Is my metabolism slow or what?

stevek

Through a lot of trial and error I finally discovered yesterday it takes 3 hours to get the energy from the fruit I eat before I ride.
Things got so slow I could not loose weight no matter how little I ate. So now riding 10 miles twice a day it is getting better. But still 3 hours for the three pieces of fruit to kick in? Two hours or more (not sure yet) for an energy drink to kick in.
My lunch that usually is protein and fat takes about 6 hours to kick in.
It sure makes it a pain to plan ahead.

dhk

Unless you have low blood sugar problems, or have been on a very restricted diet, not sure why you need anything to "kick in" for energy before you ride. If you're getting enough protein at breakfast and lunch, and keeping your blood sugar under control, I think you should be able to do easy 10 mile rides at any time.

Suggest you try eating the fruit or other hi-gylcemic carbs (in limited amounts) right after your daily rides, not before, so that your muscles can quickly replace any spent glycogen and recover. I'd also suggest avoiding sugar and hi-glycemic starches the rest of the time. If you're trying to lose weight, you want to stay in the fat-burning zone. This diet approach worked for me last year successfully.

stevek

I can ride the 10 miles but it is like work even little hills I have to go slow. Sometimes almost 2 miles MPH slower average. Wednesday I went home really because I did not want to be on the road in the dark. I ate the same foods as usual but when I left at 3 I felt so tired the whole ride. Friday I ate the same thing but I left at six and had my fruit at 3 instead of the usual 4 pm. I had far more energy and the ride felt good instead of a struggle.
My diet is a bit wacky. If I ate more fat at most meals I would have energy all the time. But I seem to only really find much at lunch. breakfast is the fruit then usually beans and some meat. Lunch is some meat and cheese and maybe a hot meal with veggies and meat. I usually eat 1/3# of meat and the same of cheese. I was eating ¼# but I found I was hungry 3 hours later. Sometimes starving. Then I eat three pieces of fruit at 3 pm now (lunch is at noon) and ride home at 6pm.
If I don’t eat a lot of fat or fruit I just can’t peddle the bike worth a dam.
Right now I am eating a fair amount of food and still loosing weight. But since I found myself allergic to grains I have not had as much energy all the time.
I don’t feel tired when not riding my bike but I don’t have a lot of energy either.

xc_gumby

What's the medical definition of your condition? Its a disaster for you if you can't derive energy from grain based carbs (rice, pasta, burghul, cous cous, noodles etc).

You also seem to eat a lot of meat. I think this is bad for your liver & kidneys over a long period.

stevek

I am allergic to them. When I stopped eating so much of them I seemed to become allergic. I could eat grains once a week without too much problem. All it does is make my asthma kick in a bit. But if I eat it two or three times in a row (like three days in a row) I get flue like symptoms. And I will get nice and sick if I don’t eat a bunch of fruits and veggies and no more gains. This has happened enough times when I eat grains more then once that it is a pretty regular thing.
I am somewhat low carb but I eat beans and fruits. I just can’t eat enough fat for all of my energy.
We evolved eating meat. We did not evolve eating grains. That kidney thing about meat and protein has not been fact for most people.
It’s hard for me to tell if beans really help in the energy department as when I eat them I don’t have time to get them in my system. Fruit works well for the hour ride as long as I eat it soon enough.
Your body can burn fat or carbs for fuel. I don’t eat enough fat to do it all and I can’t eat enough complex carbs for long lasting energy.

worldgod

hey check your thyroid and have a thyroid blood test in any blood test clinic:

What is hypothyroidism?

The thyroid gland, located in the lower front of the neck, produces hormones that are extremely important for the regulation of the body's metabolism.

When the thyroid gland is unable to produce sufficient amounts of these hormones - thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) - then a large number of problems arise in all of the body's systems due to the decrease in the body's metabolism.

Hypothyroidism is more common among elderly people, especially women, and affects 1.5 to 2 per cent of people over the age of 60 years. However, the condition also occurs in younger patients.



What causes hypothyroidism?

The main causes of hypothyroidism are:



chronic autoimmune inflammation of the thyroid gland, also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In autoimmune conditions the body's immune system seems to turn against some of its own tissues.


complications arising from previous surgery to the thyroid gland or from radioactive iodine treatment, both of which are used to treat overactivity of the thyroid gland.


an inherited incomplete development of the thyroid gland.


as a consequence of treatment with certain medicines such as propylthiouracil, carbimazole, amiodarone and lithium.


taking large amounts of iodine for example in some cough syrups or excessive amounts of dietary supplements made from or containing kelp.



What are the symptoms?

