I need something, some sort of supplement ?

[chris-s]

Might also be worth looking at what your calorie intake is made up of, ie what the ratio is of fat:carbsrotein.

I started looking at my diet a few weeks back after starting to feel lethargic from all my tri-training. Twice as much fat, way low on carbs, plenty of protein and generally low on calories anyhow.

If you're sed prevents you eating enough of the right foods then make up some protein or carb shakes using powders from myprotein. Add some chocolate powder or something similar for flavouring if you like.

I've used creatine, but it's more for short-term "power boosting" rather than endurance strength, enabling you to pull out more reps by helping he muscles work a bit longer. Also be aware that it increases muscle mass by storing more water so you can easily put on more weight and it shouldn't be used continuously.

Beta Alanine works in a similar way to creatine but has better effects for endurance results.

You might also consider l-glutamine.

Chris

 

[MLC]

+1

On the cycling days reckon your knocking north of 3.5-4k calorie requirement just to maintain your current weight.

1800 calories is way to few for you, to the point of being dangerous.

Seriously I would have a word with your Dr and see if they can refer you to a nutrionist.

GB155 just went on one of those online calories counters for a male 14 st cycling 14-15.9 mph for two hours burns 1,781 calories and 16-19mph with no drafting burns 2,137. I think they may be over estimating but even so if you consume 1800 a day you can sustain your bike ride or yourself but not both.

It is also what you eat if you are stocking up on empty calories crisps and sweets etc then this will be worse.

Have followed your remarkable weight loss over the last year or so and being blunt you had the reserves to handle a low calorie intake but looking at your picture now things are completely different. With less fat reserves your body will start breaking down muscle to keep itself energised and remember what the most important muscle in the body is!

Seriously fitness and proper nutrition go hand in hand you can't have one without the other.

 

[Becs]

18 miles ,1000 ft of climbing , averaged 17mph, feel much much better, milk is my epo

I'm glad it's making you feel better, but please go to your gp and get a referral to a nutritionist and/or a cognitive behavioural therapist (or similar). By undereating the way you are you are setting yourself up for a new set of health problems. You have achieved an amazing amount on your own but it sounds like you might need some extra help to get truly healthy. In the meantime I'd go for good quality full fat or semi skimmed milk to help increase your calorie consumption, but I'm really only recommending it as a stop-gap. If you can manage this much exercise on your current diet, think how fast you'll be with proper nutrition! :-)

 

[gb155]

Ermmmm

I have gained almost 5 pounds this weekend

Granted I didnt ride.

but it doesn't make sense, total calories each day was just over 2700

Could it be that I was severely dehydrated maybe ?

 

[gb155]

Well that was weird

First up

The first 10 miles were awful, granted there is a 1.75 mile 7% climb in the middle and I didn't realise how much 5 pounds can weigh you down but I just didn't have the legs, lungs or the fight, at mile 10 my average was 14.5mph

What had I done to myself ??

BUT then something was awoken , the next few miles were averaged at 27mph, 22 mph, 24 mph 21 mph, I was flying and it was all so easy

I did 18 miles, the last 8 were so fast I'd dragged my average from 14.5 mph to 17.1 mph!!!!!

I cant explain any of the above

Can you ???

 

[Rob3rt]

hi, i will say i use these creatine

i have been using these for a week now, i can see my muscles changing, and taking shape, i have loads of pwer and energy and strength, i would advise to drink loads of water with them, the idea of these is they take water from your body and puts it in the muscles, so you need to replenish your water.

some peoplewillsay not to use them, but my avg speed is up 3/5 mph, i aint out of breath on my hills.

alwas eat healthy aswell.

The science behind creatine is related to your muscles ATP system, water storage is a side effect. I'm no nutrionist nor sports scientist, so I'm not sure of the exact way it works.

I have taken it, when I used to lift weights and play rugby, does it work, hell yeah, for lifting weights it does.

BUT

I'd wager that your gains as a cyclist from creatine is placebo, it has been shown to have no possitive effect on endurance athletes, it works only for very short explosive movements, i.e. 1 or 2 reps which is why power lifters and body builders use it, it lets them get an extra rep in. Even a sprinter will struggle to get anything worthwhile from it outside of the gym, the water weight is probly more of a hindrance than the "gain" from being able to push one more rep for an endurance athlete. Also you muscle change? In a week? Are you sure? This is likely the famous creatine bloat which will go away again as soon as you stop taking it.

 

[Brahan]

I ride approx 30 miles per day, 6 days a week, minimum of 16 Mph average, with climbing, I no longer do this to lose weight, I do it because I like it, because its my way of dealing with the stresses of the real world.

