Training & Nutrition - Low carb diet and bicycling?

Anybody have experience with this? In the past I've lost weight on an LC diet but now that I ride (100 Miles a week) I'm kinda concerned about bonking. Thanks in advance!

Anybody have experience with this? In the past I've lost weight on an LC diet but now that I ride (100 Miles a week) I'm kinda concerned about bonking. Thanks in advance!

I follow a paleo-diet and ride a little more than you. Just whip up a protien/bananna/strawberry smoothie after you ride and you'll be fine. Check out Loren Cordain's work regarding low carb diets and athletes.

Anybody have experience with this? In the past I've lost weight on an LC diet but now that I ride (100 Miles a week) I'm kinda concerned about bonking. Thanks in advance!

I've been on various carb manipulation methods for a few years with rotating carbs (cutoffs early in the day or low/high days) or going very low carbs. I use this to compliment weight training and found it's really helped keep my bodyfat in check, especially in the winters when I did no cardio.

Since getting into cycling much more seriously this summer I have to say my craving for carbs has exploded. I manage about an hour a day (intervals) 5 days a week. I found I was bonking out on several early rides, sometimes literally riding on fumes. After upping my carbs, especially before and after rides, I'm able to sustain the rides better and improve on my performance. I also MTB, and have found this to improve as well. You don't have to add crazy amounts of carbs but cycling definitely works better with good clean carbs in your system.

If you're doing 100 miles I'd map out a good carb strategy leading up to the ride, during and after.

You need carbs to exercise. 20 miles a day is not much. But still be carefull. If you decide to do a long ride without carb loading starting the day before you may pass out.

Are you trying to lose weight? If you go on any kind of "diet" and lose weight, what will happen when you eventually go off the diet? Obviously, you will gain the weight back.

Or do you plan to stay on a low-carb diet for the rest of your life? You will never never ever eat cheerios or a banana again? Good luck with that, my friend.

Or.... Find a sensible eating plan that can sustain your riding and your health--that you can live with for the rest of your life.

I'm kinda concerned about bonking. I wouldn't worry about bonking, you'll never exercise to a high enough energy deficit to bonk. By avoiding carbohydrates you effectively train your body to continuously break fats apart to make glucose. You never bonk, you never get faster, you just sit there with a lot of fat in your system, hopefully without ill effects.

I wouldn't worry about bonking, you'll never exercise to a high enough energy deficit to bonk. By avoiding carbohydrates you effectively train your body to continuously break fats apart to make glucose. You never bonk, you never get faster, you just sit there with a lot of fat in your system, hopefully without ill effects.


you're joking, right?

Forget all this crap about LC diets and let's reduce this to
hardcore basics.

Carb's= fuel for the body.

As long as you don't "overfuel" instead fueling just below
what your body needs you will lose weight without risk. The
problem with carbs is that you must pay close attention to
the amount of fuel you're taking in.

Forget all this crap about LC diets and let's reduce this to
hardcore basics.

Carb's= fuel for the body.

As long as you don't "overfuel" instead fueling just below
what your body needs you will lose weight without risk. The
problem with carbs is that you must pay close attention to
the amount of fuel you're taking in.

fat and protien fuel too they do it for a longer time too. they also make you feel full longer.
but I think jsut cutting otu the crappy carbs (most fo what you buy these days) is a big step.

Why would anyone want to follow the Low Carb diets as they are most commonly marketed?
Eat good, whole foods and you will provide your body with what it needs.
Oatmeal, beans, fruit, brown rice, and sweet potatoes are all carbs that will provide you with the vitamins and minerals you need to perform at optimal levels. They will also provide you with fiber, both soluble and insoluble.

By consuming some carbohydrates, your body wont have to catabolize your muscles for energy. Protein is a poor source for generating the energy you will need. The breakdown of protein in this manor will also yield higher levels of amonia, which will cause further stress to your liver which has to detoxify the amonia by forming urea. Eating some carbohydrate will allow the body to use the protein you consume in a much better way. This protein can then be used to form hormones, muscles, cellular repair work, and building up the immune system.

If you eat enough quality sources of carbohydrates, the glucose release will be slower and prolonged, providing you the steady energy source you will need to support a quality exercise program. You will be healthier by balancing your diet.

