is cottage cheese good cycling food/fuel?

[Tom Keats]

I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
but I'm willing to give it another chance.
I may even dare to see what it does to my
homemade coleslaw.

I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
punish me with excruciating pain, and then
gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
point in the right direction (forward.)

So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.

If I put it in my coleslaw, I figure the usual
big splash of dill pickle juice I put in there,
plus maybe a drizzle of orange juice, might kill
any horribly insipid cottage cheese flavour.

I might even top my potato pancakes with it,
instead of sour cream. But I admit I'll have
to force myself to do so.

And I ain't letting the stuff anywhere near my aspics.


cheers, & I'm not very fond of bananas either,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Ron Hardin]

It stops diarrhea in dogs.
--
Ron Hardin
[email protected]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

 

[[email protected]]

On Mar 29, 8:25 am, [email protected] (Tom Keats) wrote:
> I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
> but I'm willing to give it another chance.
> I may even dare to see what it does to my
> homemade coleslaw.
>
> I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
> than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
> milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
> cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
> to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
> kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
> punish me with excruciating pain, and then
> gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
> point in the right direction (forward.)
>
> So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
> in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.
>
> If I put it in my coleslaw, I figure the usual
> big splash of dill pickle juice I put in there,
> plus maybe a drizzle of orange juice, might kill
> any horribly insipid cottage cheese flavour.
>
> I might even top my potato pancakes with it,
> instead of sour cream. But I admit I'll have
> to force myself to do so.
>
> And I ain't letting the stuff anywhere near my aspics.
>
> cheers, & I'm not very fond of bananas either,
> Tom
>
> --
> Nothing is safe from me.
> Above address is just a spam midden.
> I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

Cottage cheese is high in protein, and reasonably to very low fat.
Also low carbohydrate. As a fuel, I'd say it's not a very economical
nor effective choice. As a part of a regular diet, I find it
indispensable. I like to try to maintain a high protein intake, and to
keep a particular carb-protein balance with each meal. I find is
sometime difficult to get enough protein for this in a normal meal, so
I use varying amounts of cottage cheese to adjust the balance. I like
it too!

Joseph

Joseph

 

[Roger Zoul]

Tom Keats wrote:
:: I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
:: but I'm willing to give it another chance.
:: I may even dare to see what it does to my
:: homemade coleslaw.
::
:: I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
:: than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
:: milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
:: cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
:: to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
:: kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
:: punish me with excruciating pain, and then
:: gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
:: point in the right direction (forward.)
::
:: So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
:: in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.
::

Why would you expect CC to make a difference one way or another? CC is a
good source of protein and fat, but there are plenty of other sources for
this. I don't see what's special about CC. And for cycling, it all
depends. If you need to ride hard & fast or climb a lot, I don't think CC
is going to be worth much. If you tend to not drive your heart rate up,
then CC can provide fuel to move (slowly) and materials to rebuild your
body.


:: If I put it in my coleslaw, I figure the usual
:: big splash of dill pickle juice I put in there,
:: plus maybe a drizzle of orange juice, might kill
:: any horribly insipid cottage cheese flavour.

Gee, if you don't like it, don't eat it. There are other foods to eat, and
CC isn't some miracle food.
::
:: I might even top my potato pancakes with it,
:: instead of sour cream. But I admit I'll have
:: to force myself to do so.
::
:: And I ain't letting the stuff anywhere near my aspics.
::
::
:: cheers, & I'm not very fond of bananas either,
:: Tom

Ok, that's two food you don't like. There are plenty of others. Do you
have some issue with your cycling?

 

[gds]

On Mar 29, 11:36 am, [email protected] (Tom Keats) wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> "Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> writes:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Tom Keats wrote:
> >:: I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
> >:: but I'm willing to give it another chance.
> >:: I may even dare to see what it does to my
> >:: homemade coleslaw.
> >::
> >:: I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
> >:: than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
> >:: milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
> >:: cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
> >:: to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
> >:: kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
> >:: punish me with excruciating pain, and then
> >:: gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
> >:: point in the right direction (forward.)
> >::
> >:: So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
> >:: in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.
> >::
>
> > Why would you expect CC to make a difference one way or another? CC is a
>
> Just looking for a reasonably palatable way to include
> more dairy in my diet, with hopes it might alleviate
> the leg cramps thing. I generally don't indulge in
> much dairy products, especially during the warmer
> seasons. People ask what to do about leg cramps, and
> the usual responses is: milk, and bananas. To which
> I say: blecch.
>
> Oh well. There's always yogurt to tinker with, too.
> My dad used to make yogurt. After homemade yogurt,
> the store-bought stuff seems so artificial.
>
> cheers,
> Tom
>
> --
> Nothing is safe from me.
> Above address is just a spam midden.
> I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

