FarEast
Maximum Pace
- May 25, 2009
- 5,528
- 538
Over the years I've written a lot of articles for several magazines, websites and companies within the cycling industry and I thought I would start sharing some of the material I've written over the years as well as a few pieces I will write exclusive for the TCC.
I wrote this article mainly because I was becoming concerned with the increase in pseudoscience that were doing the rounds on social media sites as well as some legitimate concerns that my athletes were having regarding nutrition during on and off season.
I started this article about a year ago and consulted with other professional riders, coaches as well as athletes that have actually suffered from eating disordered who feel were a result of disordered eating or it played some part of the process.
I have also brought my own research and knowledge to this article as a professional coach, nutritionist and qualified chef as well as over 20 years of racing and coaching in all cycling disciplines. I hope that by reading this you can walk away with something new and hopefully makes some small changes in your way of thinking or nutrition.
Enjoy.
Eating disorders and Disordered eating.
Eating disorders have received a lot of press in recent years and we are well aware of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, the deadly trio of nutritional mental disorders.
Many regard this as a problem that only women are afflicted with, however that is a common misconception held by most. Men are just as susceptible to the pressures that modern media and society put on our personal image and looks, and that combined with the increase in people taking up sport and being bombarded with advertisements regarding nutrition products means that more and more people and making unhealthy changes in their lifestyles that they believe, incorrectly, are healthy.
Harvard University undertook the first ever national study of eating disorders which revealed that in a population of nearly 3,000 adults, 25% of those with anorexia or bulimia and 40% of binge eaters were men. However many believe that the figures are higher still with many men reluctant to admit they have a problem, in main part due to the stigma attached to the issue.
This article is about the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, which is an issue that is rapidly increasing within the circles of amateur athletes and even pro's that do not have the support of a nutritionist or councilor that can address the issue.
What is the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating?
We all know what the 3 major eating disorders are but disordered eating is not well known and in comparison to the seriousness of anorexia and bulimia is swept under the carpet. However I personally believe that disordered eating is the first steppingstone to the more serious disorders.
So what exactly is disordered eating? Basically disordered eating describes irregular eating habits, such as self-starvation, bingeing, purging and exercising obsessively without constructive rest or nutrition to maintain the body's natural equilibrium. Although there maybe some similarities between these and the clinically defined "Eating Disorders", they are not diagnosed as such, and are instead considered atypical, or sub clinical.
A classic example of this is binge eating, followed by the mad dash to the gym during and after the festive season, or the crash diets 1 week before going on holiday, all examples of disordered eating habits that many of us are guilty of. Not life threatening per se but still these processes put your body under enormous pressure that can cause depression or stress and, possibly later or through repetition, may result in more serious disorders.
As a cyclist and cycling coach I hear all types of fad diets or disordered eating habits that individuals are involved in, from crash dieting for a certain hill climb race to completing cutting out carbohydrates from their diet or chicken and broccoli diets in the effort to lose unwanted body weight. Another form of disordered eating and one that I was guilty of until studying the subject of nutrition and mental health, is using food and beverages as a form of reward.
As endurance athletes, cyclists need to pay particular attention to the importance of refueling and maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, including hydration. Those of us that have cycle computers that can give you an estimated calorific expenditure will know it's almost impossible to replace in a ride what we have burnt, and will often use this as an excuse to binge out the following day with the inner monologue chanting "You did burn 4000kcal yesterday!"
Unfortunately our bodies don't work like that and this is another classic case of disordered eating.
The facts remain that to lose body fat, the best method for getting it off and keeping it off while maintaining healthy energy levels and a stable mental disposition is a steady effort that can last months, if not years depending on the target weight, by adapting to a balanced, healthy diet, combined with a structured and consistent exercise plan. (Notice I don't use the word training)
I wrote this article mainly because I was becoming concerned with the increase in pseudoscience that were doing the rounds on social media sites as well as some legitimate concerns that my athletes were having regarding nutrition during on and off season.
I started this article about a year ago and consulted with other professional riders, coaches as well as athletes that have actually suffered from eating disordered who feel were a result of disordered eating or it played some part of the process.
I have also brought my own research and knowledge to this article as a professional coach, nutritionist and qualified chef as well as over 20 years of racing and coaching in all cycling disciplines. I hope that by reading this you can walk away with something new and hopefully makes some small changes in your way of thinking or nutrition.
Enjoy.
Eating disorders and Disordered eating.
Eating disorders have received a lot of press in recent years and we are well aware of anorexia, bulimia and binge eating, the deadly trio of nutritional mental disorders.
Many regard this as a problem that only women are afflicted with, however that is a common misconception held by most. Men are just as susceptible to the pressures that modern media and society put on our personal image and looks, and that combined with the increase in people taking up sport and being bombarded with advertisements regarding nutrition products means that more and more people and making unhealthy changes in their lifestyles that they believe, incorrectly, are healthy.
Harvard University undertook the first ever national study of eating disorders which revealed that in a population of nearly 3,000 adults, 25% of those with anorexia or bulimia and 40% of binge eaters were men. However many believe that the figures are higher still with many men reluctant to admit they have a problem, in main part due to the stigma attached to the issue.
This article is about the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating, which is an issue that is rapidly increasing within the circles of amateur athletes and even pro's that do not have the support of a nutritionist or councilor that can address the issue.
What is the difference between eating disorders and disordered eating?
We all know what the 3 major eating disorders are but disordered eating is not well known and in comparison to the seriousness of anorexia and bulimia is swept under the carpet. However I personally believe that disordered eating is the first steppingstone to the more serious disorders.
So what exactly is disordered eating? Basically disordered eating describes irregular eating habits, such as self-starvation, bingeing, purging and exercising obsessively without constructive rest or nutrition to maintain the body's natural equilibrium. Although there maybe some similarities between these and the clinically defined "Eating Disorders", they are not diagnosed as such, and are instead considered atypical, or sub clinical.
A classic example of this is binge eating, followed by the mad dash to the gym during and after the festive season, or the crash diets 1 week before going on holiday, all examples of disordered eating habits that many of us are guilty of. Not life threatening per se but still these processes put your body under enormous pressure that can cause depression or stress and, possibly later or through repetition, may result in more serious disorders.
As a cyclist and cycling coach I hear all types of fad diets or disordered eating habits that individuals are involved in, from crash dieting for a certain hill climb race to completing cutting out carbohydrates from their diet or chicken and broccoli diets in the effort to lose unwanted body weight. Another form of disordered eating and one that I was guilty of until studying the subject of nutrition and mental health, is using food and beverages as a form of reward.
As endurance athletes, cyclists need to pay particular attention to the importance of refueling and maintaining a balanced and healthy diet, including hydration. Those of us that have cycle computers that can give you an estimated calorific expenditure will know it's almost impossible to replace in a ride what we have burnt, and will often use this as an excuse to binge out the following day with the inner monologue chanting "You did burn 4000kcal yesterday!"
Unfortunately our bodies don't work like that and this is another classic case of disordered eating.
The facts remain that to lose body fat, the best method for getting it off and keeping it off while maintaining healthy energy levels and a stable mental disposition is a steady effort that can last months, if not years depending on the target weight, by adapting to a balanced, healthy diet, combined with a structured and consistent exercise plan. (Notice I don't use the word training)