I wouldn't worry about bonking, you'll never exercise to a high enough energy deficit to bonk. By avoiding carbohydrates you effectively train your body to continuously break fats apart to make glucose. You never bonk, you never get faster, you just sit there with a lot of fat in your system, hopefully without ill effects. Must be a joke cause I'm laughing.

I used to work in a health food store and 5 times a day at least these pained looking people would come in and go "I'm on atkins, and I haven't pooed in 5 days. Please help me." Unless you want colon cancer, get off that diet. No serious athelete belongs on a low carb diet.

I used to work in a health food store and 5 times a day at least these pained looking people would come in and go "I'm on atkins, and I haven't pooed in 5 days. Please help me." Unless you want colon cancer, get off that diet. No serious athelete belongs on a low carb diet.


really, you must be joking! such nonsense!

ok, there is a slight reality to these comments - some people do experience some difficulty during the first few days, or for some, the first few weeks at most. After your body adjusts and eliminates the poisons, er, carbs, from your system, you'll be poo-ing just fine and there is absolutely no danger of colon cancer. (If there is, prove it!).


the only athlete who may need carbs are those involved at the very highest levels of exertion over extended periods. So unless you are racing against Lance next week, you dont need carbs.

I wouldn't worry about bonking, you'll never exercise to a high enough energy deficit to bonk. By avoiding carbohydrates you effectively train your body to continuously break fats apart to make glucose. You never bonk, you never get faster, you just sit there with a lot of fat in your system, hopefully without ill effects.


The body can not make glucose from stored fats. Gluconeogenisis occurs from stored glycogen, primarily in the liver and muscle tissues, and from protein breakdown. Fatty acids are metabolized in the mitochondria with out change (except for the breaking off of the individual FA chains from the glycerine backbone of a di- or tri-glyceride).
And you can bonk without having done strenuous exercise. It would be rare, but it is definitely possible once glycogen stores have been depleted. There is a lag time from entering a glycogen depletion to the time the body adapts to using certain ketones to fuel the brain and heart muscle. During this lag time, bonking is easily accomplished.

really, you must be joking! such nonsense!

ok, there is a slight reality to these comments - some people do experience some difficulty during the first few days, or for some, the first few weeks at most. After your body adjusts and eliminates the poisons, er, carbs, from your system, you'll be poo-ing just fine and there is absolutely no danger of colon cancer. (If there is, prove it!).


the only athlete who may need carbs are those involved at the very highest levels of exertion over extended periods. So unless you are racing against Lance next week, you dont need carbs.

Perhaps I was too flippant earlier. If you are sure to get enough fiber on a low carb diet you should be okay. But you can't eliminate all sources of fiber from your system and expect to have a healthy digestive system. Go ahead and eliminate all the bad carbs (like white flour, corn syrup and cane sugar) you want from your diet, that stuff really is poison. But whole grains (like brown rice and oats) and veggies are really good for you and when eaten as part of a balanced "bad carb"-free diet should help you lose weight. And then you won't have to worry about bonking.
The cycling and running tradition of eating a giant bowl of white flour pasta the night before a race really isn't all that good for anyone. I laughed my ass off when the new issue of Bicycling recommended white flour pancakes as part of a "healthy" breakfast. Please.

How about following a low glycemic index diet? That makes much more sense than all of this Atkins and south beach business, and it's a diet you can stick with for life.

I'm on a high fat / low carb diet and if I'm only going for a gentle 1-1.5 hour ride I don't need to carb up. If I'm intending on going hard or racing then OK, I have some carbs but I don't find that I need to start carbing up the day before. 1 hour before the ride is enough + some carbs afterwards. To me carbs means fruit, fresh or dried and I will take dried fruit with me on the road. Dates or dried figs are good.

Banana's are good. Cherrio's? Never!

Regards, Anthony

Anybody have experience with this? In the past I've lost weight on an LC diet but now that I ride (100 Miles a week) I'm kinda concerned about bonking. Thanks in advance!
Another vote against LC diets in general, and specifically LC diet plus exercise.

Weight losses and gains are a calorie game, period. If you use up more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. Activities like cycling are positive because you burn calories and strengthen your aerobic system in a fairly low-impact manner.

