Running and low carb

starvinkevin
starvinkevin Posts: 331
in Fitness and Exercise
Doable? Im aiming for weight loss over cardio performance.

Replies

  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    what kind of distance? Up to a half is doable, but you're making things more difficult on yourself. I've seen low carb people attempt a marathon...can't say it have very good results.

    If you want weight loss, no need to go low carb, just worry about calorie deficit.
  • starvinkevin
    starvinkevin Posts: 331
    what kind of distance? Up to a half is doable, but you're making things more difficult on yourself. I've seen low carb people attempt a marathon...can't say it have very good results.

    If you want weight loss, no need to go low carb, just worry about calorie deficit.

    Hmm like Im going just as long as I can and right now its only 1.5 miles... Im not aiming for distance or speed or anything just weightloss so I thought low carb + cardio would work faster than either alone.... I've done low cal, high carb + lots of running and I've lost weight much faster with just low carb and light walking so Im wondering if anyone has experience with low carb + moderate running.
  • starvinkevin
    starvinkevin Posts: 331
    Actually nm Im gonna do moderate carbs - I had like 120 g carbs today and just ran longer than any I ran last week. I think ill just play around till I find a good balance.
  • _canuckrunner_
    _canuckrunner_ Posts: 364 Member
    A few years ago I tried the whole low carb thing (followed South Beach) and lost some weight and then I made the mistake of going for a run.....WORST RUN EVER! I had zero energy and died before I barely got started. That experience was enough for me to get off the low carb wagon. There may be ways of doing low carb and being more successful than I was but it certainly didn't work for me. My body needs carbs for running. Now I just eat whole grain carbs and got rid of the white flour and processed foods and I'm a much happier runner!
  • syk731
    syk731 Posts: 34 Member
    I just ran my first half. I eat low carb (less than 100 g carbs/day). I did increase my carb intake for 3-4 days prior to the race, and I ran it really well - much better than I thought I would, based on my training runs. I wouldn't say that I carb loaded, but probably ate more like 150 g carbs/day those days, and I'm wondering if that's why I was able to run so much faster than I thought I would.

    I did lose a lot of weight on low carb and running, though.
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    Low carb will affect your performance for many activities. Only embrace a low carb diet if instructed to do so by your doctor.
  • MrGonzo05
    MrGonzo05 Posts: 1,120 Member
    I just ran my first half. I eat low carb (less than 100 g carbs/day). I did increase my carb intake for 3-4 days prior to the race, and I ran it really well - much better than I thought I would, based on my training runs. I wouldn't say that I carb loaded, but probably ate more like 150 g carbs/day those days, and I'm wondering if that's why I was able to run so much faster than I thought I would.

    I did lose a lot of weight on low carb and running, though.

    That is not the extreme end of carb avoidance.
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Doable? Im aiming for weight loss over cardio performance.

    It was a catastrophe for me, that's all I can say. If the goal is just distance and not speed, it might be possible, but after the first experience I have no interest in finding out.
  • gk03ub
    gk03ub Posts: 99 Member
    Your performance will definitely be much better if you carb up. You're running, using those carbs and putting them to good use. As long as you log everything, you'll be fine. I tried low carb and I felt awful. Now, 250g + of carbs per day and I am completely energized, feeling fantastic, running longer and faster, and still losing weight!
  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    I'll just add my low-carb running experience:

    tried it once for a few weeks just to see. I could do all my runs, but I slowed down dramatically. It wasn't pleasant.

    I do a full glycogen depletion before carb loading for a marathon - three days of light training while eating about 50g carbs. Its the suckiest three days of training. I can run, but I feel like I'm going to die (especially during interval training). There is just no energy.
    If it didn't work so well at increasing glycogen stores when I carb load, I would not do it.

    As far as what works for you, you'll just have to play around and see. I can do a maintenance plan (20-30 miles a week) just fine on 150-200g carbs per day. Anything more than that requires an increase. A lot of distance runners use a 40/30/30 breakdown for macros.
  • starvinkevin
    starvinkevin Posts: 331
    I think Ill do like 120-130 g/day - Im not planning to go crazy mileage anymore - im just doing running for the extra calories it allows me to eat and of course, for the GREAT HIGH!

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