Low Carb Diet and Exercise

LovelyLibra79

Hi MFP..I've been doing low carbs for about a week...so far I am losing about 0.5 lbs a day..However I'm also losing energy which makes it difficult to keep up with my personal trainer. I work out with him 4 x weekly. I have a protein shake before which helps me thru the 1st half of the workout..but by the end..I"m totally exhausted. Prior to the low carb diet--I was able to hang thru the entire workout.

Is there anything else I can do or eat/drink to help with my energy levels?

Tonika44137

I was just reading an article last night that mentioned this exact thing you're experiencing and I saved the link..check this out:

http://www.nowloss.com/carbs-proteins-fats-needed-to-build-muscle.htm

zoom2

I lost weight VERY well low-carbing, but it's not super compatible with the sorts of activity I do now (aerobic stuff...running and biking). If I can get in 100-150 net carbs I'm OK to run for maybe 90 minutes or bike equivalent. But this time of the year that doesn't get me through a lot of longer workouts.

DrBorkBork

make sure you're not going low carb and low fat. Make sure you're including healthy fats in your diet like coconut, avocado, etc. Once your body learns to burn fat for energy instead of carbs, you should balance out.
The first two weeks (for me anyway) were the roughest while my body transitioned.

Katie1951

Up your protein.

athensguy

Any particular reason you're trying to limit your carbs?

ninerbuff

Low carbing IMO, is only needed when you're getting ready for a competition. And if you're NOT in positive nitrogen balance, then you could be burning lean muscle tissue.
Though low carb diets have been proven to help rid the body of fat faster than typical controlled calorie diets, it also can interfere with having better workouts because of lack of energy to complete them.
I'd at least have more carbs before each session to have a better workout.


A.C.E. Certified Personal & Group FitnessTrainer
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Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

bcattoes

How low are going? Everyone seems to have a different definition of "low-carb" but perhaps you are just eating too few. Do you count total carbs or net? You should only count net since fiber isn't absorbed. If you are counting total carbs you are actually getting less than you think.

And as someone else pointed out, make sure you are getting good fats in your diet. Our bodies don't run on protein alone.

stephenatl09

I usually don't do low carb when strength training but if you do want to do low carb you should have carbs pre & post workout. There is some good info out there on the web. try searching bodybuilding.com I think I saw some articles on it there. But if you are going to throw your body into ketosis which is the real way to do low carb IMO, I wouldn't waste the money paying a trainer since my lifting etc really suffers...Just my 2 cents. I wish you luck.

LovelyLibra79

My trainer suggested I lower my carb intake and increase my protein. So I'm @ 70-100 carbs a day..but sometimes I only hit 50. I'm eating avocados..almonds, fish, chicken, sometimes beef, leafy veggies on a daily basis

LovelyLibra79

I usually don't do low carb when strength training but if you do want to do low carb you should have carbs pre & post workout. There is some good info out there on the web. try searching bodybuilding.com I think I saw some articles on it there. But if you are going to throw your body into ketosis which is the real way to do low carb IMO, I wouldn't waste the money paying a trainer since my lifting etc really suffers...Just my 2 cents. I wish you luck.

He told me to have carbs before and after the workout. I had a bowl of oatmeal yesterday before and a protein shake..I still felt "weird and tired".

Tonika44137

The article I posted earlier said pretty much what everyone else is saying..if you are going to reduce your carbs increase your fat (good fats) and protein and make your protein the higher intake and yes have your carbs/protein before/after workouts for more energy

zoom2

I usually don't do low carb when strength training but if you do want to do low carb you should have carbs pre & post workout. There is some good info out there on the web. try searching bodybuilding.com I think I saw some articles on it there. But if you are going to throw your body into ketosis which is the real way to do low carb IMO, I wouldn't waste the money paying a trainer since my lifting etc really suffers...Just my 2 cents. I wish you luck.

He told me to have carbs before and after the workout. I had a bowl of oatmeal yesterday before and a protein shake..I still felt "weird and tired".

The other question, are your calories too low?

Azdak

Hi MFP..I've been doing low carbs for about a week...so far I am losing about 0.5 lbs a day..However I'm also losing energy which makes it difficult to keep up with my personal trainer. I work out with him 4 x weekly. I have a protein shake before which helps me thru the 1st half of the workout..but by the end..I"m totally exhausted. Prior to the low carb diet--I was able to hang thru the entire workout.

Is there anything else I can do or eat/drink to help with my energy levels?

You can try eating more carbs.

LovelyLibra79

My calories are 1700-1800 ...I tried to match this with my recommended BMR. I do eat more carbs on days I work out but I'm still struggling that last hr after the workout

BrianSharpe

Hi MFP..I've been doing low carbs for about a week...so far I am losing about 0.5 lbs a day..However I'm also losing energy which makes it difficult to keep up with my personal trainer. I work out with him 4 x weekly. I have a protein shake before which helps me thru the 1st half of the workout..but by the end..I"m totally exhausted. Prior to the low carb diet--I was able to hang thru the entire workout.

Is there anything else I can do or eat/drink to help with my energy levels?

You can try eating more carbs.

+1 more carbs, especially considering that you said some days you aren't even hitting 50g