However, you will need to take in water and calories (mostly in carb form) during longer rides. The rule of thumb is 500-750ml of water and 250 calories per hour of activity. Otherwise you will bonk. Your body simply cannot convert fat into energy fast enough, especially after you've used up all your readily-available glucose.

Forget the fads and stick to a healthy balanced diet.

But whole grains (like brown rice and oats) and veggies are really good for you and when eaten as part of a balanced "bad carb"-free diet .

I agree, and here is a supporting excerpt that i stumbled across today:

>>You ask for scientific evidence. In 2001, a study was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association titled "The role of whole grains in disease prevention." The authors conducted a meta-analysis on the subject by reviewing the available scientific literature on whole grains and cancer risk. The findings were as follows:

Out of 45 studies on whole grains and cancer, 43 showed whole grain intake to provide significant protection from several cancers. Specifically, a protective association was seen in 9 out of 10 mentions of studies on colorectal cancers and polyps, 7 out of 7 mentions of gastric cancer, 6 out of 6 mentions of other digestive tract cancers, 7 out of 7 mentions of hormone-related cancers (breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer,) 4 out of 4 mentions of pancreatic cancer, and 10 out of 11 mentions of other cancers.

Meanwhile, 98% of the wheat eaten in the United States is eaten as white flour. <<

North America loves white flour :)

Perhaps I was too flippant earlier. If you are sure to get enough fiber on a low carb diet you should be okay. But you can't eliminate all sources of fiber from your system and expect to have a healthy digestive system. Go ahead and eliminate all the bad carbs (like white flour, corn syrup and cane sugar) you want from your diet, that stuff really is poison. But whole grains (like brown rice and oats) and veggies are really good for you and when eaten as part of a balanced "bad carb"-free diet should help you lose weight. And then you won't have to worry about bonking.
The cycling and running tradition of eating a giant bowl of white flour pasta the night before a race really isn't all that good for anyone. I laughed my ass off when the new issue of Bicycling recommended white flour pancakes as part of a "healthy" breakfast. Please.

How about following a low glycemic index diet? That makes much more sense than all of this Atkins and south beach business, and it's a diet you can stick with for life.

I really dont worry about fiber.. it's highly overrated. Did you know that the inside skin of your intestines has about the same texture as the inside of your mouth? Rub your toungue around the inside of your mouth. Now do you really believe your intestines need a lot of non-nutritive stuff crammed thru them to function properly? I dont....

btw, a study came out a year or so ago totally debunking the notion that high fiber diets help prevent cancer.

one last note about fiber. We humans evolved on a high fat and protein diet. We ate animals. And what little edible plant matter we could find. Depending on the season and where you were, that ranged from none at all to not very much. In other words, we ate little fiber for the millions of years that we evolved from apes to modern humans. So, why do we suddenly need it now?

sooooo... step away from the Bran Flakes!!!

personally, I think all this good carbs/bad carbs/low GI stuff is bunk. what matters is how much sugar you put into your body, no matter what form it's in. If you eat a giant bowl of apples, low GI/good carbs or not, you will have ingested too much sugar.

I really dont worry about fiber.. it's highly overrated. Did you know that the inside skin of your intestines has about the same texture as the inside of your mouth? Rub your toungue around the inside of your mouth. Now do you really believe your intestines need a lot of non-nutritive stuff crammed thru them to function properly? I dont....

btw, a study came out a year or so ago totally debunking the notion that high fiber diets help prevent cancer.

one last note about fiber. We humans evolved on a high fat and protein diet. We ate animals. And what little edible plant matter we could find. Depending on the season and where you were, that ranged from none at all to not very much. In other words, we ate little fiber for the millions of years that we evolved from apes to modern humans. So, why do we suddenly need it now?

sooooo... step away from the Bran Flakes!!!

personally, I think all this good carbs/bad carbs/low GI stuff is bunk. what matters is how much sugar you put into your body, no matter what form it's in. If you eat a giant bowl of apples, low GI/good carbs or not, you will have ingested too much sugar.

If we evolved from apes, then we were vegetarians to begin with.

If we evolved from apes, then we were vegetarians to begin with.

We didn't evolve from apes, we are apes. We both evolved from a common anscestor. Also, many species of ape / monkey are omnivorous.

Another vote against LC diets in general, and specifically LC diet plus exercise.

