please pay up if you have pledged monies.......TRIP REPORT page 18

[kinboshi]

For once I agree with Guy.

You'll need carbs stored in your body as well as refuelling with them during the walk. Otherwise your body will have to burn fat to create the energy and it's not very efficient at that. This is what happens when marathon runners hit the wall.

If you want to carbo-load before the challenge (which is what runners do before a race like a marathon) you need to reduce the amount of protein you consume two to three days before the day, otherwise you won't be able to get enough carbohydrate on board.

Once you've done the challenge, then go back to what you were doing previously.

[EvilPie]

Great stuff Lee.

I know nothing about carb loading for this sort of thing.

Just a couple of things for discussion and hopefully a bit more input from others.

Dan is suggesting that a reduction in protein is necessary for carb loading.

This makes perfect sense but don't go mad Lee. He's not saying drop all of your protein just a bit.

What Dan is talking about is for marathon runners. Your challenge is not a marathon. It's physically demanding but it doesn't compare to a marathon in terms of energy usage.

I've just had a look at the challenge site and it's basically half hour mile targets. 23.5 miles in 12 hours.

When I do an 6 mile walk with Ronnie it takes about 2.5 hours. This includes a ciggie/cup of tea break and is a reasonably steady pace. There's a few decent hills as well although obviously not like the 3 peaks will be.

I'm pretty sure that I could do this same walk 4 times in a day and not need to worry about carb loading beforehand.

With a steady pace you can afford to be consuming carbs during your walk. You aren't going to hurt yourself like you would if you were eating during a marathon.

Perhaps you could buy a box of the flapjacks I have? They contain slow release carbs which would be ideal.

As the challenge is going to take 10 to 12 hours your body has time to process the carbs during the walk. If you have a snack every 90 minutes it could help you to not hit 'the wall' which Dan speaks about.

I really don't think you need to change too much with your diet at all in the run up.

The extra few pounds that you're not carrying for 24 miles will help more than the few extra carbs you might consume.

Marathon runners are in prime physical condition weeks before their run. They carry no fat and eat exactly the right amount to get them through their daily activities.

They carb load because for a few hours they are pushing their body to it's absolute limits and they need the extra carbs. They can't consume these carbs during their run so they need to build up a store in the preceeding days.

Lee's challenge is very different mainly because it takes a lot longer. If Lee consumes some carbs 2 hours before his walk they are going to get processed in time to be used during the walk. He can be snacking 6 hours in and they'll still get used by the end.

Any thoughts on  this?

[outragous76]

Matt

Agree with everything, i dont think carb loading is necessary, but upping his carb intake a few days before hand wont go amiss. He is currently taking on board very little.

As for the advice you give about on the day, spot on, small carb snacks every 90 mins or so. Obv time those to work around your lunch and cuppa tea stops.

I guess the point i was making was dont really push it to get to 15st (which he could achieve this week), but then regret it on saturday with absolutely nothing to give. I have done this walk, and although walking is relatively easy - you always see a tonne a people struggling on the last climb becasue they thought it was "just a walk".

so yeah - no need to carb load, but do adjust slightly from say thursday lunch/tea time.

(lee - btw - i will obv pay my sponsorship even if you dont make 15st, i just thought from day 1 you should have something of a goal, and that by doing so would increase your sponsorship)

btw 2  - if people are insisting on 15st, perhaps weigh yourself after you have done it - you might be the right side of the line :0)

[leethefish]

Thanks loads to all three of you its really appreciated.

i take on board what you are saying sounds like sound advice.
 some ideas of what to eat Thursday and Friday would be good i know higher carbs but best thing to eat?

bear in mind Friday we will be in a guest house somewhere in yorkshire and probably go out for a meal.

i don't like pasta ....lol.

thanks guy for saying you will still pay sponsorship ...i hope everyone else will follow suit. i would still love to make 15 stone and until Thursday diet will remain the same to give myself the best chance.

my final weigh in before the walk will now be Friday morning (if i am above 15 stone will weigh in after as well).

[leethefish]

yesterdays food

0700 bowl of alpen skimmed milk small sprinkle of sugar
cup of tea one sugar.

1300 8 oz sirloin steak salad and prawns.

1900 two small rounds wholemeal bread with tuna
Nil fat yogurt.

2100 two bananas

0230 packet of special k mini breaks (99 calories)

two cups of tea one sugar whilst at dtd and two large bottles of water i had loads of pi55 breaks ........

