Every cyclist loves to eat, and half of the fun of cycling is in having a built-in excuse to eat in large quantities. What we put into our bodies before and during our rides, however, can have a direct impact on our fatigue resistance. Lets refresh our memories with a primer on fuel utilization during exercise and the importance of carbohydrates.Metabolism BasicsOne of the things I really focus on with my exercise physiology class is the incredible efficiency of the body, with efficiency defined very broadly. With respect to the metabolic and fuel delivery system, the human is an omnivore that can eat and digest almost anything and convert it into fuel for exercise. Compare that to the koala bear and its reliance on eucalyptus leaves, or my older sons reliance on meat and aversion to any vegetables or fruits!But just because we can process a wide range of foodstuffs doesnt give us an excuse to rely on Pop Tarts and Twinkies for our diet. It remains important to eat a wide range of quality, nutrient-dense foods that provide vitamins and minerals in addition to calories. But we will leave that for another dayCarping about CarbsThe mass public has been accused of having the attention span of a flea and the instant gratification needs of an infant. One only needs to scan through the pages of any lifestyle magazine to see the wide range of products promising instant weight loss or instant fitness, most without the need to do more...
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