ANOTHER DREADED CARB POST.....for Runners!

eve7166

If i eat 1200 cals of carbs ( low glycimic bread, pasta ,rice, etc) I will gain weight... I am not a believer that a carb is a carb...

If you want to eat more carbs try to up your veggies and fruit (they are carb too)

I also do not believe we NEED to eat low glycimic carbs (but they are yummy so i do allow them in once in a while)

maybe my metabolism is messed up or i have some issues but i will gain weight too if i changed my diet.

GL!

littlemsmuffet

Ok so before you guys go carb crazy on me.....let me explain myself first!

So I am a runner..... not a professional runner, but I run 4 days a week averaging about 20-25 miles. My diet has always consisted of 1200 calories 40% protein, 30% carbs 30% fat, (for me to lose weight) I have read over and over again that runners do not need to restrict their carbs and since I have been increasing my mileage preparing for half marathon(and I met my wt loss goal) I decided I would add more carbs and just see if I can maintain my weight since I am running and doing strength training 2 days a wk. WELL it didnt work FOR ME. Since November I have gained 10 lbs back....doing the same thing I have always done except I increased my calories from 1200 to 1400 and changed my ratios to 40% carb 30% protein 30% fat!
(oh yea and just to point out my carbs were not bad carbs, I ate potatoes, brown rice and fruit an occaisonal wheat bread)

I feel yuck! I thought carbs were supposed to give you energy and make you feel good! :sad:

Will I ever be able to follow a normal equal carb/protein diet, or should I just give up and keep eating high protein and not worry about the carbs for running? If you are a runner, what does your diet consist of? Are the carbs really that important?

The EXACT thing happened to me within the last 2-3 weeks. I posted a thread about LOW CARB RUNNERS (I forgot what I called it but check my profile) last week and got some great responses from runners who eat little/no carbs and do just fine. I, personally, would never go back to a higher carb diet. I feel ill, in pain, and I have too many meltdowns. About that 1/2 marathon - I read on RunnersWorld that a lot of pro long-distance runners cut carbs and eat higher fat to train their body to adapt to fat more quickly. Even skinny runners have enough energy to last for miles. If I were you, I would keep the carbs at 30-70 grams (that's what I'm doing anyway and I run 20-35 mi/week) per day and up the fat (within your calories, of course!). You might consider decreasing the protein to ~20% instead of 30%. If you aren't Mr. Universe you really don't need lots of protein and the body is very good at conserving lean tissue, especially if you are strength training! I honestly wouldn't worry about getting enough protein just yet. My principle is to eat bare-minimum protein and see what happens after 3-4 weeks but that's debatable

sjcply

I am a low carb runner. I did the same thing training for my first half marathon last summer. Not only did my weightloss suffer, I had waaaaaay less energy on long runs. I'd run out of gas. I keep my carbs below 50 and it works for me. I run 15-25 miles a week.

That is soo me!! My runs have actually gotten slower and kind of sluggish since I have been eating more carbs! THANKS!!

sjcply

If i eat 1200 cals of carbs ( low glycimic bread, pasta ,rice, etc) I will gain weight... I am not a believer that a carb is a carb...

If you want to eat more carbs try to up your veggies and fruit (they are carb too)

I also do not believe we NEED to eat low glycimic carbs (but they are yummy so i do allow them in once in a while)

maybe my metabolism is messed up or i have some issues but i will gain weight too if i changed my diet.

GL!

That is awesome that I am finding more and more people like that! I thought I was the only low carb crazy out there! Thanks for sharing, it back to low carbing for me!!

sjcply

Ok so before you guys go carb crazy on me.....let me explain myself first!

So I am a runner..... not a professional runner, but I run 4 days a week averaging about 20-25 miles. My diet has always consisted of 1200 calories 40% protein, 30% carbs 30% fat, (for me to lose weight) I have read over and over again that runners do not need to restrict their carbs and since I have been increasing my mileage preparing for half marathon(and I met my wt loss goal) I decided I would add more carbs and just see if I can maintain my weight since I am running and doing strength training 2 days a wk. WELL it didnt work FOR ME. Since November I have gained 10 lbs back....doing the same thing I have always done except I increased my calories from 1200 to 1400 and changed my ratios to 40% carb 30% protein 30% fat!
(oh yea and just to point out my carbs were not bad carbs, I ate potatoes, brown rice and fruit an occaisonal wheat bread)

I feel yuck! I thought carbs were supposed to give you energy and make you feel good! :sad:

Will I ever be able to follow a normal equal carb/protein diet, or should I just give up and keep eating high protein and not worry about the carbs for running? If you are a runner, what does your diet consist of? Are the carbs really that important?

The EXACT thing happened to me within the last 2-3 weeks. I posted a thread about LOW CARB RUNNERS (I forgot what I called it but check my profile) last week and got some great responses from runners who eat little/no carbs and do just fine. I, personally, would never go back to a higher carb diet. I feel ill, in pain, and I have too many meltdowns. About that 1/2 marathon - I read on RunnersWorld that a lot of pro long-distance runners cut carbs and eat higher fat to train their body to adapt to fat more quickly. Even skinny runners have enough energy to last for miles. If I were you, I would keep the carbs at 30-70 grams (that's what I'm doing anyway and I run 20-35 mi/week) per day and up the fat (within your calories, of course!). You might consider decreasing the protein to ~20% instead of 30%. If you aren't Mr. Universe you really don't need lots of protein and the body is very good at conserving lean tissue, especially if you are strength training! I honestly wouldn't worry about getting enough protein just yet. My principle is to eat bare-minimum protein and see what happens after 3-4 weeks but that's debatable

Yay! I was wondering if I was just crazy!! I am gonna go find your post and read it! Thanks!!