PAUDIE O’Donovan
EVERY time we move use energy. Our bodies are burning calories to create this energy, so in theory we burn more calories every time we cycle or exercise.
If we don’t replace these calories, we lose weight, so this is where we have to be careful. If we want to lose weight, then we eat negatively. If we want to maintain our body weight then we eat neutrally, and if we are trying to gain weight then we eat positively.
Regardless of what you need, it’s always good to choose clean food at the right time. To lose weight you should still eat five to six times a day just smaller portions and to maintain your weight then common sense portion sizes will do the trick. If you’re trying to gain weight or muscle mass, that doesn’t mean you have to load up on burgers and chips, it just means you should eat a little more carbs.
That’s the beauty of cycling two to three times a week. Cycling continuously burns unwanted body fat on all parts of your body, not just your waist.
Statistics show that women generally burn 1,500 calories per day, and men burn 2,500 calories. A three-hour weekend cycle with your cycling buddies probably burns 1,000-1,200 calories and it will be hard to replace them all.
I once did a 24 hour cycle and burned 12,000 calories. I actually ate for days after trying to replace them all!
