The ride across America is one of the most challenging physical activities I’ve ever
undertaken. So I started working out last September — giving myself plenty of time to get in shape. I also shifted my diet — eating more fruits, vegetables, fish, and grains and fewer big steaks and fries. The result? I lost about a pound a week for 20 weeks or so. I look better and I have a lot more energy.
The problem is that my trainer, Alison Eichten, says I’m too skinny. The body burns carbohydrates first and — when it runs out of carbs — starts to burn fat. Alison says that I won’t be able to eat enough carbs on those long, long days on the bike so I need to have some fat reserves to fall back on. She’s telling me now that I need to gain ten pounds (4.5 kilos). So it’s back to the steak frites!