Weight losses and gains are a calorie game, period. If you use up more calories than you consume, you will lose weight. Activities like cycling are positive because you burn calories and strengthen your aerobic system in a fairly low-impact manner.

However, you will need to take in water and calories (mostly in carb form) during longer rides. The rule of thumb is 500-750ml of water and 250 calories per hour of activity. Otherwise you will bonk. Your body simply cannot convert fat into energy fast enough, especially after you've used up all your readily-available glucose.

Forget the fads and stick to a healthy balanced diet.

I agree about the calories. If I am gonna limit my calories to lets, say 1800 per day, it makes perfect sense to me to make sure that 1800 calories contains enough protein and fats first, because that is what really satisfies and is what your body needs the most. then I add some fruit and vegetables to top things off.

If you build your 1800 calories from mostly carbs on the other hand, you are gonna feel less satisfied and you are gonna be producing a lot more insulin.

my understanding that, once you are fat adapted (after eating low carb and working out for a few weeks), your body gets better at burning fat and sparing glucose. even the most carb addicted athlete will always be burning a mixture of fat and glucose - the mix depends on the level of effort, the amount of glucose used rises with your level of effort.

so it seems that a low carb athlete will take longer to bonk, and can add some small amounts of fruit or whatever on high intensity days to avoid bonking all together.

At 100 miles a week, I wouldn't worry about bonking unless you're doing more than 40-miles in a single ride... But losing muscle can be a possibility if you don't have a recovery drink afterwards.

Make a compromise and do a low glycemic index diet. Low carb is just plain unhealthy.

If we evolved from apes, then we were vegetarians to begin with.

let me introduce you to the Expensive Tissue Hypothesis:

http://cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/images/solving_the_brain.htm


Humans have voracious brains. ....As Leslie C. Aiello, a paleoanthropologist at University College London, puts it: "Where does the energy come from to fuel the large brain?" And if there is an energetic constraint on how big a brain can get, how did our ancestors overcome that limit?

Aiello speculates that we could reduce our gut size to free up energy for a larger brain because of a dietary change that was taking place as brain size expanded. Our ancestors were shifting from a heavily vegetarian diet, which requires a massive gut to digest plants and nuts, to a more easily digestible, nutritious diet that included meat and requires less gut tissue.

I'll stick with a balanced diet, thankyou.
There's too much thats good in the foods that you are labeling as bad for me to give them up. There's vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phyto-chemicals that are just now being explored, and the list goes on and on.
In addition to the above mentioned chemicals, there are hundreds of studies linking saturated fats and trans fats to CHD, high blood pressure, diabetes (of which I am a diabetic), strokes, and cancers.
If one goes by pure physiology, the human GI track is somewhere between a carnivores and a herbivores. This would indicate that we should be eating a balance of different foods and not avoiding any one type.

Balance in all things will usually be the healthies route.

FWIW I have been on a balanced diet with a calorie target since december. I've lost nearly 70lbs on this diet combined with regular excersice. At this point I have no problems completing a 40-50 mile spontaneous ride. I do 40 or so every saturday morning and the most I prepare for it is a peice of whole wheat toast and some home made jelly.

A balanced diet is much easier to maintain for an extended period of time than a LC diet it. Plus I don't stink like atkins dieters often do...

BTW, fiber is good for those that want to lose weight. It helps provide a feeling fullness without extra fats or carbs.

I've lost about 170lbs on LC diet, however now that I've gotten into serious cycling I've found that I have to add carbs back in on ride days to have any hope of sustaining a high level of activity for more than a couple of hours. So I'll eat a banana or Clif bar or something about an hour before the ride, then try to have some carbs every hour or so thereafter (gels, sport drink, energy bars, etc.) On other days I try to stick to "healthy" LC eating, with plenty of veggies but generally avoiding grains and sugars.

