|   How do I avoid the daily bonk while dieting? | AMcD
Dec 23, 2002 1:28 PM | | I've started trying to lose weight for the 2003 racing season. I'm almost 52 years old, currently weighing 160lbs and I'm a bit over 5'8". My goal for this season is to have a race weight of 150 to 153. The past two years my race weight has typically been 158. I'm reducing calories and eating small frequent meals. I eat 4 or 5 times a day. I've been lucky to get 4 to 6 hours a week riding the past few weeks but I'll be picking that up to about 7 hours/week on the bike the next 3 weeks. Two hours intensity (group ride or cruise intervals and five hours base miles, slow and steady.
The problem I need help with is what I'm experiencing right this moment. As I type this I feel bonkish. I'm at work sitting in a chair but feel like my body is crashing for lack of calories. I haven't been starving myself and I've not really got any weight off yet. Any suggestions for something to stave off that late afternoon mad craving for food and bonk? |
| don't work so hard! | johnbigbooty
Dec 23, 2002 1:55 PM | | In my experience, trying to improve your fitness while reducing your caloric intake is very difficult. The older I get the more true that becomes. I was 35 before I noticed it. So throttle back, or eat some low-fat carbs when you get done with the ride to up the calories. You can also break up the exercise as you do the feedings: more often, less at once. Schedule permitting, of course. |
| Eat nuts | calgracer
Dec 24, 2002 7:04 AM | | I've almost eliminated my intake of simple carbs in an effort to lose 10lbs by next summer and to stave off the afternoon bonk I eat more protein and fat based foods. I find that a handful of really good quality mixed nuts (no peanuts) in the morning is essential and after 2 weeks my cravings for carbs disapeared. There are numerous forms of the high protein & fat, with low carbs diets and I find that they do work, but it certain;y takes some time to get used to. Cheers, and as a side note, who the hell tries to diet during x-mass? |
| Couple of things that may help. | Retro
Dec 24, 2002 9:06 AM | | I did the same thing two years ago at age 55, losing about 40 pounds between March and August (you feel pretty good about putting on "only" two or three pounds a year--then one day you realize you've done it for 20 years). After some experimentation, I realized I felt better if I ate a little MORE, but balanced it with more riding.
At a moderate pace, you can ride for a long time without getting tired, and I found an online calculator that showed how many calories I was using at a given speed and body weight. At 15mph, for instance, it was 12 calories a minute. So I could eat, say, a 300-calorie snack before going for an hour ride, and I was still 400+ calories to the good.
Be sure to take a day off (or ride VERY easily) at least once a week--it has physical as well as psychological benefits. Don't push hard every day, either. Ride longer and slower occasionally, or go out with your wife or girlfriend and ride at 12mph while you look at the scenery. And consider the possibility that some of your bonk might be psychological--it you're dieting SO hard that you feel deprived, it can spill over. Sometimes it's better just to drink the beer or eat the dessert and go an extra few miles the next day. |
| re: How do I avoid the daily bonk while dieting? | Colorado Premier Training
Dec 27, 2002 10:49 AM | | I tell all the athletes I coach that the winter is the best time to loose the weight. Just do one thing. Do it at a pace that is no faster than 1 pound a week. It's healthier for you that way and it's also more likely to stay off.
Steve Owens
http://www.coloradopremiertraining.com |
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