How about this date, 1-11-11, cool. As I lay here on the couch comfortable dressed, for being alone, and a touch cold, listening to the rhythm of the washing machine doing its thing, looking out the window at the beautiful white settings of my back yard, I think about the lack of riding I’m doing and the effect it will have.
Good news and bad news on that. It has been proven that time off of the bike can actually be an advantage. It gives the muscles a chance to get a good rest, refresh and regenerate. The bad news to that is you go longer than a month and you may be starting from square one again. The good news, here in Colorado, is that though the streets and paths are still ice packed, they will soon be open again. As far as the weather, right now I’m looking at 9 degrees, it will be in the 50’s by the end of the week. It may be only for a day or two but there will be ridable surfaces and temperatures for us Recreational riders during every week of winter.
Not exercising can cause a concern for all the weight you have lost through bicycling. I, personally, have fallen back to the South Beach diet that jump started my metabolism moving awhile back. I don’t go back to week one, I just stay a little truer to the maintenance. It consists of eggs, lean meat and other good protein high fiber as well as lots of fruit veggies and snacks of yogurt, nuts and cheese and even some carbs. It is not difficult when you have those choices. If you are comfortable with what you have lost before the cold set in, stick with the diet of your choice, for two of the three meals and snacks a day, that way you can splurge on the meal of your choice. South Beach, which by the way I have absolutely no connections with, has a meal replacement bar that is fantastic. Not only is it really good, it is very filling as well and 12grams of protein. My 16 year old loves them, and they are great to take on a long ride. They satisfy the hunger, give you energy and don’t make you feel stuffed. An added plus is they are approved by the American Diabetes Association.
Don’t get me wrong you cannot stop exercising all together. This is a good time to start strength work. A few simple dumbbells and maybe a yoga ball will do wonders. You will not get muscle bound but you will tone that weight you have lost by working with light weight and many repetitions. I have started doing some bicycle specific back exercises with the yoga ball and have thrown in some dumbbell work on it also, to help with core muscles (Fat Belly) and balance.
Put this all together and you can enjoy life maintain what you have lost, stay warm and be able to splurge a few extra calories once in awhile. If you want to partake in coffee and a bagel with some bicycle or life talk, drop me a note and we will do that.
Till Next Time
Ride Far, Ride Fast as You Can, Ride Warm, But Ride.
“G”
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