Can Cyclists Eat Whatever They Want?

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Cycling can be a great way to manage or maintain your body weight and can help towards dropping pounds. Cycling can give you the ability to experiment with your diet. There’s a lot of advice out there, but our bodies don’t work or respond the same. You want to discover what works for your body. 

Cyclists need to be conscious of the number of calories they are consuming compared to the amount of calories they are burning during a bike ride. The average adult needs between 2000 and 2500 calories everyday to maintain a healthy body weight. Generally, cyclist burns 660 calories for 1 hour of moderate cycling so if you eat over 3000 calories everyday you will gain weight.

The temptation to eat whatever you fancy is high when you being cycling, but those additional calories can soon add up and have the opposite effect. However, if you understand what calories are and how to create a balanced diet, you can have those treat more often. 

What exactly is a calorie? 

A calorie is a unit of energy, specifically the energy required to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius. It is a unit of energy that your body uses for all its process. When speaking about calories concerning nutrition, it’s referring to the amount of energy you receive from foods. 

How many calories a food contains will depend on its macronutrient profile. Carbohydrates and proteins contain 4 calories per 1 gram, and fat contains 9 calories per 1 gram. 

For example; if you’re eating a salmon fillet that weighs 200grams, it contains 24 grams of fat (216 calories), 50 grams of protein (200 calories) and 0 grams of carbohydrate. In total, you are getting 416 calories from that 1 fillet.

Macronutrients

The nutrients we consume through food, drink and supplements can be divided into two categories; 

  • Macronutrients
  • Micronutrients 

There are three primary macros:

  • Proteins
  • Carbohydrates
  • Fats

You need to consume these in large amounts to live, thrive and perform optimally, especially during cycling. Each macronutrient has its particular role and purposes in the body;

  • Hormone production
  • Energy
  • Muscle growth
  • Repair
  • Development

You will learn about each macronutrient where they come from, what they do in the body, and why it is essential to incorporate each one into a well-balanced diet.

Carbohydrates 

Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred fuel source, and they are broken down into glucose which provides energy to your muscles, brain and nervous system. If the body doesn’t require glucose (while at rest), it will store the energy as glycogen int the muscles and liver. 

The average person can store around 350-500 grams of glycogen in the muscles and up to about 100g in the liver. This is where overconsumption of carbohydrates with inactivity becomes a problem because once your glycogen stores are full, the glucose will be pushed into and stored in the fat cells.

Complex and simple carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are categorised into starches (complex) and sugars (simple). Complex carbohydrates are made up of multiple sugar molecules connected together and typically contain fibre, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Simple carbohydrates are made up of just one or two sugar molecules and generally are found in processed and refined foods that provide little to no nutritional value.

Both types of carbohydrate are broken down into glucose, but complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and absorb. They are creating a steadier rise in blood sugar, therefore, an extended energy release. Simple carbohydrates are broken quicker, causing a spike in blood sugar, giving a fast energy boost.

Making smart choices and eating more complex carbohydrates that have a high fibre content will keep you feeling fuller for longer. The slower release of energy can help you cycle further for longer. 

Carbohydrates are not an essential nutrient, meaning they are not a necessity for your body to survive. As mentioned, they are your bodies preferred source of fuel. Therefore, it is recommended to keep a sufficient amount in your diet to fuel your cycling routine. 

Carbohydrates per 100g

Food SourceCarbs per 100gCalories per 100gFibre per 100g
Sweet potato20863
White potato 16692.4
Brown rice773703.5
White rice803651.3
Jasmine rice85.73811.2
Rolled oats603559
Brown pasta62.23347.2
White pasta733602.6
Brown bread412477
White bread492652.7
Brown pitta44.52406.4
White pitta50.32513.1
Quinoa64.23687
Couscous 77.43765
Cornflakes 843573.3
Branflakes7931818
Weetabix6936210
Shredded wheat7931812
Apple14522.4
Banana 23892.6
Orange12472.4
Kiwi15613

Protein

Protein is an essential macronutrient, indicating you need to consume it to survive, which is responsible for the growth and repair of body tissues. The body’s structural components such as the muscles, skin, bones and organs are all made up by proteins. 

Protein is required to make up hormones and enzymes that regulate the bodily process and chemical reactions. If you do not consume adequate carbohydrates and fats, the body can breakdown protein and turn it to

glucose to use as energy through a process called gluconeogenesis. You want to avoid this from happening as your muscles tissue will suffer. 

Amino acids

Proteins are made up of amino acids, and these are referred to as the building blocks. There are 20 amino acids demanded by your body. However, only 8 are considered essential and are the ones that the body cannot synthesise, meaning you must get them from external sources, mainly food or supplements. Your body can produce the other 12 and are considered non-essential.

Complete and incomplete proteins

There are two categories of proteins; complete proteins and incomplete proteins. A complete protein is one that contains all of the essential amino acids and will come from animal sources;

  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Dairy

An incomplete protein is one that lacks one or more essential amino acid and will come from plant sources. A vegetarian or vegan diet should include a wide variety of plant proteins combined to ensure a satisfactory amount of the essential amino acids. Keeping a moderate to high intake of protein in the diet is vital when trying to increase muscle endurance for cycling. 

Higher protein meals have also been proven to be more satiatingthan high carb meals. You will feel fuller for longer, and it is the most thermogenic macronutrient which means your body must use more energy (calories) breaking down and processing proteins. 