Also, I don't really see the logic in carbo-loading with pasta and such the day before an activity, unless you are doing a sustained multi-day event. If your muscles are already holding all the glycogen they can, then all that extra glucose is just going to go right to fat. Of course, a serious LC dieter is going to always be in a somewhat glycogen depleted state so in that case it might help to build up the reserves.

instead of doing a low carb diet try i carb timed diet. Only eat carbs when you need them like during, and within 15 minutes after your workout. Make sure you replace all the carbs you burned on your ride or you will feel like crap and you will binge on high carb food. I know from experience. Also if you protein intake exceeds about 40% of you total diet you will develop a sickness called "rabbit starvation" where you nauseated, irritable, develop diarrhea, binge on crap food, and die.

instead of doing a low carb diet try i carb timed diet. Only eat carbs when you need them like during, and within 15 minutes after your workout. Make sure you replace all the carbs you burned on your ride or you will feel like crap and you will binge on high carb food. I know from experience. Also if you protein intake exceeds about 40% of you total diet you will develop a sickness called "rabbit starvation" where you nauseated, irritable, develop diarrhea, binge on crap food, and die.

I'm not low carb, but I am "right carb" (whole grains etc.) most of the time except when I ride. Replacing those carbs is really important.

If we evolved from apes, then we were vegetarians to begin with.Some people more than others.......Well, you should .... think about it...

The body can not make glucose from stored fats.Might want to read the answer to question #1........on this medical exam......
http://www.usd.edu/med/som/somdept/biochem/courses/bioc520/b520c6.htm

I really can't believe these forums --- yes indeedy -a great joke for us all.........

Hey fat people, don't eat for day, you'll die -- no glucose - don't you know?

The body can not make glucose from stored fats.
Some people more than others.......Well, you should .... think about it...
Might want to read the answer to question #1........on this medical exam......
http://www.usd.edu/med/som/somdept/biochem/courses/bioc520/b520c6.htm

I really can't believe these forums --- yes indeedy -a great joke for us all.........

Hey fat people, don't eat for day, you'll die -- no glucose - don't you know?Uh... nowhere in your link does it say "fat is converted to glucose"... The glucose that the liver can provide comes from its own glycogen supply (glycogenolysis) and is triggered by glucagon. However, simultaneously, fatty-acids are used to generate acetyl-CoA through the fatty-acid spiral which is fed to the krebs-cycle to make ATP. However, at no time during this process is fat converted to glucose.

Generating ATP from glucose is a separate and independent pathway than from fats. They are different processes that can occur at the same time in differing amounts. Only problem with running out of glycogen/glucose is that high glucagon & cortisol levels to trigger higher rates of fatty-acid metabolism also disassemble perfectly good muscle for fuel as well.

Chris Carmichael summed it pretty well I thought. His take, Low carb diets are for folks who don't exercise.

Some people more than others.......Well, you should .... think about it...
Might want to read the answer to question #1........on this medical exam......
http://www.usd.edu/med/som/somdept/biochem/courses/bioc520/b520c6.htm

I really can't believe these forums --- yes indeedy -a great joke for us all.........

Hey fat people, don't eat for day, you'll die -- no glucose - don't you know?


You may want to actually read it yourself. The oxidation of fatty acids in order to create ATP is not gluconeogenisis. While your at it, perhaps you should read up on what the primary source of energy for the brain is (glucose).

You may want to actually read it yourself. The oxidation of fatty acids in order to create ATP is not gluconeogenisis. While your at it, perhaps you should read up on what the primary source of energy for the brain is (glucose).

the brain runs just fine on ketones, my man...

there are certain parts of the body - parts of the central nervous system, some parts of the brain, I think - that do need glucose. that's where gluconeogenisis comes in-your body makes the small amt. of glucose it needs from left over protein.

now, where did I leave my car keys????

Chris Carmichael summed it pretty well I thought. His take, Low carb diets are for folks who don't exercise.


well, yeah, I guess that settles it then, right?

wrong.

well, yeah, I guess that settles it then, right?

wrong.Well, it all comes down to results. Gee... how many Olympic or TDF champions have you coached?

Mrfreddy,
Can you us one example of someone racing with success, at even a moderate level, say Cat 2 or above, that follows a high protein, high fat, extremely low carb diet?

This stuff is kinda neat. It sorta ties in with my clin chem class

Gluconeogenesis: 2pyruvate + 4ATP + 2 GTP + 2NADH + 6 H2O --> Glucose + 4ADP + 2GP + 6Pi + 2 NAD + 2K

It is kinda neat to look at all the other pathways as well, and how they seem to be geared to making glucose to move around the body. The pathways seem so different but they all seem to geared to the same thing, making glucose, or making ATP, or something that will contribute to the two.

