Tim Noakes and Banting...

runbabarun

Is there anyone here who dabbled in Banting diet? I am extremely skeptical about these things but this one is touted by Tim Noakes, an exercise scientist who had some compelling research on running psychology, and fueling and hydration strategies (a bit of dehydration is ok and no/limited carbs while running!!!). I was listening to a running podcast, in which they interviewed him and I had no idea he was trying to be this next Atkins type, and never even heard of the diet before. I got curious if anyone knows anything about what the story is. Shalane Flanagan almost collapsed at Olympic trials due to this kind of carb overload supposedly, speeding up her dehydration. The guy challenges the likes of Gatorade and gel companies, but I wonder if he is just out to make a name for himself. Did anyone read his books?

GiddyupTim

The website for the Banting diet he promotes is www.realmealrevolution.com.
Noakes used to be an advocate of carb loading. But then he switched.
I know that Crossfit people used to advocate a paleo diet, which is not much different from Banting. But they have stopped. They found that they simply could not perform as well without carbs in the mix -- without some balance in their diet.
Course, maybe weightlifting is somehow different from just running, biking, etc.?
Probably unlikely, though there were, at one time, many stories of phenomenal physical turnarounds and performances by triathletes and ultra runners when they went Banting.
Still, my impression is that the bloom is off the rose, and people are moving away from this extreme diet.

GiddyupTim

BTW, I have heard that, if you are running a lot, you can go ketogenic (which is the aim of the diet) in just a few days. So, I remember reading that you can experiment with the diet for just a few weeks and maybe start to see or feel a difference. At least, they say, you will feel a difference when you start to gradually reintroduce carbs. You'll feel bloated, or sluggish, or hypoglycemic....
Be aware, however, that many athletes/exercisers feel quite fatigued and out of sorts during the first week or so when they try to run, lift, etc.

runbabarun

Sounds like, not only it passed me by, it already ended up in the large bin of gimmicky diet ideas that are reheated and served in slightly different fashions. Thank you so much @GiddyupTim !

RunRachelleRun

I haven't read about the Banting diet. I did try LCHF at the beginning of August after being in a plateau. I read the book about LCHF and exercise performance by Phinney and Volek (often referred to with Noakes) based on a study they did with athletes (not worth buying imo; most of the info can be found for free on the web).

I think I was in ketosis within a few days. At first, I just felt pretty low energy. Then, my heart and vascular system revolted on day nine or ten. My arrhythmia was triggered with a vengeance, my blood pressure fell into the low zone (normally low-ish average: 95/65 and went to 85/55), I couldn't sleep, my hair started falling out, and I started retaining a lot of water (bloating, edema). I assume and was advised this was all likely from an electrolyte imbalance, but I couldn't figure out the right combo to solve it. Nothing I tried worked, and I'm not keen on any diet that requires major supplementation just to feel as if I'm not going to die. I felt very unwell. I increased my carbs, though my heart is still mad about the whole experience. The silver lining was that it did break my plateau and I dropped a few pounds that have stayed off.

My performance also suffered instantly. I experienced my first bonk on my Sunday long run during that time. I wasn't sure I was going to make it home.

From what I've read to date, LCHF works well for some ultra athletes. But . . . I read the food diary on race day of one of the elite examples, and he was still ingesting carbs for fuel during the race - maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of what is recommended. And most LCHFers seem to have side effects they are choosing to live with even after being on the diet for good lengths of time and regular struggles with adherence since there are yummy carbs everywhere.

runbabarun

@RunRachelleRun wow! Crazy story! That sounds like a rough patch! I agree on your comment re: supplements and yummy carbs!!!! Thank you for sharing.

runbabarun

Fwiw, this is the link to the podcast for those interested. The bit about "flow" state in running is compelling. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/marathon-training-academy/id359208879?mt=2&i=372908307

RunRachelleRun

@runbababrun It was crazy. With existing heart issues, my body probably reacted more extremely than most.
I wasn't trying to scare you off. It seems some people are having success with it. The science is certainly intriguing. Do you think you'll give it a try?

I'm currently trying to incorporate carb timing/intermittent fasting and fasted workouts to see if I can still get some of the benefits that I learned about without any of the previous side effects I experienced.

Thanks for the podcast link. Always good to have new things to listen to.

runbabarun

I'm just not good at keeping up with these kinds of things and diets. Too skeptical. Deprivation of any kind is hard to maintain in the long run. I've lost and gained so many times, I'm hoping for a bit more consistency this time around.