I am over a year out of gastic sleeve. I am a cyclist, even before my surgery. In 2012, when I was 242 pounds, I rode in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Ride which was 204 miles. I have now been training to ride this event again post-gastric sleeve surgery. So far everything has been good execpt for long distance rides of 50 miles or more. I run out of energy and hit a wall. My latest episode came after riding about 30 miles then having lunch (shrimp with noodles) and continuing on only to feel like I ate a rock and had no energy. I ate the noodles on the advice of my dad who was riding with me (good old carbs) but I had to stop after another 25 miles.I understand that I can't have carbs like other cyclists but what do I do to replenish the energy I need? Does anyone have a recommendations as to what you do?

Can you eat and drink while you ride? I have not done things at your distance, but long mountain hikes up to 14,000 feet are huge calorie siphons. I was doing Cliff Bars all the way up, but I'd do small bites nearly all the time.

This sounds like a question for Chef Woody.

Chef Woody was a restaurant chef who underwent RNY gastric bypass surgery. He then incorporated his knowledge of WLS into specific recipes. After surgery he became an avid bicycle enthusiast. He worked is way up in competitions and rode non-stop from one side of Indiana to the other. He said when he reached the other side of the state, he was totally out of energy and collapsed. I suspect he would know the answer. He probably told it to me but I forgot. He moved away and now lives in Florida. Here is a link to what I believe is his website. http://www.chefwoody.com

I volunteered at a marathon earlier this year and noticed a ton of empty energy gel packs along the route. Have you looked into energy gels?

OKC pirate-yes I can eat and drink while riding. I typically bring a clif bar and also beef Jerkey, I think what I am going to plan to do is limit my "lunch" to just that, typically if I am riding in an event they have pretty good Snacks.I noticed that you are in OKC. I am moving there in a few short weeks for a new job.

Sleeve soon-I am going to try those gel shots. While I do not get bad dumping syndrom like the Roux-en-Y patients I still am affected so I am not sure how they will hold, but I think that if I listen to my body I am ok.

thanks for all the advice.

I don't cycle but I'm a marathoner. I use the gels and they work just fine. I also use honey stinger waffles, bonk breakers and Lara bars. The biggest problem is fiber... Stay away! During endurance events blood is diverted away from the digestive tract into the muscles and fiber will sit like a rock or make you hurl. Also make sure you get enough sodium and other electrolytes. I use NUUN tablets in my water. There are other electrolyte replacement drinks and tablets and even capsules you swallow. Electrolyte imbalances can cause stomach cramping.

Hi, thank you all for your answers. I just have one more question that I am not sure if you can answer. What do you eat the night before a major ride/run? I am riding in a Century ride this Saturday and my dad of course wants me to carb load, but since by body don't like carbs or can't handle them, I am not sure what I should be eating.

following

As I said I am a marathoner not a cyclist but the issues are similar.

I don't "carb load" per se. My body doesn't respond well to them either. I do eat more fruit and oatmeal in the days leading up to a race, but more and more the research is showing carb loading is sort of a fallacy anyway. Your body adapts to burn the fuel you feed it on a regular basis. So most of the new recommendations are to eat what you normally eat, nothing new that can upset your stomach.