How can I reduce desire to eat/calorie intake when injured?

ReesA

Simple question seeking some advice...

If you have been riding a lot and your calorie intake has been high / you are used to eating a lot, what is a good strategy for dealing with the same hunger/desire for food level if you suffer sudden injury and can't exercise for a while. (I know the simple answer is "don't eat so much" )

I have been happy with my weight loss and increased fitness over Spring/Summer but cannot now ride until perhaps Dec and am having trouble not stuffing my face... I don't want to put on weight etc. I can appreciate the fitness will not be able to be maintained.

So far I've been dealing with the urge to eat most effectively by making huge soya and fruit shakes. I find the desire to eat strikes hardest about 2hrs after an evening meal (right when the additional eating will do nothing for me) -- however I am feeling that I eat too much at every meal given I can't exercise at the moment.

dw300

Each time you go to the kitchen, just visualise yourself cycling up your local hills 20lbs heavier in December.

Then think how much effort it's taken you to get rid of that weight so far.

Make a chart and note what you eat every time you eat when you shouldn't. Put it on the fridge. Every bar of chocolate on it is about half an hour in the saddle. The total time you rack up is effectively lengthening your time till you get back to where you are now.

The first month will be the hardest.

DavidJB

You just have to suffer for 3/4 days with chronic hunger I'm afraid. It will soon subside. Also log everything you're eating (my fitness pal is a great app) and that will help you not over-consume.

GiantMike

There was an interesting progreamme about 'Alternate Day Fasting' recently. The presenter actually fasted 2 days per week, rather than every other day, but he raved about it.

I think it Horizon on 6 Aug. I can't find it on iPlayer (which is a shame becuase as I paid for the programme to be made and as it was one of the only BBC programmes that was actually interesting, I'd like to see it again).

amaferanga

I find it takes about a week to lose the overwhelming desire to eat if I go from riding a lot to riding a little or not at all. In a lot of ways its actually easier to control calories when you're not doing any exercise since you need fewer of them.

Herbsman

Eat the same amount of food, but lower in calories. E.g. less pasta, rice, potatoes, more vegetables like broccoli, roasted peppers, courgettes, cauliflower etc

MarkAshton

When I was injured, I still ate at the same times as I normally would i.e. even snacking before bed. The main difference was to cut out something from each meal. It seems to make it mentally easier. You will prob put on a little bit while injured, its normal. Enjoy the rest, don't stress about it, live in the real world for a bit. If you put more weight on now, its just extra motivation when your back riding.

ReesA

Thanks for all the advice. I think visualising certain things in terms of time on the bike is very helpful especially regarding chocolate One main issue in the short term is this is an injury to my right hand so I can't cook much at all (can't hold anything to cut it) and have been having to eat ready meals for more than a week. Not exactly high quality nutrition...

thegreatdivide

Raw carrots or celery. I make sure I have a bag of one or both in the fridge for when the hunger pang hits. A couple of grated carrots and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar is my go to snack at the moment and it works. Keeps you regular too ;-)

Pigeons in flight

Hi ReesA, you say that this is an injury to your right hand. Are any other parts of your body affected? Just thinking, if you have a turbo, you could possibly do some light sessions on there? You might need a hand getting on and off. I quite often sit upright on the turbo and read a book/paper, etc. I would imagine doing 30 mins like that, or one-handed may be possible (and worth a chocy bar!)? Just a thought.

ReesA

Hi,

Yes when I get a bit more rest I will be on the turbo... I should be able to handle that in a bit but will have to check with the drs as I have wires holding my thumb together and can't get the dressing wet (sweating would be an issue I think) or I risk infection.

All other parts of me are fine -- not a single scratch. I pulled to the side to allow a car to pass me on a lane they waved to say thanks. As I pushed off (probably stood out of the saddle) I waved with my right arm to say no problem and at the moment the front wheel hit the edge of the road surface which was a steep/sheer edge perhaps 3-4 inches high. Front wheel went sideways instantly, (probably faster as I had a lot of weight on the left hood) and I was throw at the road and took the entire impact through the tip of my thumb as I had no time to open my hand and get my palm down. Shattered the bone into 10-20+ pieces the words the doctor mentioned were "the bone 'popped'" and "mash" ...

The only mark on the bike was the left hood bent in about 50 degrees...

Pigeons in flight

Sounds very painful. Someone in my club had a similar kind of accident when he was trundling along at about 5mph, when his tri-bars suddenly gave way. He lost 2 front teeth and broke his nose, as he couldnt free his hands in time to save his face.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

ReesA

Pigeons in flight wrote:

Sounds very painful. Someone in my club had a similar kind of accident when he was trundling along at about 5mph, when his tri-bars suddenly gave way. He lost 2 front teeth and broke his nose, as he couldnt free his hands in time to save his face.

Here's to a speedy recovery.

Thanks for the kind thoughts.