In my experience cramping is often associated with potassium
deficiency. Bananas, tomatos and a whole host of other foods are good
sources of potassium. If you don't like the foods you can always take
potassium in tablet form. It is also part of the formula for most
sports drinks- for precisly the reason that it works.
As to your not eating much of dairy. I happen to like certain cheeses
but the reality is that as most of us age we become more and more
lactose intolerant. This suggests to me (despite dairy industry
studies to the contrary) that for most of us dairy need not be an
important component of adult diets.

 

[Kristian M Zoerhoff]

On 2007-03-29, Tom Keats <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Just looking for a reasonably palatable way to include
> more dairy in my diet, with hopes it might alleviate
> the leg cramps thing. I generally don't indulge in
> much dairy products, especially during the warmer
> seasons. People ask what to do about leg cramps, and
> the usual responses is: milk, and bananas. To which
> I say: blecch.

I don't believe dairy will help with cramps near as much as
potassium will. Since bananas won't do, how about something
from the table located at

<http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/potassium/>

Baked potatoes, orange juice, raisins, acorn squash, almonds --
there has to be /something/ you like there.

--

__o Kristian Zoerhoff
_'\(,_ [email protected]
(_)/ (_)

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
"Roger Zoul" <[email protected]> writes:
> Tom Keats wrote:
>:: I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
>:: but I'm willing to give it another chance.
>:: I may even dare to see what it does to my
>:: homemade coleslaw.
>::
>:: I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
>:: than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
>:: milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
>:: cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
>:: to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
>:: kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
>:: punish me with excruciating pain, and then
>:: gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
>:: point in the right direction (forward.)
>::
>:: So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
>:: in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.
>::
>
> Why would you expect CC to make a difference one way or another? CC is a

Just looking for a reasonably palatable way to include
more dairy in my diet, with hopes it might alleviate
the leg cramps thing. I generally don't indulge in
much dairy products, especially during the warmer
seasons. People ask what to do about leg cramps, and
the usual responses is: milk, and bananas. To which
I say: blecch.

Oh well. There's always yogurt to tinker with, too.
My dad used to make yogurt. After homemade yogurt,
the store-bought stuff seems so artificial.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[David L. Johnson]

Tom Keats wrote:
> I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
> but I'm willing to give it another chance.

I can't imagine a less appetizing cycling food.

> milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
> cramps.

Potassium helps, as does calcium. Try eating bananas, or taking a
supplement. Tums is a good thing to have for immediate relief.


--

David L. Johnson

Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig...
You soon find out the pig likes it!

 

[Bob in CT]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:54:39 -0400, Kristian M Zoerhoff
<[email protected]> wrote:

> On 2007-03-29, Tom Keats <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Just looking for a reasonably palatable way to include
>> more dairy in my diet, with hopes it might alleviate
>> the leg cramps thing. I generally don't indulge in
>> much dairy products, especially during the warmer
>> seasons. People ask what to do about leg cramps, and
>> the usual responses is: milk, and bananas. To which
>> I say: blecch.
>
> I don't believe dairy will help with cramps near as much as
> potassium will. Since bananas won't do, how about something
> from the table located at
>
> <http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/potassium/>
>
> Baked potatoes, orange juice, raisins, acorn squash, almonds --
> there has to be /something/ you like there.
>

The best potassium substitute is light salt.

--
Bob in CT

 

[Pat]

take potassium and magnesium for the cramps. not dairy. Personally, the only
milk I drink is soy milk. Maybe I shouldn't say "drink" because I put it on
cereal.

Pat in TX

 

[Bill Marsh]

Tom I get calf cramps also, and have found that 4-5 Tums helps. When I get
that tingle and know they are coming on I down 4-5 and it helps, I guess I
sweat a lot of calcium. Bill
"Tom Keats" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've never particularly cared for the stuff,
> but I'm willing to give it another chance.
> I may even dare to see what it does to my
> homemade coleslaw.
>
> I don't usually indulge in dairy products other
> than hard cheese (I absolutely detest straight-up
> milk,) and I also occasionally suffer leg (calf)
> cramps. There's been a number of times I've had
> to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
> kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
> punish me with excruciating pain, and then
> gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
> point in the right direction (forward.)
>
> So, I'm going to see if including cottage cheese
> in my diet might enhance my cycling experience.
>
> If I put it in my coleslaw, I figure the usual
> big splash of dill pickle juice I put in there,
> plus maybe a drizzle of orange juice, might kill
> any horribly insipid cottage cheese flavour.
>
> I might even top my potato pancakes with it,
> instead of sour cream. But I admit I'll have
> to force myself to do so.
>
> And I ain't letting the stuff anywhere near my aspics.
>
>
> cheers, & I'm not very fond of bananas either,
> Tom
>
> --
> Nothing is safe from me.
> Above address is just a spam midden.
> I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

