Still confused

BrentMacNichols
BrentMacNichols Posts: 7 Member
edited December 3 in Fitness and Exercise
I am started to feel like I am not eating enough.

I have a bike race in 8 weeks I want to get below 175 I currently weigh 182 I am 59 years old My daily calorie goal is 1600 I picked sedentary because after my bike ride I am sitting at a desk most of the day. I bike and walk almost every day averaging about 60-90 mins per day and through the course of a week will burn on average 800 calories a day. If I am averaging 800 calories a day do I add that to the 1600 for 2400 per day? What happens if I'm not eating enough? Do I have to make up those 800 calories that I burned from biking?

Replies

  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    How are you calculating that burn? If you are using MFP numbers, those are quite inflated.
  • dewd2
    dewd2 Posts: 2,445 Member
    Are you losing too quickly and it costing you energy and muscle? Losing more than 1 pound per week? If so, then you are not eating enough.

    The numbers you get from here (or any source) are just averages for the "typical" person. I have yet to meet the typical person. You have to learn from trial and error. If you are losing too quickly, eat more. Not fast enough, eat less.
  • BrentMacNichols
    BrentMacNichols Posts: 7 Member
    I use my Garmin device, so today I did 90 min at tempo with HR monitor said I burned 1200 clarories. So if my daily calorie goal is 1600 do I add 1200 or 2800 calories?
  • BrentMacNichols
    BrentMacNichols Posts: 7 Member
    No I am not losing to quickly in fact I am hardly losing at all.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    Are you weighing your food using a food scale set in grams?

    You may be overeating.
  • BrentMacNichols
    BrentMacNichols Posts: 7 Member
    Yes weighing.
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    BrentMacNichols wrote: »
    I am started to feel like I am not eating enough.

    I have a bike race in 8 weeks I want to get below 175 I currently weigh 182 I am 59 years old
    As long as your power to weight ratio is stable or on the up trend and fatigue is in check, you'll probably be OK.
    BrentMacNichols wrote: »
    If I am averaging 800 calories a day do I add that to the 1600 for 2400 per day? What happens if I'm not eating enough?
    Yes. For one your training may suffer but that depends on what you are doing. LSD rides probably OK but higher intensity training, threshold and above, will probably suffer. That said, 8 weeks is too short to make much ground on your threshold and you should be concentrating your train for race specific demands.
    BrentMacNichols wrote: »
    Do I have to make up those 800 calories that I burned from biking?
    I would (if it's accurate).
  • BrentMacNichols
    BrentMacNichols Posts: 7 Member
    That helps, it's a 30 mile Tour of Scottsdale so I'm riding about 6-7 hours a week. Starting to add intensity. Tuesday was a lv 2 90 mins, Wednesday 20 min threshold (HR which I tested for in May) Today I did a 30 min tempo plus lv 2 total time 84 mins. Sunday long ride lv 2 for 3hrs.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    Power to weight is the key in cycling races. The more Watts you can produce per kilogram the better you're going to be. If you cannot lose weight then build muscle. Now granted it'll be hard to do that in 8 weeks. I would look into some interval training/Sprint training.
  • kcjchang
    kcjchang Posts: 709 Member
    Route looks pretty flat. Don't forget to work on your aerodynamics, pacing, and handling (if you haven't ride much in a group). Over and under intervals with sweet spot (2x20 w/1O2U) should help with surges. 3-8 minutes VO2 intervals (7x3, 5x5, & 3x8) should help with the slopes. Add a fast group ride on weekends. I would cut back on tempo rides if you switch to interval training. Don't look like an event that will necessitate a bunch sprint. Jump on a fast group and have fun. Good luck.
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