| Cakes, pies, cookies, gravy, stuffing, cakes, pies, candy, | | | | morning? I know my weight will never climb much |
| cakes, did I mention cakes? Ah, the joy of Christmas! | | | | above my optimal race weight, year round. But still, I |
| It's drawing closer by the day and I've got a dreadful | | | | worry. I am working hard at the mental part of this, |
| feeling of joy and horror in my stomach. | | | | trying to get rid of this negative thinking. Negative |
| The joy is the obvious part, but why the horror? No, it's | | | | thoughts are a waste of energy, athletes need to |
| not the Christmas shopping that scares the fecal | | | | focus on positive things, always. In order to perform to |
| matter out of me, nor the inevitable "do you really have | | | | the max, an athlete needs to have a healthy, relaxed |
| to train on Christmas Day" comment from the wife. | | | | relationship to his own body. It can be better to be 2 |
| No, it's much simpler than that, although maybe simple | | | | pounds "overweight" and feel good about oneself, |
| is the wrong word; Food. Such a simple word, such a | | | | rather than spending lots of energy on trying to lose |
| complicated issue. | | | | weight. |
| In Norway we have a saying "without any oats the | | | | There is a direct link between the mental state of an |
| horses get weak". As we all know, this principle applies | | | | athlete and his physical form and performance. We |
| just as much to us humans. We need fuel to perform. | | | | need to be in harmony, both physically and mentally. |
| Why then, do we make food and eating into such a | | | | This is where most top athletes have room for |
| complex matter? I'm not going to lie to you, I've got just | | | | improvement. Not to mention that the hard training |
| as much of a love/hate relationship to food as the | | | | requires adequate energy-reserves. If the energy is |
| next serious cyclist. At times I worry more about | | | | not there, the body will not be able to respond properly |
| getting fat than a bride does the week before she is | | | | to the high training loads. Of course, don't get me |
| about to get married. It's sad and a bit pathetic actually. | | | | wrong, I'm not saying that trying to lose 5-7 lbs before |
| The whole thing is completely imagined and a product | | | | the race-season starts is a bad thing, not at all. But |
| of one's subconscious mind. | | | | many riders don't eat enough, once the target weight |
| The development and progress of an athlete consists | | | | has been reached, due to the fear of gaining weight |
| of 3 basic items: training, eating and resting. All too | | | | again. This can directly, or indirectly, lead to injuries, |
| often do we make the mistake of only focusing on the | | | | illness, burn-out, over-training and a general lack of |
| training bit, although the real progress takes place | | | | performance. |
| during the resting and eating phases. Eating sounds so | | | | Patience is very important when you want to lose |
| simple, just put food in your mouth. But it's harder than | | | | those extra 5 lbs before the season. Start early and |
| that - eating has created problems, eating disorders. I | | | | plan to lose small amounts of weight per month. |
| pay close attention to what I eat, constantly. The food | | | | Remember that restricting the caloric intake too much |
| has to be healthy and rich in energy. Fruit, vegetables, | | | | results in a lack of performance during training, simply |
| whole wheat products, potatoes and fish makes up | | | | because your body does not have the energy |
| the core of my daily diet. A very successful athlete | | | | available to perform. And that does you no good, |
| once told me "the more I can eat, the more I can train". | | | | absolutely no good at all. So do like the horses, dig in |
| For a guy that tips the scales around 140-150lbs, I eat a | | | | and watch your performance increase. Oh, and pass |
| lot. Huge amounts actually, but during my hardest | | | | on the cake, it's over-rated anyways... If you keep |
| weeks I also burn 5000-6000 calories a day or more. | | | | telling yourself that, maybe some day you will believe it. |
| That energy must be replenished, with proper food. | | | | Until then, be strong and ride hard. |
| Why then, do I worry when I step on the scale in the | | | | |