Protein per 100g

Food SourceProtein per 100gCalories per 100g
Chicken breast24106
Chicken thigh17.6230
Turkey breast28.7132
Cod fillet17.980
Haddock fillet18.477
Tilapia fillet26129
Tuna steak26118
Salmon fillet25.3209
Sirloin steak21.6209
Fillet steak20.9155
Rump steak20.7174
Mince beef (5% fat)20.8124
Mince lamb (20% fat)16.8246
Lamb chop18.5244
Pork loin19.9225
Gammon steak17.6183
Chicken egg12.6131
Duck egg14.3163
Cottage cheese9.5105
Quinoa13.1368
Red kidney beans6.9117
Butter beans5.989
Chickpeas7.2128
Fava beams888

Fats

Dietary fat is an essential macronutrient and therefore, should be a critical part of your diet. Fat is used for many significant roles and functions inside the body;

  • Energy supply
  • Hormone regulation
  • Vitamin absorption
  • Brain development
  • Nerve function
  • Organ and cell protection
  • Maintaining body temperatures

Saturated, unsaturated and trans fats

There are three types of fat; 

  1. Saturated
  2. Unsaturated
  3. Trans fats

Saturated fats 

Mainly come from animal sources like meats and dairy products and are essential in the body for healthy brain function and keeping a robust immune system. Even though the myth that saturated fats cause heart disease is still around today, there are still no studies that show a direct link between the two.

Saturated fats are excellent for cooking with due to their high smoke point, implying they are highly resistant to heat damage. Coconut oil, butter and ghee are usually the best choices. Foods that are naturally high in saturated fats like organic meats, eggs, coconuts and dark chocolate. These foods are commonly healthy and nutritious as they also contain high levels of antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

Unsaturated fats 

Are the healthiest of fats and can be categorised into Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated.

Polyunsaturated fats

Polyunsaturated fats provide essential fatty acids that your body needs but cannot produce itself. These are; 

  • Omega 3
  • Omega 6

Omega 3 is good for heart health and are found in oily fish, organic red meats and plant sources like nuts and seeds. 

Omega 6 is good for cardiovascular health and are found in nuts, seeds and different oils. 

Omega 3 has an anti-inflammatory effect, whereas Omega 6 has a pro-inflammatory effect. Some inflammation is necessary for the body, but too much can be very damaging to health. The ideal balance is 3 omega 6:1 omega 3. 

Monounsaturated fats

Monounsaturated fats can help improve cholesterol levels, lower the risk of heart disease and strokes and improve insulin sensitivity. These are located in most nuts and seeds, avocados, red meats, olives, and different oils.

Trans fats

Trans fats, or hydrogenated fats, are the fats to be aware of and should be withdrawn from your diet. These are artificial fats created in an industrial process. They are easy to use, very cheap to produce and last a long time. 

Because of these reasons, they are added to most processed foods to give them the desired tastes and textures. When putting together with refined carbohydrates, it makes for a highly palatable food that usually leaves us craving more, thus leading to overeating.

Consuming trans fats raises the levels of bad cholesterol while lowering the levels of good cholesterol which can increase the risk of heart disease. Some studies also show that trans fats increase inflammation the body which, as stated before, can be detrimental to health.

Fats per 100g

Food SourceFat per 100gSat Fat per 100gCalories per 100g
Sirloin steak12.75.6201
Fillet steak7.63.8155
Rump steak104.2171
Salmon fillet121.6209
Mackerel fillet19.14.3259
Sardines9.63.2173
Lamb chop18.99.6244
Mince lamb 19.89.5245
Pork loin16.15.9225
Chicken egg92.5131
Cheddar cheese34.921.7416
Mozzarella cheese1812.7236
Avocado 19.54.1198
Walnuts65.26.1689
Almonds55.84.4629
Pecans70.15.7706
Pistachio 44.85.5585
Sunflower seeds51.54.5610
Chia seeds30.73.3580
Flax seeds42.23.7514
Olives12.82.5138
Olive oil10014.3900
Coconut oil10087900
Butter82.252.1745
Dark chocolate 42.926.4528

How many calories can you burn in 1 hour?

More than 80% of your condition is a result of what you eat and how much. The rest is broken down to how much you burn and how good of a sleep you receive each night. 

The average cyclists will burn between 350 calories and 650 calories in one hour. However, there are many different factors involved to get an accurate figure. For a true reading, I always wear a heart monitor around my chest and an app to hold the data. I find this is the only way you will find your personal output of energy over your ride.  

Calories in vs calories out which is easier?

I always find it easier to control the calories in because it’s incredibly challenging to burn huge amounts of calories. Your body is designed to prevent you from consuming all of your calories which could potentially lead to death. Your body will slow down your metabolism to protect its self, and over time it becomes harder to burn calories. 

How long does it take to burn 10,000 calories?

GCN tested this theory and discovered it took them 12 hours of continuous riding to burn 10,000 calories. I would suggest to the average person this would be nearly impossible to achieve, especially frequently. 

It’s all about balance

If you want to eat whatever you like without gaining to much weight you will have to burn a lot of calories on the bike. For best results, a well-balanced diet will provide you with the energy to have some great rides and allow you to recover. The more you cycle, the more you can consume but eat the wrong kind of foods might result in poor performance.  

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