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Cycling Forum: Eat or not before morning ride?

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    • CommentAuthorPremium Member!smess
    • CommentTimeSep 3rd 2008
     
    smess

    I am largely riding these days for weight loss, and I have read several times that from a fat-burning perspective, the best thing is to do cardio in the morning before eating anything -- the idea being that since your body has no food in it, it's forced to burn stored calories.   This is what I usually do during the week.  When I do a longer morning ride on the weekends though, I usually eat a small bowl of cereal first.  Of course, my performance is better when I've eaten something.

    So here's my question: from a fat-burning perspective, do you think it's better to follow the first course -- not eat, and burn stored calories but not get as good a workout, or the second course -- eat and have a better workout, but not get the benefit of burning stored calories?

     Thanks!

  2.  
    therealhousewifeoftheinlandempire
    I have wondered the same...I hope people answer so I can get help too!
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberk8marieuk
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2008
     
    k8marieuk

    Same here! I have a bowl of cereal about half an hour before setting out too but sometimes it make me feel a bit sluggish.

    Hope someone has got a good answer! Smile

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberpbenes
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2008
     
    pbenes

    my opinion on this would be to eat something small before your ride. you need energy to get you going. also, after your ride you wont be as hungry because you will have already ate.  so it can curve overeating.

     in addition the extra energy that a bite will give you can help you focus longer on your exercise and push yourself to go a little longer or harder. 

     just make sure your eating the right foods, nothing heavy, a peice of fruit, small bowl of low-sugar cerea, or a energybar. its also important to know how to schedual your eating habits to your body. meaning; if your body is working overtime with no fuel and it is a constant or daily event, your body will start to store calories and fats quicker then it would if you were eating a couple smaller meals a day. therefor lowering your ability to lose weight, get a higher metabolism, ect...

     so just eat something small. that's my advice

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberaenlaasu
    • CommentTimeNov 5th 2008
     
    aenlaasu

    I agree with pbenes.

     What I actually do before I head out on my early cycles is consider how long I'm cycling for and roughly how many calories I will burn at that particular intensity.  If I'm cycling for an hour and a half, I'll eat a cup of yogurt with some berries sliced into it (generally strawberries or blackberries, both very low in calories), give 20 minutes for it to settle as I get dressed, check air, etc.

    If I'm cycling for 2.5 to 3 hours, I'll probably eat a slice of whole grained bread with a tablespoon of natural cashewbutter spread over it.

     

     It gives me the energy to get going, but is still less than the total calories I'll be expending during the total of the workout.

    Trips over 3 hours, I'll generally pack a banana, an apple, and some raw almonds.  Just little nibbles to keep my blood sugar from completely crashing out , but far less than I'll be using.

     Seemed to work for me. I dropped 25 pounds in less than 3 months.

    • CommentAuthorFree Membereli.rabin
    • CommentTimeNov 5th 2008
     
    eli.rabin

    I always start off with oatmeal and fruit with a bit of nutella.

    If you're riding for 2.5-3 hours, eat whatever you want - unless you're trying to lose weight.  You can ultimately have something high energy, and if you're buring 3,000 calories over the course of a ride, it's not going to matter.  And you'll need the energy if you're riding hard.  You will really need the energy.

    Eat already, and enjoy it!  It's one of the benefits of being a cyclists.

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