Sometimes, some people, we are not saying who (avid cyclist), become obsessed with food. Not with eating it, but with what not to eat. If you are one of those people we want to tell you it is okay to eat. Being overly consumed with every calorie and thinking that eating less will lead to weight-loss and thus faster times on your bike is wrong.

Don't fear food
Starving yourself or eating too few calories will slow you down. If you don’t eat enough your body will store calories. It also won’t be too happy with giving you the energy that you need on your bike. If you have been feeling sluggish or even if you have been gaining a little weight you may want to check and make sure that you are getting enough calories. Your body is programmed to keep your body in equilibrium. When it senses that you are not eating enough it will regulate your calories burned so that you don’t starve. By skipping meals, not eating when you are truly hungry or simply not eating enough at a meal your body will self-regulate and feel the need to hold on to body fat. Try to pay attention to your body, eating when you are hungry and eating until you are satisfied (but not full) shows your body that it doesn’t need to hang onto every calorie.

Eating should be fun
Don’t be afraid to eat foods you enjoy. Balanced eating is like balancing your budget, it okay to splurge once in a while. The most important thing is too make sure that you are eating a healthy balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates on a regular basis. If you have a Christmas party to go to and they are serving your favorite pumpkin pie, have a piece. Enjoying your food will actually help you to eat less and healthier in the long run. If you tell yourself that certain favorites are forbidden you may end up over indulging in foods that you didn’t really want in the first place in order to compensate.

Eat for the ride
If you are planning a long ride or an especially hard ride, make sure that you eat for it. Not giving yourself the proper amount of calories on a ride will only slow you down and cause your body to run out of energy. Always, make sure to have an extra energy bar on you in case you are out on a ride and your body needs some more fuel. Too many riders try to push through the hunger, end up having a tough recovery and then wonder why.

When too much is really too much
We all know when we have been over indulging. Our bodies usually cope very well with once in a while over doing it such as Christmas dinner. It is a bigger problem when you eat just a little too much everyday. If you start feeling like you have been over doing it, try adding a little time and speed to your rides rather than drastically cutting back on your calories. Expending more energy and gradually cutting back on calories is a healthier way to go.