Edited Date/Time
11/5/2022 10:34pm
Hi all
I hope this is moto-related enough to warrant discussion
As someone who comes from a passionate multi-generational motocross family, where we've been "all in" at times with racing etc...
It's interesting how much time & money we put into bikes, equipment, track fees etc but in hindsight paid very little attention to what I was putting in my body -- I guess the unconscious view was that if you are burning calories then you can have as many sports drinks, carbohydrates etc as you like
I recently discovered I was pre-diabetic, which I couldn't believe at first, but since making some dietary lifestyle changes I have *never* felt this good (on the bike & in general life). I wonder how long this has been affecting my riding, it's almost as if I can see more of the track, and now I can finish motos with ease
Anyway, curious to hear if anyone else has experienced anything like this?
I hope this is moto-related enough to warrant discussion
As someone who comes from a passionate multi-generational motocross family, where we've been "all in" at times with racing etc...
It's interesting how much time & money we put into bikes, equipment, track fees etc but in hindsight paid very little attention to what I was putting in my body -- I guess the unconscious view was that if you are burning calories then you can have as many sports drinks, carbohydrates etc as you like
I recently discovered I was pre-diabetic, which I couldn't believe at first, but since making some dietary lifestyle changes I have *never* felt this good (on the bike & in general life). I wonder how long this has been affecting my riding, it's almost as if I can see more of the track, and now I can finish motos with ease
Anyway, curious to hear if anyone else has experienced anything like this?
When you THINK you’re fit, but then your fitness improves and you realise that before you weren’t very fit, but now you are. But now you’re wondering what you need to do to be fitter still? Yeah, that done my head in at times.
And secondly lingering injuries:
I hurt my knee a few years ago. It was bad but I just knew there were no broken bones so I rested it up until I could use it. But it never fully recovered so I’ve been nursing this knee through life for about 5-6 years, until this year I tweaked it again pretty severely without doing anything dramatic.
So I went to get it checked out.
ACL gone, meniscus ripped out, small fracture was the result. The Doc reckons my ACL has been damaged from the very first episode all those years ago and I’ve simply struggled on with it.
I had surgery in August with a hamstring graft and 12 weeks later the knee feels great! Better than it has the last 5-6 years!
The moral of this story is I wished I had it seen to all those years ago.
Im okay fitness, but after racing Washougal this year, that last lap was pretty tough to push to try and get that last guy. Need more cardio training, while I ride I am in 85-95% HRM range. If I am just going for a sunday ride, 70% HRM usually.
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DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
The problem is there is a YouTube rabbit hole of things that could be wrong, supplements you should be taking and trainers/athletes pushing mental toughness just to "ride through it".
My vision was just a bit off, hard to describe. I guess it was slightly blurry and could not see the ruts like I used to. I just put it down to getting older at first (although I'm only 34).
Anyway, I have been trying to make my body "fat-adapted" to use that as fuel rather than rely on a constant influx of carbs (I do know you need them for intensive exercise).
I also feel better at work, don't have that afternoon slump and feel more coherent/clear-headed in meetings too.
Essentially I have been intermittent fasting and avoiding all sugars for 2 months now. The first week was grim, but since then I don't recall ever feeling this good. If anyone is thinking of trying it just make sure you get enough sodium/salt/electrolytes because you will feel awful without.
20 plus years ago I did just that, made my health my most important project. After that everything falls into place.
I won't make a list of my revised habits other than what you consume is so important.
Intermittent fasting is part of my new habits......... I'm now at the same weight when I was drafted into the Army when I was 20 years old, thought that was not the primary goal.
I'm still making changes and learning. I've made some mistakes and made some great decisions.
Just finished reading several more books on health, diet and personal other health habits - all great additions to my knowledge and life decisions.
I'm in week 4 of the Wim Hoff Method (breathing and a 3 m cold shower after a warm shower) and I can tell major gains in my energy levels and related. Example, I'm doing my own landscaping. The attached picture shows the 66 pound landscape blocks (1200 of them effers) and other work areas. Involves a pick axe and shoveling and climbing up and down that hill many times a day - Ugh! I can now work for hours and a moderate pace and not get overlay tired! Big difference to a few months ago!!
I'm 70 years young and a very active rider and I can tell a difference there also.
Important for me is getting enough carbs and protein in the night before a ride day and some sort of light breakfast the day of along with a supplement. I have a couple combos that work most of the time. Funny thing that someone else mentioned is a fact. I find I ride really well the day after having a couple beers the night before.
Truth be told. I struggled for a couple months getting my energy/endurance back after having the Vid following my same diet and excercise routine.
I have tried to eliminate all soda and all candy/junk food. Sugars are in my peanut butter, slices of bread, jelly, so haven't eliminated them completely.
What's your typical diet? I'm pretty lean, 6 2 and 175 lbs, so i don't want to lose weight, just want to eat more and have more energy and get rid of this blurred vision problem.
Like many have said getting to a good diet does wonders, but having the information from blood work helps so much to get you focused in the right areas right now.
I have some odd medical background which has lead me to have low iron and very high cholesterol. The low iron is very odd for a male and also odd since I eat a lot of red meats. However since I have started taking some iron supplements and cutting out pretty much all saturated fats my energy levels have come up to what I felt like 10 years ago. Its seriously crazy how adjusting your diet can do wonders. But it all starts with what you need, and to figure that out I always push to get the data first via bloodwork.
Look into earthing. I sleep on a grounded pad. It is under the sheet and plugged into the ground hole at a outlet. Bare footing in the yard is also recommended.
Blood work should not be the superficial results that they force on us! Ask for a detailed and deep blood work!
Lots of good information to be gained from the bloodwork You must ask and stand firm on your request. If they push back get a new doctor who supports health and not prescriptions!
Pit Row
Stop smoking (weed)
Reduce alcohol
Eat more quality meat (e.g. grass fed) and low carb veggies
Eat no more than 2 meals a day, all before 5:00 PM
Cut out carbs, sugar and all processed foods
Drink a gallon of water a day
The three meals a day thing is what's wrong with American diet. And also the desire to eat something different every day. I tried the carnivore diet for a brief period of time, but ultimately settled on keto being the ideal diet for me. Eating some veggies is beneficial. I do find eating one big protein loaded meal a day minimizes my hunger throughout the day. It's pretty easy to go 14+ hours without getting the munchies.
OP, what did you eat before and what changes did you make? You mentioned 'fat adaptation' so I'm assuming some level of ketogenic diet but then you imply carbs at times so it makes me think carb cycling. I had strangely good results on track in ketosis one time (winter cut + random warm day). Rode great. Could have been a number of things because I've exceeded that performance many times over since but.. I'll never forget it. It was the first time I beat arm pump my whole life. Interesting correlation.
Look at it as an investment in yourself which is a worthy cause.
I made a run in 2018 when I got back into racing. Went from 245lbs to 185. Learned some good lessons there, but definitely had some shortcomings. Then I got back up to 200lbs during peak covid. Was trying to make a run for 180lbs and ripped this year but never really got into gear with it, especially after my first incident with my knee.
I don't have really any advice to offer this thread that hasn't already been said. I'll just say, everyone is different. Different programs and diets work differently for everyone. In my experience, completely solo, it has taken a long time to get to know what gets me in shape! If you have the time and money for a good trainer and/or nutritionist, it may help speed up the process.
Post a reply to: Health issues that you discovered were affecting your riding / energy