Ok, so you're doing 30 miles x6 days @ 16mph minimum ave speed. Maybe you're thrashing yourself too much mate. Take your speedo off for a fortnight and keep your chain on the small ring for 3 days per week. I imagine most people here keep an eye on the average speed and love pushing themselves to go faster and faster - I know I do, but maybe if you take your speedo off you won't have a constant reminder in front of you. Might be worth a try.

Good luck.

 

[HLaB]

Well that was weird

First up

The first 10 miles were awful, granted there is a 1.75 mile 7% climb in the middle and I didn't realise how much 5 pounds can weigh you down but I just didn't have the legs, lungs or the fight, at mile 10 my average was 14.5mph

What had I done to myself ??

BUT then something was awoken , the next few miles were averaged at 27mph, 22 mph, 24 mph 21 mph, I was flying and it was all so easy

I did 18 miles, the last 8 were so fast I'd dragged my average from 14.5 mph to 17.1 mph!!!!!

I cant explain any of the above

Can you ???

Some times its just like that, you need to warm up; I'm quite often faster towards the end of rides; there may also be a psychological aspect when I'm closer to home I know I can go flat out and not worry about having enough stamina to complete the ride.

PS I've no idea on the supplement side.

 

[fimm]

Well that was weird

First up

The first 10 miles were awful, granted there is a 1.75 mile 7% climb in the middle and I didn't realise how much 5 pounds can weigh you down but I just didn't have the legs, lungs or the fight, at mile 10 my average was 14.5mph

What had I done to myself ??

BUT then something was awoken , the next few miles were averaged at 27mph, 22 mph, 24 mph 21 mph, I was flying and it was all so easy

I did 18 miles, the last 8 were so fast I'd dragged my average from 14.5 mph to 17.1 mph!!!!!

I cant explain any of the above

Can you ???

Err, you went up a big hill and then down the other side? (I'm being semi-serious here - the return leg of my long commute can look like that, about 21-22km/h for the first half and then I get to the top of the hill and when I arrive home it is about 27km/h.)

Edited to add the serious bit! - I wouldn't get too hung up on one day, sometimes you have a good day or a bad day, sometimes the wind is blowing the wrong way, etc etc etc

 

[gb155]

While some of it is downhill most is flat

I do think it's more a case of being warmed up tho

Still a little freaked out by the weight gain

 

[vorsprung]

gb155

I am a little bemused by your eating disorder. I assume that you have a problem like the people on the TV show "Freaky Eaters" where you only eat a limited number of things? As well as this you seem very concerned about weight *gain* as well as weight loss

There's a thing in your sig about loosing 20 stone in weight?

I don't quite understand your current position

As for the speed increase on your ride, resting and eating properly is the way to get faster on the bike. No mystery there. Those few pints of milk must be doing you good.

 

[gb155]

<br />gb155<br />
<br />
I am a little bemused by your eating disorder. I assume that you have a problem like the people on the TV show "Freaky Eaters" where you only eat a limited number of things? As well as this you seem very concerned about weight *gain* as well as weight loss<br />
<br />
There's a thing in your sig about loosing 20 stone in weight?<br />
<br />
I don't quite understand your current position<br />
<br />
As for the speed increase on your ride, resting and eating properly is the way to get faster on the bike. No mystery there. Those few pints of milk must be doing you good.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Freaky eaters is just what I am indeed :-(

As for my sig, I used to weigh 39 stone, I now weigh 14 stone, that's the reason I am concerned with weight gain, I've fought so hard to get to where I am now , that I can't afford any slip ups

 

[Zoiders]

Starving yourself and compulsive excercise is going to be even more of a slip up healthwise IMHO.

There are other issues at play here and I don't think it's something for the health and fitness section to solve.

 

[fossyant]

Gaz I reccon you've probably not had enough cals, or slightly under the weather, resulting in feeling a bit crap. We all have 'off days' or indeed when you up miles, it can be just being tired. Ease off for a day or two !

As for weight gain, don't worry as your body weight can shift about some times by a number of KG's depending upon hydration, food eaten. I know my weight can jump 2-3kg's some times. It's your average that you should be looking at, and I think you are as light as you can or NEED to be as your a tall bloke.

 

[Becs]

Gaz I've been reading your posts for a while. I find your achievements very inspiring but I am seriously worried about you. My old flatmate at uni was a few months off killing herself through anorexia and compulsive exercise after being larger growing up and she had no idea how sick she was until we were brutal with her. Reading your posts makes me very concerned that you are showing the same sort of obsessive behaviours as she did. She's now fit and healthy, slim and stunning but she had to get help to get there. There is no shame in it. The real shame would be if you let your SED take over and ruin all your good work.

BTW: I'm not a doctor but I have a large amount of knowledge of mammalian physiology (physiology degree, vet, studying for a PhD in the field of muscle disorders), enough to know you risk doing serious damage to yourself if you carry on like this.