Some people have already made their minds up.

 

[vickster]

He could have a bowl of porridge and a banana before riding surely? Go out first thing? He doesn't need to eat a Mars Bar and drink a protein shake

Or perhaps he isn't really fussed - but he'll burn more calories, feel healthier and get fitter if he rides further

 

[chqshaitan]

I am not expert on this(just starting myself) but from what you are saying, could his 'wall' be because he is not getting out often enough/pushing himself so he coasts within his comfort level?

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

If his bad nutrition and flawed reasoning is holding your rides back, it's time to cut loose. He probably needs to experience the wall,on his own miles from anywhere for anything to sink in (if even)

Bit of tough love won't hurt

 

[Steve H]

Suggest you suggest an experiment to your friend:-

Two rides. One his way with no food or drink. One another way with full nutrition preparation before and throughout the ride. For the ride with nutrition make sure the distance is around 10% further than you have both ridden together before.

For the nutrition, suggest he has to eat:-
- healthy pasta meal the night before with plenty of water to ensure properly hydrated.
- porridge and banana for breakfast with a couple of drinks
- during the ride take along two good size bottles of fluid and make sure he is consuming at least 500ml an hour. Could be water or even better is water with a carbohydrate powder. I use High5 fuel with my water. Works really well for me. Plan a stop to refill bottles if necessary.
- ensure you are eating little and often throughout the ride. Some form of carbohydrate, slow release fuel is best. Bananas, flapjack, fig biscuits etc. Some even use gels / energy bars - I like these, but they can be expensive. A little bit every 20-30 mins is easier for the body to digest than bigger amounts less frequently.
- if you want to go even further, then stop for a cafe stop part way through the ride. Beans on toast is great cycling fuel.

In my opinion, just about anyone can ride 100 miles with the right nutrition, and by riding regularly and slowly building up the mileage each week.

 

[MrJamie]

It can be difficult if you're trying to lose weight, but you eat/drink too much at various points during the week and try to compensate by dieting and exercising strictly on the other days to make up for it, so you want to keep calorie intake to a minimum. Quite a few times I've done this where social life/events get in the way of diet, then gone out for exercise all focussed and being strict with a minimal breakfast (small bowl of porridge) and just not had the energy. I enjoy cycling with friends too, but also got different goals after reaching the 50 mile point together, I wanted to keep trying longer rides, multi-day rides etc. but they were more into cycling as a form of cardio exercise and second to other sports. You pretty much just have to realise they aren't going to go for what you are even if you think they'd really like it, enjoy the company on the rides with them and look for like minded people for the long rides, or go solo

 

[Ningishzidda]

Does he have a girlfriend? No. Get a female friend to explain to him why he will never get a girlfriend. Yes. Get her to explain to him he's a jerk and she's leaving him.

 

[chqshaitan]

Does he have a girlfriend? No. Get a female friend to explain to him why he will never get a girlfriend. Yes. Get her to explain to him he's a jerk and she's leaving him.

oo a bit extreme i think lol, but made me smile

 

[Andrew_Culture]

oo a bit extreme i think lol, but made me smile

Ha, me too!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'm on the narrow line between wishing to lose weight and wanting to cycle 'well'. I find that reducing my food intake is all well and good, apart form when I want to do a long ride. I'm planning a 100 mile ride this Sunday and I shall not withold the vittles between then and now!

 

[okeydokey79]

it could be that he just doesnt want to hear it off you(feels like your better than him?), maybe try finding a cycling club, a sky ride or other cyclists that you could both go out with, mayb listening to others tips might help him, or at least you will find other cyclists to go out with who want to do longer rides.

 

[Upstream]

I'm on the narrow line between wishing to lose weight and wanting to cycle 'well'. I find that reducing my food intake is all well and good, apart form when I want to do a long ride. I'm planning a 100 mile ride this Sunday and I shall not withold the vittles between then and now!

Are you doing the Strava Quark Challenge by any chance..? ;-)

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Are you doing the Strava Quark Challenge by any chance..? ;-)

By sheer co-incidence

I'm doing this informal forum ride - http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/suffolk-sunday-club-ride-2-february-food-fun-and-frolics.122676/

 

[ColinJ]

Try one last time!

Tell him that if he does a steady century ride, then only a percentage of his energy will come from any food and drink that is already in his system, or that he takes on board during the ride. (He will definitely need to eat and drink to fuel a long ride, as he has already discovered on the 25-30 mile ride.)

However, a large percentage of the calories that he uses will come from his body fat stores. I typically burn about one pound of fat per 100 miles ridden, and that is despite eating and drinking freely on long rides.There is no reason why he wouldn't lose the best part of a pound himself. (It might be a bit more or a bit less, but that's the right order of magnitude)

The only thing he has to do is to make sure that he doesn't take in more calories than he needs to. TBH, I have never done a long ride without losing weight, and I get through a lot of food and drink on them. I usually have the opposite problem and have to force myself to take more calories in, despite not feeling like doing so in the later stages of the ride.

If he still won't listen - leave him to make his own mistakes.