A Gift and a Challenge

With my increased exercise regimen, lately, I've struggled to maintain my weight.  If that pisses you off, get over it.  My body weight, like for many people, fluctuates.  During my race season I tend to maintain a weight range that is typically 5-10lb lighter than during the colder, less active months.  But now that I am training in three different disciplines, and for a lot more hours each week, even my typical race weight range has dropped somewhat.  Cycling performance is determined by watts per kilogram.  Watts refer to the power output that a cyclist's leg muscles are capable of producing.  The lighter the athlete, the less kilograms of weight he or she is forced to propel.  So it's not uncommon for competitive cyclists to have a race weight during the season, as I do, that is lighter than their typical off season weight.  While lighter seems better in this case, there is a point at which it is counterproductive.  Too light and a cyclist will struggle to produce the power wattage he or she needs to turn the pedals as fluidly as needed.


Since I've started my IM training, I've been watching my body keenly to be alert for any aches or pains which might indicate early signs of an injury, and to ensure that I'm maintaining a healthy weight.  Well, with the added hours and the addition of running and swimming to my routine, I've taken off 2-3 lb.  2-3 lb., may not seem like a big deal until you factor in the significantly increased training I'll face as the IM approaches.  While the intensity of my workouts will lighten as the IM approaches, I'll be swimming, biking and running much higher mileage to gain endurance enough to carry me to the finish line, God willing...

I dropped a quick email to Coach Dan earlier this week to inform him of my concern.  He confirmed that the training volume with get "quite high when we move into summer 2012," and warned "it may not be possible to maintain weight with the load that (I) will have".  So Coach Dan encouraged me to make a strong effort to maintain my weight now.  Here's whenCoach Dan presented me with a gift and a challenge.  He wrote: "You may need to eat an extra 6000-7000 calories during the week."

That sounds like quite a pleasurable commandment to fulfill, but, to be honest, lately I've been eating like a horse so I'm not quite sure how and where I'm going to fit an extra 1000 calories a day.  Friendly's Happy Ending Sundaes?  Fries dripping in oil and dunked in sugary ketchup?  Clif Bars?  Power Bars?  An entire garden of fruit, and veggies?  A loaf of buttered bread?

I'm going to make this post interactive.  Offer me your best or worst suggestions for a 6000-7000 calories/week increase and I'll write again with some of your thoughts.  Simply post a comment below or drop me an email at: mfield75@gmail.com. 

For the meantime, I'm logging off until Saturday night for the final cluster in this long string of Jewish holidays.  Until then, HAPPY EATING!