Decreased metabolism can affect every organ of the body including brain, heart, skin, intestine and muscles.

Symptoms tend to appear gradually over a long period of time. For this reason, decreased metabolism in the elderly is often mistaken for changes that take place naturally with age.

Typical symptoms of decreased metabolism are:



decreased tolerance of cold environments


depression and lethargy


weight gain


constipation


dry, rough skin


coarsening of the facial features and a deep voice


thin, dry hair


poor memory - among the elderly this may be the only symptom of decreased metabolism


in severe cases, dementia.



How can hypothyroidism be prevented?

People who have been treated at some time in their lives for an overactive thyroid gland have an increased risk of developing underactivity, because the methods of treatment reduce the amount of functioning thyroid tissue. Thus, it is advisable to have the thyroid gland checked once a year.

Avoid taking natural medicine and dietary supplements that contain large amounts of iodine.



How does the doctor make a diagnosis?

When hypothyroidism is suspected the diagnosis can be confirmed by taking a blood sample to measure the concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). This hormone is produced in the pituitary gland of the brain and also plays an important part in regulating metabolism.

When the amount of T4 and T3 in the blood is too low, the pituitary gland sends a signal to the thyroid gland to work harder by releasing more TSH. This increase in TSH shows that the thyroid gland is underactive and needs to be stimulated.

Occasionally, the doctor may order further blood tests in order to detect an abnormality of the immune system, which may help the diagnosis.

Sometimes, especially if the patient has a goitre (enlargement of the thyroid), the doctor might also recommend an ultrasound examination.



How is a hypothyroidism treated?

Permanently decreased metabolism requires lifelong treatment with thyroxine tablets.

Usually, a small dose is recommended to start with, which is then increased gradually until an accurate dose has been reached.

When this has been achieved, it is usually necessary to check the patient's metabolic rate only once a year.

The hormone tablets have virtually no side effects. However, patients should watch out for symptoms of increased metabolism, which may occur if the dose is too high.

In the UK, patients taking thyroxine treatment for hypothyroidism are entitled to free prescriptions.



Future prospects

With proper treatment, people with a decreased metabolic rate are able to lead completely normal lives.



Based on a text by Dr Thomas Heiberg Brix and Dr Lazlo Hegedüs, consultant

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2LAP

Even the leanest person has enough body fat to provide energy for completing a number of marathons back to back, so not eating enough fat will not be a problem in your cycling/energy riddle.

While both fat and carbs provide energy for exercise; carbs supply energy at a FASTER RATE and are in limited supply (fat being the opposite). As your diet is low carbohydrate and you exercise regularly you may have 'low glycogen stores' or 'glycogen depletion' when during exercise and when resting afterwards.

Given that the energy from carbs is supplied at a fast rate, it is the most important source of energy for exercise and becomes more improtant as the intensity of the exercise increases. With limited carbohydrate in the body, you become glycogen depleted (i.e. the bonk, knock or 'hitting the wall') and have to slow down.

Try eating more carbs either from simple sugers (i.e. sugar, sweets, cakes, etc.) which are less healthy or from complex carb sources which tend to be more healthy. As you can't have grains, try potatoes, bananas, dried fruit, etc. (or look on the net for lists of high carb foods that you can eat). To continue your weight loss, remove calories of fat and protein from your diet to replace with carbohydrates. As carbohydrate foods tend to be less calorie dense that fatty foods, you'll also be eating more.

Exercising lots on a low carb diet is not a very good idea.

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stevek

I have started eating more fruit. I eat 6 pieces a day usually 4 banana’s. I usually eat beans for one meal. Sometimes two.
I don’t’ feel tired all the time like I used to before I started riding. It’s just if I don’t eat early enough riding is more work then Joy. When I have lots of energy I fly. I weight 240 or a bit less right now. I started at 265 when I first started riding in the summer last year.
I don’t know if it is really lack of energy sometimes or my asthma. but if I eat the fruit way before my ride my asthma is less. Then I have more energy to pedal with. One of the days I had the most energy my business Christmas dinner (work for myself) I had two 1/4 # pounds of different higher fat cheese and 1/3 pound of dry ham and some potato chips. ham I hd so much energy I flew home and set a new record. My asthma never bothered me at all and I could pedal as fast as I wanted too.
But most days I just don’t eat a huge amount of fat. It’s hard to get fat into your meals when every place has cut fat.

stevek

I talked to a nice slim fellow in the LBS yesterday and he has to eat his fruit 3 hours ahead of time too.