 

[Bill]

gds wrote:
>
> In my experience cramping is often associated with potassium
> deficiency. Bananas, tomatos and a whole host of other foods are good
> sources of potassium. If you don't like the foods you can always take
> potassium in tablet form. It is also part of the formula for most
> sports drinks- for precisly the reason that it works.
> As to your not eating much of dairy. I happen to like certain cheeses
> but the reality is that as most of us age we become more and more
> lactose intolerant. This suggests to me (despite dairy industry
> studies to the contrary) that for most of us dairy need not be an
> important component of adult diets.
>
I found out that the humble potato (with the skin) is a good source of
Potassium There should be a breakdown on the FDA.GOV website.
If you can find the link they have a 'spreadsheet able' set of tables of
about 5 or even 10 thousand different food.
You can overdose on Potassium (and die) just as well as you can with not
enough Potassium. Milk is really intended by nature ***ONLY*** for
babies. Adults are supposed to eat real food, whatever that is.
How about this trick...? Make some baked Potatoes by nuking them in the
microwave. Take them with you and you can sprinkle in some cottage cheese.
The big deal about diary is 1. Calcium. Canned Sardines are good for
this as is canned Salmon with the bones.
I love milk too but like so many I am lactose intolerant. Gas plus.
Bill Baka

 

[Matt O'Toole]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:54:39 +0000, Kristian M Zoerhoff wrote:

> On 2007-03-29, Tom Keats <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> Just looking for a reasonably palatable way to include more dairy in my
>> diet, with hopes it might alleviate the leg cramps thing. I generally
>> don't indulge in much dairy products, especially during the warmer
>> seasons. People ask what to do about leg cramps, and the usual
>> responses is: milk, and bananas. To which I say: blecch.
>
> I don't believe dairy will help with cramps near as much as potassium
> will. Since bananas won't do, how about something from the table located
> at
>
> <http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/minerals/potassium/>
>
> Baked potatoes, orange juice, raisins, acorn squash, almonds -- there
> has to be /something/ you like there.

New potatoes with a little salt are an especially good energy food for
cyclists. One of our bike club members is a PhD nutritionist and athlete,
and in researching the perfect on-road cycling food, this is what she
came up with. She also found that chocolate milk is a good recovery food.

I drink a lot of V8 juice, which has plenty of cramp-preventing
nutrients, and is about the only beverage available in a convenience store
that I find palatable.

Getting back to cottage cheese, it's a fine source of nutrients, protein,
fat, and some carbohydrate, but the animal fat is not the best kind for
your overall health.

Matt O.

 

[Mike A Schwab]

I have not found Gatorade to help much.
I have had 3 ocurence of calf cramping solved with pickles and pickle
juice.

On Mar 29, 1:25 am, [email protected] (Tom Keats) wrote:
<deleted>
> There's been a number of times I've had
> to pull over, sit down, stretch my leg out, maybe
> kick a shoe off, and let my calf muscle first
> punish me with excruciating pain, and then
> gradually, begrudgingly allow my toes to all
> point in the right direction (forward.)
<deleted>

 

[Tom Keats]

In article <[email protected]>,
Matt O'Toole <[email protected]> writes:
>
> New potatoes with a little salt are an especially good energy food for
> cyclists. One of our bike club members is a PhD nutritionist and athlete,
> and in researching the perfect on-road cycling food, this is what she
> came up with.

I recently found a nearby green-grocer source of new potatoes --
10 lbs for a buck. They're good, they're just too big for
market presentation.

A Fijian fellow once suggested taro root to me, noting that's
how the Samoan and other Oceanian/Australasian rugby players
get so big. That was enough to scare me off. If I could
just concentrate the bodybuilding aspect into my quads, that
might be fine.

> She also found that chocolate milk is a good recovery food.

Anything with chocolate on/in it is good

> I drink a lot of V8 juice, which has plenty of cramp-preventing
> nutrients, and is about the only beverage available in a convenience store
> that I find palatable.

