Nutrition Helped Eric Drop 15 Pounds and Finish Top 10 in a 24-Hour Race

Eric is a 42-year-old father of three who wanted to race a 24-hour mountain bike event and feel strong doing it. He lost 15 pounds of fat, kept his power on the bike, and finished 10th overall as the oldest rider in the top 10.

Eric is a 42-year-old father of three who wanted to race a 24-hour mountain bike event and feel strong doing it. He lost 15 pounds of fat, kept his power on the bike, and finished 10th overall as the oldest rider in the top 10.

Eric's Goal: A 24-Hour Mountain Bike Race at 42

Eric is a father of three and a business owner who lives in Salt Lake City. He has ridden bikes his whole life. He reached out to Brian because he wanted to race a 24-hour mountain bike event and wanted his best shot at doing well.

Where Eric Started: Weight He Could Not Shake

Eric hovered between 170 and 180 pounds for years. His frame carries closer to 150 or 155 pounds when lean. He could never get there working out and eating on his own.

Dialing In the Numbers: 2,500 Calories a Day

Brian and Eric spent the first two to three weeks working out his real calorie need. They landed on a base of 2,500 calories a day. Eric held that base steady and lost about a pound a week.

Fueling the Long Rides: Preloading Before Big Weekends

On long training days Eric needed 4,000 calories or more to keep his power up. Before a big Saturday ride he preloaded with 3,500 calories on Thursday and 4,000 calories on Friday. That preload kept him strong instead of running him empty on race day.

The Three-Part Formula: Movement, Food Choices, Portion Control

Brian breaks nutrition down into three parts: movement, food choices, and portion control. For Eric that meant tracking his training hours, choosing higher quality fuel over empty calories, and adjusting his portions up or down based on how much he was riding that week.

Eric's Results: 15 Pounds Down and New Personal Records

Eric lost 15 pounds of fat over about three months while eating 2,500 to 4,000 calories a day depending on training load. His power output climbed. He started setting personal records on climbs he used to struggle through and began dropping his riding buddies on group rides.

Race Day: 17 Hours, 180 Miles, a Top 10 Finish

Organizers called Eric's 24-hour race early after conditions dropped to 35 degrees with rain, snow, and wind. Eric had raced 17 hours and covered close to 180 miles by the time they stopped the clock. He finished 10th. He was the oldest rider in the top 10 at 42. The next youngest finisher was 23, and the next oldest rider was two full laps behind him in 16th.

Eric's Advice: Commit to Yourself

Eric says most people who struggle with nutrition are struggling to commit to themselves. His advice is to stop doubting yourself, call Brian, and give the process at least six to eight weeks before judging it.

Listen to Episode 75 for the full conversation between Brian and Eric.

Common Questions From This Episode

Who is Eric and why did he reach out to Coach Brian?

Eric is a 42-year-old father of three and business owner from Salt Lake City. He reached out to Brian because he wanted to race a 24-hour mountain bike event and wanted his best shot at doing well.

How much weight did Eric lose and how long did it take?

Eric lost 15 pounds of fat over about three months. He lost roughly a pound a week while still eating 2,500 to 4,000 calories a day depending on his training load.

How many calories was Eric eating each day?

Eric held a base of 2,500 calories a day. On heavy training days and before long rides that number climbed to 3,500 or 4,000 calories or more.

What is Brian's three-part nutrition formula?

Brian breaks nutrition into three parts: movement, food choices, and portion control. Eric's plan adjusted his portions based on how much he was riding each week.

How did Eric fuel for his long training rides?

Before a big Saturday ride, Eric preloaded with 3,500 calories on Thursday and 4,000 calories on Friday. That kept his energy and power up instead of running him empty.

How did Eric perform in his 24-hour mountain bike race?

Organizers called the race early after conditions dropped to 35 degrees with rain, snow, and wind. Eric had raced 17 hours and covered close to 180 miles. He finished 10th and was the oldest rider in the top 10 at 42.

What changed in Eric's performance on the bike?

Eric's power output climbed and he started setting personal records on climbs he used to struggle through. He also began dropping his riding buddies on group rides.

What is Eric's advice for other men?

Eric says most people who struggle with nutrition are struggling to commit to themselves. His advice is to stop doubting yourself, call Brian, and give the process at least six to eight weeks.

Read more of Brian and Eric's conversation on the Driven For Health blog.