2LAP

Are you serious? I think that you should see a qualified nutritionalist! Your diet sounds very unhealthy and in its present state it is NOT going to help your cycling. You ate 1/2 a pound of cheese in one sitting, with chips and ham; can't you see that this might be bad for you! Particularly for your blood lipids/heart disease risk! Do you think that your performance on your bike following your christmas meal might have been due to the carbohydrates in the potato chips rather than the fat in the cheese? As I said before, even the leanest humans have enough fat stored on their bodies to allow multiple marathons to be completed. Rarely in humans is fat consumption 'too' low.

To me it sounds like most of what you eat is fat! Even lean red meats have fat in them, its just not visable. Seems like your protein and fat intake is too high, and you (and your cycling) would benefit from more carbohydrates. To maintain your weight loss, keep your calorie intake the same.

Most western diets are too high in fat, and yours seems to be towards the high end of this! I think a nutritionalist would give you some good advice and education, alternativly a bood on nutrition might do you good (stay away from fad diets though).

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stevek

on days I at potato chips before I never got too much energy from them. but that day I was blasting. it was my bonus. I don't eat like that very often. but since that day I lost two pounds.
Last time I had my blood checked I was eating more fat and less fruit and I had great readings.
But as far as fat Most low carbers eat more then I do.
The thing is fat is not all that bad. It is bad when you mix it with complex carbs. That’s where us Americans get in trouble. If you burn only fat for energy you better eat enough.
My average food intake is for breakfast three pieces of fruit or two and orange juice. Some bean and weenies right now. About 600 calories in the two.
Then for lunch I may have Chinese food without rice mainly meat and veggies or 1/3# of meat and 1/3# cheese. I used to eat ¼# but I find it does not fill me up if I pushed the ride at all I may eat less meat and cheese and eat some veggies and or salad. Then at 3 three pieces of fruit. Then when I get home I eat whatever I can think of. It may or may not have any fat it it. Or just a little.
I ride 10 miles in the morning to work and 10 miles home 5 days a week.
I average 1# a week weight loss or more if I watch what I eat on weekends. But even if I eat fried potatoes and 7 oz of chocolate on a weekend I usually loose the weight.
But if I eat much complex carbs that week I don’t loose anything.

2LAP

I don't want to post too much here as its all been said in the 'weight loss' thread, however most health profesionals would disagree with your post. Perhaps I am getting your posts wrong, but based upon your posts, I think you should see a nutritionalist to check out what you are eating.

Thats great news; particularly as you are overweight as most people who are overweight have poor blood lipid results. Perhaps you should consider your 'postprandial triglyceride response' when eating high fat and perhaps your doctor could do a fat tolerance test too look at this.
I thought that Americans (like the rest of the western world) are getting fatter because a greater energy intake and smaller energy expendature. Most people say its simple carbs that are the problem due to the insulin response; why do you think that complex carbs are the problem? Also for people who are nomal weight, no smoking and exercising, insulin and diabetes is rarely a problem.

Thare aren't many meals with no fat in them, particularly if your not eating many carbs.

No doubt better for your blood lipids than your cheese consumption
As long as your calorie intake is the same your weight loss should be the same; it won't matter too much what you eat. When eating a large amount of carbs and if you are glycogen depleted you may experiance a little weight gain due to water being stored with the glycogen that is put away. This gain would be limited and would go as your glycogen stores go down again with exercise or low carb intake.

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dhk

Have you ever had a glucose tolerance test? I'd suspect your blood sugar levels are unstable, leading to the cravings for the sugar and high-fat stuff. The fruit and orange juice breakfast may be starting your day off all wrong for your metabolism. Eating 3 pieces of fruit all at once at 3 pm probably isn't smart either...it's a big hit of sugar all at once.

Since you're making the effort to lose weight and get in shape by riding to work, why not make the effort to clean up your diet as well? It will take some time to get used to a good diet, but it's every bit as important as the training and worth the effort, IMO.

stevek

I don’t have any cravings for any food. Eating is more chore then anything else for me. Eating three pieces of fruit is like work (G) I don’t desire fat so I had a hard time doing the real low carb diet I had no energy at all. I am getting to the point I don’t like to eat any junk food as it makes me feel a bit off.
But if I don’t eat the fruit where will I get any energy? I can’t handle beans three times a day. I can’t eat enough fat to use that as my only energy most days.
I am working on getting more veggies but they add nutrition but not energy.
I am happy with some chocolate once or twice a week but I don’t crave sugar much at all.
But I am self employed and right now can’t afford insurance.
I am not sure I now need three pieces of fruit at a time. Since I now know I need to eat them sooner before the ride I may need only one or two.