My usual routine is ride, gym or go running at least 5 times a week but I eat and drink whatever I like (beer, curry, chips, biscuits and cakes etc). Consequently I am still far too fat. I think I am one of those 'fat people who are fit'; I have strength and stamina I just cant go fast.
So I am on a diet - I want to go faster as I am fed up with skinny co riders who I can thrash most of the time on a three hour ride whipping past me in the first hour.
In the last week I have eaten only good food - lean meat, fruit, Shredded Wheat etc and no sausage rolls. And I think I have noticed an improvement in my stamina. My lunchtime run yesterday fuelled by a banana and the Shredded Wheat was so much easier than the usual run fueled by a Danish pastry and cheese sandwich. At the gym I feel stronger too and my short bike commute feels easier. My question is - can eating decent food pre training really have this kind of effect ? Is it that important ?
Yes.
Yes. Cant concentrate or last a nightride mid week unless I have had a decent lunch
So. Eating a bannana before going for a ride instead of a pastry will make it easier ? Even for a weekend warrior like ? I can imagine it would have an effect for a proper athlete..
Of course it is. Not only are you fuelling yourself properly but you're not diverting lots of blood to your gut to digest rubbish food.
Quality fuel in = quality output right? Conversely, Shit in = Shit output, so I've heard... Think of it like a car I guess, premium fuel gets you more/better performance?
Yes, huge impact. If i don't eat wholewheat pasta the night before riding/running, i really notice the difference in power and endurance, plus i seem to be much hungrier during the ride as well. If i want to do well, I need to eat pasta - other forms of carbs, i.e baked pots, noodles, cous cous etc just don't seem to work for me - must be something to do with how my body uses/absorbs it.
Not noticed quite such a difference running or the gym, but the longest i've ran for has been 1hr 40 / half marathon distance, and i'm generally only running for around about an hour just now - so its nowhere near the total calorie burn / amount of time i'd be riding for i.e 3/4 hours on the road.
To get faster/thinner, you need to give your body the right amount of fuel in a format it can use easiest - a banana will give you better fuel than a pastry which is mainly saturated fat. Eating better will also stablise blood sugar levels, meaning you crave less sweet/fatty foods and don't have ups/downs caused by high blood sugar levels after chocolate etc. You also need to do speed work if you want to be able to ride/run faster.
Recovery food is just as important as what you eat pre-exercise.