experimenting with carbs
 

So I decided to try eating some carbs before I worked out today. Well the results? I DOUBLED the distance I usually run. I usually job about 2 miles, well i just jogged 4 miles. Im sure part of it is because I was trying hard, but usually when I run I "hit the wall". That didnt happen to me, in fact I felt sooo much better running then I have this entire Ive been on atkins. I dont know what to think :( Im losing my religion......as potatoe free would say.....what would dr atkins do? Are there other ways I can energy without eating carbs? Im sick of feeling dizzy and horrible every time I work out.

He does say when you're working out hard you can up the carbs. The amount I'm not sure, I think it's in the book or it was on the website. I consider 4 miles pretty hard work out. I'm sure if you up it you'll be fine, after all you're running a lot, if you're feeling dizzy your body is telling you something.

Hi Skibunnie, you answered your question when you said this:



If this works better for you, then I say up the carbs before your workout. You'll feel better and you'll stick to your workout session. I too notice the correlation between carbs and exercise. When I eat too few carbs, my workout really suffers.

....nothing wrong with eating the RIGHT kind of carbs before a workout, IMHO. Maybe in the exercise threads, there's more info, but the bodybuilders use techniques like that regularly.

<giggle> BTW, maybe I've started a catchphrase..what's next? Bracelets with WWDAD on them? Although, I'm getting to be known as a Dr Phil pusher too..WWDPD? :lol:

I myself feel better higher carb because of my excersise program. Just eat the right carbs.

if you coordinate your meals around your workouts, you might be able to have carbs to burn when you work out and minimize the need to add carbs to your overall diet.

SkiBunnie, what exactly did you eat before your run, if you don't mind. Potato & others, what do you mean by the right kind of carbs, can you give examples? I have had problems with intense muscle exercising more than endurance exercising; but sometimes I do feel like this woe hurts my exercise energy level a lot. Should you eat these carbs right before working out? Thanks.

Hi Skibunnie:

Don't feel guilt over eating healthy carbs before a workout. Some can exercise without a lot of carbs, some can't. Each person reacts differently and you have to tweak the program to suit your own needs.

Just make sure you eat the right type of carbs (unprocessed, whole). Not all carbs are evil as we sometimes get into the habit of thinking on LC.

Hope your workouts improve.

Wanda

Whole grains, low-GI fruits, dairy.. things that have carbs, but not refined sugar/flour are what I had in mind.

peanut butter, cottage cheese, probably too much of both

Those are both good choices, really more fat than carbs in the peanut butter...good fuel.

Thank you SkiBunnie & Potatofree. I've been playing a lot of beach volleyball lately, and struggling with muscle fatigue; I have not been able to figure out good lc or "the right kind of carb" snacks, other than lc protein bars which are loaded with maltitol which kills my stomach, so I don't eat them. Still, this is a big challenge for me with this woe; everyone around me is chomping on candy bars, pretzels, cookies and downing Gatorade by the quart while I sit there drinking water. I like the peanut butter idea, or maybe mixed nuts. Unfortunately, I have problems controlling my quantity with both PB and nuts; once I start it is hard for me to stop. Thanks.

The Carb Issue
 

I had this problem big time, this summer when I was training for a triathlon. I found that I ran much better (5-6 miles) and could bike farther (17-18 miles) when I tanked up on carbs. I actually switched to The Zone for a while because I couldn't eat that much fat (it was giving me stomach cramps - really twitchy) and I was eating so many carbs. I even carried Gatorade, only really, really watered down (1 inch of Gatorade in the water bottle, then fill it up).

Now, I'm back doing Atkins, but I prefer to run in the morning on an empty stomach. I have less of the twitchy problems that way. So if I want to carb up a little, I eat something the night before. I'm running more like 2-4 miles now a couple times a week anyway, and then some sprinting. I sometimes think 5-6 miles was maybe too much strain (considering my body weight).

But, I am very pleased at my running now. I'm really enjoying it, and even when I'm in ketosis I just have no problem. :)

Hi Skibunnie, Try a bowl of regular oatmeal before your run. It's low on the glycemic index but will provide you with energy. I had it last time I did Atkins and saw no difference in the speed of my weight loss. This time, for some reason, I can run 4-6 miles daily without the carbs. But can't make it much past 6 miles without hitting the wall.

Good luck!
Amy

Last night I loaded up on carbs before my run -- 25 grams of carbs. I had a great run -- did 75 mins -- about 8 miles. It felt great. I could have gone longer if my ankle had not started bugging me. Before that with my 25 carbs limit a day, I always felt tired and would stop at around 6 miles max.

I know some people perform ok with small amounts of carbs, but for me my workout is clearly better with more carbs. I will be upping my carbs now..