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Food for Thought
Posted by Ace on Thu 8th May, 2014
Monkey rode the Dartmoor Demon, a very hilly 55-mile sportive on Saturday 2nd May. For a change I had the supporting role which was very enjoyable indeed, all the more so because Monkey looked so strong throughout. He had an amazing ride to finish in 3½ hours, which was a Gold Standard time. What is really remarkable about this is that whilst Monkey has always been a good rider, excellent up hills and generally powerful, endurance has not previously been one of his strengths. Since we changed our eating habits, his endurance has noticeably improved and Saturday’s ride left no doubts about that. We think our diet has conditioned our bodies to burn fat for fuel as well as carbohydrates. This equates to more than twice the energy one can get from burning carbohydrates. Ability to utilise fat for fuel means increased efficiency and much improved endurance. Simples. Well done that Monkey…
It was my turn on Sunday and I did my first 50-mile time trial. I rode a seriously negative split ride. It was a 3-lap course and my first lap was slowest and the last the fastest. I finished in 2 hours 3 minutes and 14 seconds, which was enough for a win. I am very pleased with how this went. I decided to fuel on Nakd Bars (Cocoa Delight variety) instead of the gels consumed by most riders these days. I got on well with these: natural ingredients, very tasty and mix of carbohydrates, protein and fat. Quick recovery was vitally important with 2 more key races to follow within a week. I think I nailed the post-race refuelling, nibbling on pineapple chunks within 30mins of finishing and drinking plenty of water and almond milk. Within 2 hours I snacked on some chicken and clementines, followed by a massive smoked salmon salad within 3 hours of the ride.
I rode a 10-mile TT last night (3 days after the 50-mile event) and I am pleased to report another win in 23 minutes and 59 seconds. This was a course PB on a very windy night. I am very pleased with that. I knew I could rely on Paleo for speedy recovery (lots of vegetables and fruit, plenty lean protein and some healthy fats – everything my body needed and nothing to sabotage the process).
I have been thinking since about how many sports people there are who train so hard, make so many sacrifices in seeking to improve their fitness and yet their diet is probably at best holding them back and at worst causing them serious harm. I do not hold a degree in nutrition or sports science or medicine but based on my experiences I think I am healthier and fitter eating natural (unprocessed) food. The stomach cramps which used to be a daily feature of my life are history and now looking back I recognise that this was my body’s warning that what was going in to it was undesirable and at times toxic. So as I reach for a banana, I ask those wanting to get the most out of their bodies: Why not nurture it with real food instead of the processed “foods” which have become the staple of a modern lifestyle?