By Rob Leggatt
This is my first post so apologies if I get things wrong!
I have been exercising more and more over the past few years, post my DAFNE course, in an attempt to get fitter, and less weightier in the process. Whilst I think my fitness has definitely improved to a point where I am able to take part in endurance mountain biking events, my weight has not. In fact, it has increased! For a cyclist, this is a bit of a problem with the uphills (not so bad on the downhills but you have to get up them first!)
Part of the problem appears to be a fear of a hypo following a cycle ride and the need to 'carb up' prior to longer rides. This has led to me eating more than I need to and, whilst I am burning 3000+ calories on weekend rides, it is not enough to counter my calorie intake.
I am hoping to monitor this over the coming months to see what changes I can make to my regime to continue to increase my fitness levels whilst trying to bring my weight back to what I would call comfortable (approx 12stone or less). I currently weigh around 13stone so I am looking to lose one stone or more (not alot I know but I have been trying to lose this stone for some time....)
To give you a little bit of info about myself, I am 41 years old, husband and father of three boys, stressfull job in the city (London) and an incurable love of mountain biking. My challenges this year are 100miles in a day across the South Downs way and a 24hour non-stop mountain biking event (this is a four man team event as I am not mad enough to do this much cycling on my own!). I have been a type one diabetic since I was 26. I am currently taking humalog and levemir.
I will post more as I progress!
I had the same problems when I got back training after being diagnosed. It may not be as simple for you on a mountain bike but I spent a month testing very frequently before, during and in the 3-4 hours after exercise to see what happened with my sugars.
For a 2 hour cardio intensive session these days I'll eat a snack 2 hours before and take about 25-50% of the usual insulin and I'll test 30mins, 15 mins and right before I start so I have an idea what my glucose is doing. I like to begin training at around 8-10 mmol.
I don't bother testing during exercise, the results are meaningless as the exercise affects your numbers anyway, if I feel like I am running low I top up with apple juice, nice and quick and won't leave me bloated like lucozade and I don't choke to death on chewed up dextrose tablet dust.
Afterwards is where I take most care. I'll have a banana when I get home and a light meal maybe an hour after that, again with reduced insulin and I'll test about 2 hours post exercise and then hourly to make sure I am not falling low.
The following day breakfast is also reduced insulin and I might need an apple or some dried fruit mid morning.
I hope some of my experiences help!
Posted by: Mathew Hipwood | February 29, 2008 at 07:33 AM