Low Carb - High Protein Trail Food

Hi everyone. I am planning to ride my bike across the US over the next year in 5 different legs. I am using this trip to lose weight not to see how fast I can do it. Based on that I plan to be on a High Protein, Low Carb, Low Fat Diet. I will use good complex carbs as necessary to maintain my health, but plan to limit them to only "When Absolutely Necessary".

Any advice on manufactures, brands, types of trail food (bars, mixes, etc) I can use during my training and trip would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

John

http://www.fatguycycling.com

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John Wolcott
http://www.FatGuycycling.com

http://www.protos-inc.com/products/h...in-diet-1.html

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A person without an opinion is fairly safe, but seldom heard

I do not believe any sports nutritionists will agree with your plan. A reduced carb diet is in essence a reduced calorie diet - and you will need gobs of them to do the ride. When you get done , use your ramped up metabolic rate and then throttle back on chow. Avoid rebound sedentariness and settle in on a life long plan that will work.

You are absolutely right and I'm acutely aware that my complex carb intake levels dramatically affect my sustainable energy levels. That's why I've already asked myself, am I trying to ride the most miles possible each day, or am I trying to lose significant weight as my primary goal. The latter is true, so I have allowed myself a lot of extra time to cross the U.S.

The first half of my trip would go markedly faster if I loaded up each day with complex carbs, but the energy would be coming from my food instead of my body which defeats the whole purpose.

The second half of the trip will take about the same amount of time either way. How's that you might ask? Consider this...If I go low carb the first half, I will have much less weight to carry the second half which will speed me up. If I carb load all the way across, I will still be carrying most of my extra weight which will continue to slow me down, countering the effects of carb loading.

I thank you for sharing your genuine concerns and I didn't take it the wrong way. As I cross the country losing weight, each state will get easier which will allow me to cover greater daily distances.

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John Wolcott
http://www.FatGuycycling.com

So you're doing this ride by yourself or did a buddy sign up? You gonna carry you and stuff? You should plan on just eating what you can find instead of carrying a bunch of stuff. I went your site this time and suggest a more balanced diet for the entirety, but sounds like you're set.

http://www.vegsource.com/articles/high.protein.htm

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A person without an opinion is fairly safe, but seldom heard

Burning fat alone cannot keep up with the energy demands while riding. Without taking in carbohydrates as you ride, you will last for about 45 minutes to an hour. The most sensible thing would be to reduce caloric intake to about 100 calories per hour (as carbohydrate) while you are riding, and 1500 to 2000 calories per day balanced between complex carbohydrates (40%), protein (40%), and monounsaturated fats (20%) while you are resting. This will allow you to ride at a slow, steady pace and keep your metabolic rate up to burn excess fat while you are not riding. Assuming you weigh more than 150 pounds (and I do not think you would be contemplating this if you did not), you will lose weight.

If you cut out the carbohydrates while you are riding, you will slow down your metabolic rate overall, and the weight you lose is more likely to be muscle mass than fat. If you eat protein instead of carbohydrates while you are riding, you might preserve muscle mass, but you will be creating more work for your liver and kidneys to remove all of the excess nitrogen as the protein is being converted by your body to sugar. It is best to give the body the sugar it needs rather than force it to convert protein to sugar.

The fat loss comes primarily while you are resting, as the body converts fat to glycogen to replace the muscle glycogen that was used up while you are riding. This is a slow process, and not enough can take place while you are riding to keep up with the muscle demand. The metabolic rate stays increased even after you stop riding, and this is where the real fat loss comes.

I have lost 68 pounds in eight months. I have only 16 pounds to go to reach my goal. I have found that 20 miles without additional carbohydrate is my limit. one GU pack (primarily complex carbohydrate with some simple carbohydrate) every 45 minutes will keep me going indefinitely, and I still lose weight.