Nutrition Question

[kellen]

Recently, I've found a weird quirk about me after a bike ride (Mountain Bike). Usually I will do 5-10 miles over a few hours in the afternoon after work or in the mornings on my days off. I'm usually doing an up-and-down i.e climbing up a ways than descending. I usually am pretty close to 50/50 climbing/descending. During the entire ride, I feel fine, calorie-wise. I don't feel a bonk, I feel plenty energized, as well as hydrated all the way till when I get home.

However, once I get home, put the bike away and sit down, I feel very depleted. The one symptom is that I don't feel like eating at all. I know it's important to get a steady stream of calories, and I put plenty back in, but when I get home it feels like I just got off a gnarly bonk.

Tips/advice? Eat more? I probably put back in 30-40% of what I'm burning during the ride.

[Viva]

Sweet milk when l'm hungry,
Rye whisky when l'm dry,
If a tree don't fall on me,
I'll live till I die

[Vinman]

5-10 miles on a MTB is probably equal to about 15-20 miles on the road. I would say eat a bit more and eat right after and see what happens.

[Elkhound Odin]

Are you eating any protein before/after?

[altagirl]

I always have to make myself eat after riding - I'm not hungry for an hour or so. But if I plan ahead and bring something to eat right after the ride, I generally feel better. I've also learned to eat more while riding, whether I'm hungry or not, and it makes me ride better. (Just like I had to learn to drink more often while riding too.)

[Redskea]

I find a meal replacement drink, especially one high in protein works really well for me right after exercise.
I get the same thing, not hungary but feels like a large drop in blood sugar and I usually get really cold.
I can't drink milk so as soon as I get in a make up a meal replacement shake with soy milk.

[BeanDip4All]

I find a meal replacement drink, especially one high in protein works really well for me right after exercise.

I like the MetRex Lite for this. It's got a good combo of carbs & protein, makes for a very good recovery. My "secret" is to make the strawberry flavor with 1/2 water and 1/2 strawberry gatoraid. Yum.

[altachic]

I have had this same problem this summer, as I've been riding a lot more than previous years.

There was one time when I had to lay my head down on the table at the porcupine cause I swear I was gonna puke-then walked out an layed in the car for a while, but I knew I had to eat, that was the problem after a long ride.

I'm not hungry either and it makes me feel really sick, but I've learned that you MUST eat something before, during and right after...it just works that way.

[truth]

Recent scientific breakthroughs have shown that the ideal post ride fuel is chocolate milk. Then about an hour later eat a balanced meal. For realz.

[Vinman]

truth speaks the truff. The protien and carbs in Choc milk are a good natural recovery drink. The PRO helps re-build muscle and the carbs help replace stuff you've burnt. The key is to drink it within about 15-30 min post-exercise.

[jenscats5]

My personal recommendation is a protein shake - with milk, some type of protein powder, possibly some fruit and Glutamine (optional). The liquid is easily digestible, the sugary-carbs will help replenish you and will help deliver the protein quickly into your depleted muscles. The Glut will help you not feel as sore afterwards.....

[truth]

The beauty of chocolate milk is that no matter where you are (in North America anyway) you can easily get it.

[Viva]

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=48931

[0BernhardFranz]

mannatech sports for example but many other good things CA / MG mix vs heart attack

[schwerty]

Bacon before.......Salami and cheese during....sports drink, (not Sugarade...something with a small amount of sugar and lots of electrolites), and a pb&j after.
I've tried all the damn drinks, bars, gooey shit, and healthy options. Nothing works better for me than good ole' pork fat!

[GoldMember]

Recent scientific breakthroughs have shown that the ideal post ride fuel is chocolate milk. Then about an hour later eat a balanced meal. For realz.

I used to drink a quart of chocolate milk after moderately long runs but that was a really long time ago. Sounds kind of sick but it really was kind of what I was craving. Interesting that there's some support to this.

[pechelman]

after a summer of 40mile road rides every other day, I also discovered the post ride protein bar or drink is key. just goto sams or whever and buy a huge bulk pack of slimfasts or whatever cheap meal replacement drinks you can find. If you can find a deal on them, I really liked Boost.

I love chocolate milk, but you dont have to worry about refrigeration on those drinks or bars. I also found out hydrating after really well helped out if it was a really hot day....which they generally were in GA\FL.

I wasnt hungry immediately after the ride, but by the time I got home, showered, changed, started laundry, I was ravenous.