DaveB said:
Michael Warner said:DaveB said:Hmm maybe I should have been a bit more specific in the original post so
I could avoid the great protein debate (which is done to death here on a
regular basis). The protein powder isn't expensive because it's just
skim milk powder. And the reason I have it is because after a long
cycling session I get my worst migraines
I'm sorry you suffer from those. From what I've heard about them, if
strenuous cycling brought them on I'd give up strenuous cycling.
It's a fine line. No exercise is much worse than too much. Over 25 years
from when I was ten migraines steadily increased to a point where I
tracked them on a spreadsheet (as you'd expect from anyone on a.b) and
found I averaged 3 days a month that were migraine free. That was a bit
of a surprise, they'd just become a way of life. At that time I'd slowly
decreased the exercise I was doing to the point where I'd done very
little for 5 years and increased stress to my limits.
That's when I started triathlon training. Frequency of migraines dropped
by half, but more importantly wipe me off and send me to bed migraines
went from 1-2 a week to maybe 1 a month. Best thing I can do when my
head is going downhill is get out on the bike or go for a run (running
is better but harder to get motivated for when your head is pounding and
you want to throw up). Commuting on the bike is the perfect combination
of exercise and fresh air, and at the start of the day when I really
need it.
Strenuous cycling doesn't cause them, but a long strenuous ride can
because I'm not eating enough. The Sunday BR is about my limit, unless I
eat a lot during the ride (and I'm talking actual meal, not snacks).
So for anyone out there that knows someone with constant migraines, the
best way to break the cycle is 30mins to an hour of exercise (and it
sure doesn't do your health any harm)
DaveB
Given this additional information, here's my big, wacky, detailed
recommendation:
Get a bento box or similar on your top tube, if you don't have one
already, you're a triathlete so you should have one!
Fill it with peanut butter and jam sandwiches, chopped up into smaller
serves, in an open top plastic bag.
I used to get headaches and stomach aches on long rides. (Before any
duckheads step up to tell me about electrolytes, fluids and fuel, shut
up, I know all that, I did all that.) Powerbar Protein Plus or the
tastier Protein FX bars helped a bit, nice to have some solid food, but
I'm quite sensitive to sugar ups&downs, and too much sugar gives me a
headache.
(I tested a bit funny on a blood sugar test done by some undergrad HM
students, but the lecturer told me not to worry, because I do so much
exercise... and I figure I'm not suffering yet...)
I found the salty peanut butter and sweet jam were a perfect balance for
each other and didn't get headaches.
Tam