Now only if there was a way to make the prof more interesting? Ahh well so much more to learn.

This stuff is kinda neat. It sorta ties in with my clin chem class

Gluconeogenesis: 2pyruvate + 4ATP + 2 GTP + 2NADH + 6 H2O --> Glucose + 4ADP + 2GP + 6Pi + 2 NAD + 2K

It is kinda neat to look at all the other pathways as well, and how they seem to be geared to making glucose to move around the body. The pathways seem so different but they all seem to geared to the same thing, making glucose, or making ATP, or something that will contribute to the two.

Now only if there was a way to make the prof more interesting? Ahh well so much more to learn.


I think you may have left a few items out of your equation.
The website below has a decent explanation of the process.
http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/gluconeogenesis.html

I think you may have left a few items out of your equation.
The website below has a decent explanation of the process.
http://web.indstate.edu/thcme/mwking/gluconeogenesis.html

Sure the enzymes are missing, the enzymes are not in my equation. I am still learning, and I trust the biochemist teaching my class more than the net. Thank you for pointing out the sight. Enzymes V-max and Km are next class. Please feel free to fill in the enzymes for me though. :)

Hey man...good luck with the classes....lots of memorization.

Mrfreddy,
Can you us one example of someone racing with success, at even a moderate level, say Cat 2 or above, that follows a high protein, high fat, extremely low carb diet?

and the point of that would be what?

someone said Chris Carmichael said "low carb diets are for people who dont exercise."

I happen to exercise a lot, and I eat a very low carb diet. But of course, I aint planning on racing anyone anytime soon, or even ever. If I was, or i I was riding really hard for a very long time, I would add a few more carbs to the mix.

But anyway, Mr. Carmichael's statement as it is is ridiculous, if that is indeed what he said. Change the word "exercise" to "race" and maybe, maybe, maybe, he has a point. Though there are some studies out there indicating it might be a good idea to train on low carb and race on carbs, something to do with improving your ability to utilize fats in the muscle and sparing glucose...

and the point of that would be what?

someone said Chris Carmichael said "low carb diets are for people who dont exercise."

I happen to exercise a lot, and I eat a very low carb diet. But of course, I aint planning on racing anyone anytime soon, or even ever. If I was, or i I was riding really hard for a very long time, I would add a few more carbs to the mix.

But anyway, Mr. Carmichael's statement as it is is ridiculous, if that is indeed what he said. Change the word "exercise" to "race" and maybe, maybe, maybe, he has a point. Though there are some studies out there indicating it might be a good idea to train on low carb and race on carbs, something to do with improving your ability to utilize fats in the muscle and sparing glucose...

Well I thought this was the training & nutrition forum. That would indicate to me that most folks here are interested in what sort of nutrition is going to allow them to train, and hopefully succeed athletically, whether that success is in the form of winning races, finishing centuries, or hanging with the fast guys on the Tuesday night ride.

Which gets me back to my point, whether low carb, high fat Atkins style diets are right for anyone is debateable, there certainly is significant reason to believe they're not appropriate for people training to perform athletically.

If your proposed diet was consistent with athletic performance, there out to be an example of someone following it and winning races, even Professional racers following it, and I don't think those examples exist.

FWIW:
I used a diet of Oatmeal + Fruit, Veggies + Fish. Exercise moderate at 200 miles/week at 10-15 MPH.
Result after one year: 6', 240 lbs down to 6', 195 lbs. Size 40 waist to 34.
After that, I started training harder at 17-20 MPH. I added milkshakes, trail mix and potatoes to my diet.
After that, I did a 27 day XC ride at 120 miles/day. I added steak and potatoes to the diet. Lots of trail mix.

Well I thought this was the training & nutrition forum. That would indicate to me that most folks here are interested in what sort of nutrition is going to allow them to train, and hopefully succeed athletically, whether that success is in the form of winning races, finishing centuries, or hanging with the fast guys on the Tuesday night ride.

Which gets me back to my point, whether low carb, high fat Atkins style diets are right for anyone is debateable, there certainly is significant reason to believe they're not appropriate for people training to perform athletically.