[kinboshi]

Great stuff Lee.

I know nothing about carb loading for this sort of thing.

Just a couple of things for discussion and hopefully a bit more input from others.

Dan is suggesting that a reduction in protein is necessary for carb loading.

This makes perfect sense but don't go mad Lee. He's not saying drop all of your protein just a bit.

Correct.

If you have a breast of chicken with some rice - just up the amount of rice you have with it.  The protein will actually help as it slows down the digestion of the carbs (lowering the GI) - so a good thing for the few days before (and on the morning of the challenge).

What Dan is talking about is for marathon runners. Your challenge is not a marathon. It's physically demanding but it doesn't compare to a marathon in terms of energy usage.

I've just had a look at the challenge site and it's basically half hour mile targets. 23.5 miles in 12 hours.

When I do an 6 mile walk with Ronnie it takes about 2.5 hours. This includes a ciggie/cup of tea break and is a reasonably steady pace. There's a few decent hills as well although obviously not like the 3 peaks will be.

I'm pretty sure that I could do this same walk 4 times in a day and not need to worry about carb loading beforehand.

The body can store energy from carbs for about 2 hours of exercise (obviously depends on the level of exercise), and if you're doing more than that (and with walking it might be a longer time I don't know) you have to be taking some on board to replace the glycogen you've used up.  This is also why a half-marathon is a completely different challenge to a full marathon.  I'd imagine it's a similar thing when comparing a shorter walk to one that's taking as many hours as this challenge will.

With a steady pace you can afford to be consuming carbs during your walk. You aren't going to hurt yourself like you would if you were eating during a marathon.

Perhaps you could buy a box of the flapjacks I have? They contain slow release carbs which would be ideal.

As the challenge is going to take 10 to 12 hours your body has time to process the carbs during the walk. If you have a snack every 90 minutes it could help you to not hit 'the wall' which Dan speaks about.

Those flapjack bars would probably be good, or alternatively the energy bars I have for before I run (slightly more carbs and lower protein and very little fat). Whichever you have, you'll need a drink to wash them down

I really don't think you need to change too much with your diet at all in the run up.

The extra few pounds that you're not carrying for 24 miles will help more than the few extra carbs you might consume.

Marathon runners are in prime physical condition weeks before their run. They carry no fat and eat exactly the right amount to get them through their daily activities.

They carb load because for a few hours they are pushing their body to it's absolute limits and they need the extra carbs. They can't consume these carbs during their run so they need to build up a store in the preceeding days.

Not all marathon runners are near peak physical condition - in fact, most aren't!!   But during a marathon you do have to consume additional carbs if you want to replenish the energy stores. 

He doesn't need to change the diet dramatically, it's just slightly changing the proportions during the few days before so that slightly more the calories are from carbs than protien, rather than adding on lots of additional calories.

Lee's challenge is very different mainly because it takes a lot longer. If Lee consumes some carbs 2 hours before his walk they are going to get processed in time to be used during the walk. He can be snacking 6 hours in and they'll still get used by the end.

Any thoughts on  this?

I haven't done anything like Lee's challenge, so don't know how it would feel after 20 miles of walking in terms of the energy demands on the body.  I'm sure he'd be able to do it with no special eating or preparation, but I'm sure he wants it to be as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.  Good socks (and maybe a spare set to change in to half-way through) are probably more important than the exact details of the diet for this week!

[gatso]

let's get serious now guys

just eat normally beforehand and take some sandwiches with you maybe a flapjack if you like but take a normal one from the shop. throw in some crisps, a couple of bananas and enough fluid and you'll be fine. you're not pushing your body to extremes, you're going for a walk over a few hills

[RED-DOG]

let's get serious now guys

just eat normally beforehand and take some sandwiches with you maybe a flapjack if you like but take a normal one from the shop. throw in some crisps, a couple of bananas and enough fluid and you'll be fine. you're not pushing your body to extremes, you're going for a walk over a few hills

Doesn't that kind of depend on the state of the body, the length of the walk and the size of the hills?

