Has anyone done bonk training (a way to lose weight by biking)

[Mucman]

The instruction in the latest Bicycling mag says :

1. Upon waking, drink 2-3 cups of coffe 45 minutes before cycling. Don't eat.
2. Ride at 60-70% of your max heart rate.
3. Keep it up for 20-90 minutes.

It says not to over do it or else you burn muscle.

I am not obese or anything... I am 6'1" 180lbs but I want to get rid of the spare tire... the rest of my body is skinny but I still got love handles and it is driving me nuts, and I don't feel comfortable with my shirt off (you people should be thankful that you cannot see me ).

Just curious if anyone has done something similar?

 

[vi edit]

Sounds like a stomach ache and dehydration waiting to happen.

That much caffeine on an empty belly PLUS strenuous exercise just sounds painful.

 

[Mucman]

I am sure you can hydrate yourself after the coffee... it says to start cyclin after 45 minutes... the article says this training is harmful if not done properly...

 

[sandorski]

Muc: If you just wanna lose a few, just cut something out of your diet that you eat regularly. Potato chips, chocolate, pop, or something like desserts, increase your activity a little and you'll lose weight easily.

 

[RussianSoldier]

all that "diet" sounds like you'll just lose water weight... cut the excess out of your diet, and bike or run to work...

 

[SludgeFactory]

Hmmm, I thought bonking was bad. As in, uh oh -- the tank is on E, I better stop here for a minute, I can't go any farther, let me lie down here at the side of the road. Fausto is the man to ask about this.

Interval training is very effective at burning fat while sparing muscle. You alternate brief periods of full intensity cardio with brief periods of light intensity/rest. Train like a sprinter for about 20-30 minutes. You do need a certain pre-existing level of cardiovascular fitness to be able to do that though.

One more thing, unless you're burning up a monster amount of calories with exercise, you'll have to pay at least some attention to diet.

 

[Mucman]

I have a pretty low call diet it as it is.. I don't drink pop or eat junk food... My job has me on my ass all day though, I try to go for a walk after work as often as possible. I have a 33km commute (3 hours total in transit) so I don't have too much time (yeah I know, a lame excuse). I guess I could bike to the train station which is about 15km away...

 

[flot]

I've stayed in pretty good shape by biking ~30 mins a day, 5 days a week. I didn't appreciate how much of a difference it made, until I DIDN'T do it for 9 months (was out of town for work) and voila, I put on 15 lbs. Biking isn't too hard on your body, it's reasonably fun/produtive and yes it's definitely a "decent" way to burn calories...

 

[Mucman]

flot - Only 30 minutes? I think my problem is that when I am on my bike, I go for hours, therefore I only bike during the weekends when I have that kind of time (gone for a few 5 hours rides).

I am liking the idea of biking to the train station... there are only a couple problems. By the time I get there I will be all sweaty, and sitting on a hot stinky train won't help. There is no place for me to really clean up at work too...

 

[kami]

Mucman I think 5 short rides a week are much more beneficial than one long ride per week.

 

[Mucman]

kami - Argh... I guess I need more discipline. 3 hours of commuting + 9 hours at work doesn't leave me much free time (yes I know, a poor excuse) Henry Rollins would be calling me all sorts of names right now...

It's also getting dark by the time I get home.

Stupid flabs... that last time in my laugh when I didn't have flabs was probably when I was 5 years old.

 

[StageLeft]

i'm sure that would work very well but that much caffeine on an empty stomach you'll feel weird but you'll also feel really high For you any old cardio will do like biking for 30-60 minutes a day or running for a half hour.

 

[0ops]

Do not drink caffeine or alcohol right before/during/right after exercise. This is a well-known fact.

the article says this training is harmful if not done properly...

sounds like its harmful if done properly too.

 

[montanafan]

What about getting an indoor trainer stand for your bike? Then you can ride any time of the evening or night.

 

[Mucman]

I guess I was looking for some easy way out... all this talk of biking has got me pumped for when I get home though . Going to go for a little ride when I get home.

 

[Mucman]

Originally posted by: montanafan
What about getting an indoor trainer stand for your bike? Then you can ride any time of the evening or night.

No way! What I love about biking is going outside, and enjoying the beautiful scenery. I am not a fan of all of those indoor cardio machines, they are so boring. Biking is great because it's excercise and you don't even know it because it's so much fun!