If your proposed diet was consistent with athletic performance, there out to be an example of someone following it and winning races, even Professional racers following it, and I don't think those examples exist.

there are all kinds of levels of training...

anyway, it seems to me the main reason no top tier athlete is following a low carb diet and winning races has more to do with herd mentality, dietary dogma, etc. etc.

Everyone has been carb loading for so long they can't imagine any other approach. And for those who have their income on the line, especially for those whose incomes reach into the hundreds of thousands and millions, its understandable that they wouldnt want to experiment with a new diet.

there are studies that indicate performance is not impaired on low carb, but if I recall correctly, they did not involve athletes performing at the highest levels of exertion... I havent found one anyway... but at lower levels of exertion, where I live and I suspect a lot of other readers and posters on this forum live, the studies show no problemos... the low carb diet does just fine.

anyway, it seems to me the main reason no top tier athlete is following a low carb diet and winning races has more to do with herd mentality, dietary dogma, etc. etc.

Everyone has been carb loading for so long they can't imagine any other approach. And for those who have their income on the line, especially for those whose incomes reach into the hundreds of thousands and millions, its understandable that they wouldnt want to experiment with a new diet.



Modern pro cyclists experiment with all sorts of diets and supplements (legal and illegal). Armstrong, with his Formula 1 team, examined absolutely everything they could do to squeeze out any advantage. I'm sure that he'd follow a diet of Yak milk and bat urine if their was an advantage to it.

Perhaps the reason no top tier athlete follows a low carb diet is that it doesn't work for athletes. And have you considered that the dogma is on your side when you can't produce an example to support your beliefs. (as in dogma: doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative without proof.)

Well actualy from what I've read the body doesn't realy run on glucose. It DOES run on ATP. Your body CAN make ATP from fat or glucose so the need for glucose is overated.

I'll go looking for the reference.

Regards, Anthony

Modern pro cyclists experiment with all sorts of diets and supplements (legal and illegal). Armstrong, with his Formula 1 team, examined absolutely everything they could do to squeeze out any advantage. I'm sure that he'd follow a diet of Yak milk and bat urine if their was an advantage to it.

Perhaps the reason no top tier athlete follows a low carb diet is that it doesn't work for athletes. And have you considered that the dogma is on your side when you can't produce an example to support your beliefs. (as in dogma: doctrine or code of beliefs accepted as authoritative without proof.)

it may not work for that type of athlete, I suppose that may be true. the more demands you make on your glucose supply, obviously your gonna need carbs.

its not that I cant produce examples, I am just too lazy to look for them! there was a swimmer who won some races in the olympics who is a low carber, I think?

there is also an ultra marathoner named Stuart something who is pretty much a low carber.. but the thing there is that ultra marathoner run really slow for a long long time... burning mostly fat.

Stuart Trager is a spokesman for Atkins, does Ironman triathlons... btw, he eats mostly low carb, adds in some carbs to support his workouts. He's not a pro, but turns in respectable times for his age group.

and I agree with you, maybe... low carb may not be appropriate for elite athletes... if I ever said it was, I hereby right now retract such statement! However, my understanding is that it might behoove them to look into it...

one thing, there are lots of studies supposedly proving a high carb diet works better than high fat, however, they didnt allow the athletes sufficient time to adapt. When they do allow for said adaption, the supposed benefit for carbs pretty much disappears. Except at the very highest levels of effort.

... but at lower levels of exertion, where I live .. the low carb diet does just fine.


.... I'm just getting started so dont ask me about my performance times.... I dont know and I dont care.

...I started low carbing about 4 years ago, at the time I was a whopping 230 pounds, I dropped down to 189 via low carbing and moderate exercise. Right now I am back up to 201, due to lack of exercise.....

......). I've been doing this for a three weeks now, and see no reason why I cant do it for the rest of my life....

...I'm just starting out, so the intensity level is low, but after I get a good solid base, I'll add in some higher level workouts, maybe some intervals,

I've kept it up, doing 60 - 90 minutes of cardio per day, at about 60% of max

so you are recommending that a sedentary person at age 49 who is at least 20 pounds overweight hit the gym and start pounding it out at 70 - 75% intensity, right from the get-go. reallly? if you were my trainer, I'd fire you on the spot, ha haaa....


Ya, at your level low carb works. Then again, no one here has ever said low carb didnt work for sedentary couch potatoes like yourself.