[gatso]

let's get serious now guys

just eat normally beforehand and take some sandwiches with you maybe a flapjack if you like but take a normal one from the shop. throw in some crisps, a couple of bananas and enough fluid and you'll be fine. you're not pushing your body to extremes, you're going for a walk over a few hills

Doesn't that kind of depend on the state of the body, the length of the walk and the size of the hills?

yep but I know the size of the hills and I know that lee's been training for it. there's no reason why he can't just turn up, buy some grub from the local corner shop and complete this quite happily

[kinboshi]

let's get serious now guys

just eat normally beforehand and take some sandwiches with you maybe a flapjack if you like but take a normal one from the shop. throw in some crisps, a couple of bananas and enough fluid and you'll be fine. you're not pushing your body to extremes, you're going for a walk over a few hills

Doesn't that kind of depend on the state of the body, the length of the walk and the size of the hills?

yep but I know the size of the hills and I know that lee's been training for it. there's no reason why he can't just turn up, buy some grub from the local corner shop and complete this quite happily

I'm sure he'd be able to do it with no special eating or preparation, but I'm sure he wants it to be as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.  Good socks (and maybe a spare set to change in to half-way through) are probably more important than the exact details of the diet for this week!

[gatso]

let's get serious now guys

just eat normally beforehand and take some sandwiches with you maybe a flapjack if you like but take a normal one from the shop. throw in some crisps, a couple of bananas and enough fluid and you'll be fine. you're not pushing your body to extremes, you're going for a walk over a few hills

Doesn't that kind of depend on the state of the body, the length of the walk and the size of the hills?

yep but I know the size of the hills and I know that lee's been training for it. there's no reason why he can't just turn up, buy some grub from the local corner shop and complete this quite happily

I'm sure he'd be able to do it with no special eating or preparation, but I'm sure he wants it to be as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.  Good socks (and maybe a spare set to change in to half-way through) are probably more important than the exact details of the diet for this week!

I sure got anywhere near the end of the post where you wrote that. got bored after about 2 lines of you talking about carbs

[EvilPie]

Hey Lee.

These are the flapjacks that I have and I think Dan has now as well. http://www.thesupplementstore.co.uk/brands/cnp_professional/chemicalnutritionflapjacks-cnp_professional_pro_flapjacks_24_bars.htm

I think Dan found them somewhere cheaper so worth waiting for him to come along and stick his nose in as he does .

They all deliver next day so you don't need to panic buy.

These make really easy snacks while you're out walking.

You need slow release carbs and that's what these are.

For real food you could try any of the following:

Vegetables, eg broccoli, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, salad leaves, asparagus, green beans, cabbage, celery, squash, parsnips, swede, sweetcorn, tomatoes, cucumber, onions, peppers...and so on
Fruit, eg apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, pineapple, mangos, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, melon, pomegranate...and so on
Wholegrain flour products, eg wholemeal bread, wholgrain pasta
Wild rice, brown rice
Corn tortillas
Chappatis

This is a random list nicked off t'internet and is by no means exhaustive. Have a google of slow release carbs and see if anything appeals to your taste buds.

They don't mention oatmeal here which would make a good breakfast in the run up to your walk and is one of my favourites mixed with a protein shake.

Might be worth having a sports drink with you just in case you hit a wall but don't have it unless you need it.

As I've already said you'll get far better advice from Dan on these sort of things. I can tell you what is common sense to me but Dan will have more knowledge with his marathon training. (Although it pains me to say it)

Not long to go now!!

[leethefish]

thanks guys to all of you,

the help and advice has been really great and is very much appreciated i would not have lost as much weight if it went for Matt ..thanks mate


i know some of you might think its just a walk over a couple of hills with nothing to worry about easy peasy.....
but for me ...no its not ,
as i try to explain at the beginning of this thread i have been lazy  unhealthy and unfit doing little or no exercise for near on 15 years.
weighing seventeen and a half stone just weeks ago.

the training and dieting i have found very hard... for a Lott of you that's normall i have never been on a diet in my life and the army pretty much told me what to eat and when to run and that was a very long time ago.

5 days till final weigh in  

[leethefish]

yesterdays food,

1200 roast chicken (breast) roast potatoes asparagus beans,carrots and gravy

1700  (approx)two wholemeal slices of bread with tuna
nil fat yogurt

1900 (approx) banana

several cups of tea and gallens of water at dtd

[gatso]

i know some of you might think its just a walk over a couple of hills with nothing to worry about easy peasy.....

that's not really what I was suggesting lee though it probably sounded like it. it was a hard challenge for you at the start but you've now done the hard bit. you've hopefully dropped enough weight and done enough training that the weekend is now just a victory procession

unlike a marathon no amount of extra rice and pasta 2 days before is going to change whether you do this or not