Originally Posted by nycphotography

True, but that misses and / or obscures the point.

The real question is: Which glycogen do you want to use and how do you want to replenish it? From sugars and carbs in a sport and/or recovery drink? Or do you want to run a glycogen deficit and force the body to reclaim it from fat cells later?

You have some non trivial amount of glycogen in your blood and stored readily available in you liver. Most estimates are around 1200 calories worth, but to be safe, I figure 800 to 1000 are available.

I can do 600 kj of HIIT, high heart rate, feel the lactate burn... and not eat anything. I can do it first thing in the morning, fasted, and not eat during, and not eat after.

Afterwards, I can I take on 600 cal of carbs. Or.... I can simply refuse to. I can force my body to go get busy reclaiming glycogen from fat. I dunno how slow this process is or how long it takes. But I also am not completely carb free in my diet, so maybe when I eat some fried chicken the carbs in that yummy fatty breading go directly into liver storage as glycogen rather than directly into adipose storage as fat. Or maybe the 100 cal of honey on my triple zero yogurt for lunch does. I don't really know. Honestly, I don't really care. I burn glycogen with HIIT and do not replace all of it. Apparently my body takes care of that problem.

I can also do 2500 kj of endurance without eating. With a good endurance base, a fat adapted body will burn almost all fat while in zone 1 & 2 (and even some zone 3). This is not mere theory. I have done this, and try to repeat it once a week or so. That fat does not burn in a carbohydrate fire. It burns in an aerobic oxygen fire direct in the muscles.

Of course, this requires a solid fitness base. You have to work hard enough, long enough, smart enough, to get that fitness base, before you are able to go burn pure fat on long endurance rides. You have to be fit enough to do the ride in zone 2.

I also do (some, a little) weights and calisthenics. The gym type stuff and the HIIT bike work is to force the body to build muscle and strength. Use the protein to build muscle. the energy needed to do that comes from... glycogen? fat? I dunno, but apparently I have plenty of whatever it needs available because it still gets done while I sleep.

The biggest challenge honestly is fighting off the fridge cravings in the evening. I end up at the fridge with a beer in my hand, or another protein bar in my hand... and I have to ask myself... do I really need this? Am I really (really) hungry? Or am I just bored. Or if I had something to do right now would the hunger just be a background thing?

Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

I find I have the fewest problems with overtraining, being able to work at a high intensity, and not being hungry when I follow the glycogen replacement tips I presented. My body seems to automatically stop bugging me about food when I give it what it needs. That applies to all three macronutrients. And I still lose weight if I'm trying to do that.

Originally Posted by 12strings

1. If you are used to eating some refined sugar each day and cut it out completely, you will feel crappy and low energy for a day or two, but after 3-4 days should feel better and cleaner.

2. If you do the above and eat a good amount of complex carbs (whole grains), and fruit, you will be fine, and your energy levels will likely be more even throughout the day. You will likely have healthier body systems in general and if you are overweight, may lose some fat, since extra refined sugar contributes to fat storage.

3. If you actually cut out all carbs and sugars completely, you will die in a few weeks.

Originally Posted by CanadianBiker32

thanks guys as this is one of my older posts. I eat oatmeal every day. I use brown sugar in it as i love the taste, what is a good item to try for taste i feel i need to get rid of more sugar in my diet? suggestions? please.