I keep forgetting that stuff exists. Maybe it's a mental block,
or maybe I get distracted by the presence of other, more tempting
convenience store fare. I'll have to write a crib note about it
on the palm of my hand or glove. Actually, I like to make virgin
Marys (aka Bloody Shames -- bloody Marys without the vodka) out of V8.
It seems to me incomplete without the celery salt, Worcestershire,
Tabasco, fresh-ground black pepper, the tiniest aromatic hint of
dill, etc.

> Getting back to cottage cheese, it's a fine source of nutrients, protein,
> fat, and some carbohydrate, but the animal fat is not the best kind for
> your overall health.

I've found the flavour of cottage cheese can be improved when
stepped-on with a big whack of Miracle Whip. I've also learned
to like it stirred into baked beans (without the Miracle Whip.)

Much thanks to all for your suggestions and input.

Over the years I've sorta become reconciled to the fact that
sometimes I'll get those calf cramps. Y'know what really helps?
A good, long night of deep, super-relaxing sleep. Also helps with
those spasms I get at this time of year, in the back of my neck &
down my left arm.


cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca

 

[Claire Petersky]

"Tom Keats" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Matt O'Toole <[email protected]> writes:

>> She also found that chocolate milk is a good recovery food.
>
> Anything with chocolate on/in it is good


The STP route, I think about mile 75 or 80, goes past a Wilcox dairy, and
the company hands out chocolate milk
(http://www.wilcoxfarms.com/chmilk.html) as a promo, to the riders.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

 

[Matt O'Toole]

On Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:07:26 -0700, Tom Keats wrote:

> Over the years I've sorta become reconciled to the fact that sometimes
> I'll get those calf cramps. Y'know what really helps? A good, long
> night of deep, super-relaxing sleep. Also helps with those spasms I get
> at this time of year, in the back of my neck & down my left arm.

I've found this too. Sleep is the miracle cure. Unfortunately some of us
never learn what it's like to be well-rested. I figured it out just
a few years ago.

Actually I rarely get cramps no matter what I eat, how much sleep I've
had, or how hard I'm riding, but sleep sure helps cure soreness.

My biggest obstacle to long fast rides is being comfortable on the bike
long enough. I often do long rides without having slept much. While I
can keep pedaling just fine, I get very uncomfortable -- my neck gets
sore, my arms and shoulders go dead, my lower back gets tired, etc.
Being well-rested prevents these problems, or keeps them at bay a lot
longer.

Matt O.

 

[Roger Zoul]

Matt O'Toole wrote:
:: Getting back to cottage cheese, it's a fine source of nutrients,
:: protein, fat, and some carbohydrate, but the animal fat is not the
:: best kind for your overall health.

Nonsense (the last part).

 

[Bill]

Bob in CT wrote:
> On Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:39:14 -0400, Roger Zoul <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Matt O'Toole wrote:
>> :: Getting back to cottage cheese, it's a fine source of nutrients,
>> :: protein, fat, and some carbohydrate, but the animal fat is not the
>> :: best kind for your overall health.
>>
>> Nonsense (the last part).
>>
>>
>
> Of 26 forward-looking epidemiological studies examining the relationship
> between saturated fat and heart disease, a measely four found a
> statistically significant relationship. The massive nurse's study just
> showed that lowering overall fat content does nothing for heart
> disease. There are many studies indicating no relationship between
> saturated fat and any of a number of things, including heart disease,
> cancer, etc.
>
> --Bob in CT

Saturated fat is not a necessary thing with cottage cheese since it does
come in non-fat versions. As far as the fat thing, IMO couch potato
vegetarians can have a heart attack just as easily as his meat eating
neighbor who rides a bike. Too many people in my age group have spent
their lives working in a cubicle and counting their money, so I expect a
lot of baby boomers to self destruct in the next ten years. All the
people I knew who died early were doing something wrong and expected the
doctor to give them a magic pill.
****, rant mode.
Sorry.
Cottage cheese is a good thing in the non-fat type but I wouldn't call
it power food, just good food. Maybe post ride food.
Bill Baka

 

[Terry Morse]

[email protected] (Tom Keats) wrote:

> Y'know what really helps?
> A good, long night of deep, super-relaxing sleep. Also helps with
> those spasms I get at this time of year, in the back of my neck &
> down my left arm.

I get those triceps spasms, too, and lately my left hand is going
numb. My chriropractor friend says it comes from the neck.
Stretching and strenghtening exercises help.
--
terry morse - Undiscovered Country Tours - http://www.udctours.com