Carbs question

[TracyC]

I am currently on a limited carbs diet ( most of the time when I don't succumb to weakness ) my question is , is it ok to take those carbs in any form I see fit. So rather than spread them out via veggies/fruit/nuts throughout the day, could I eat something very carb/sugar heavy and make that the ONLY thing in the day I eat containing carbs if it takes up my allowance.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Not if it puts your blood sugar levels above whatever your personal target is.

 

[Enclave]

Test before and 2 hrs after your carb fest ... you may not want to do it a second time when you see how high it has pushed your blood sugars

 

[Bluetit1802]

Why not try it and use your meter to show you if it is acceptable? I bet you will have a shock.

Personally I build my carbs up during the day. I have none for breakfast as I spike even with 5g carbs in a morning. I have some at lunch time and the rest at evening meal but rarely more than 20g. at any one time. 20g per meal seems to be my personal maximum threshold.

 

[TracyC]

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I was meaning if i perhaps went out, a birthday or something and had something then. If the BG goes up to a bad level i understand thats damaging but...is it not the case that its only very bad if it stays consistently high over a period of time ( weeks/months ) in terms of diabetic complications?

 

[Robbity]

It's up to you and your meter how you manage your carbs, but I believe it's much better for my general health and my glucose levels to spread mine amongst healthy low carb foods. But it's also possible to have sweet treats, cake, bread, etc, using low carb ingredients - doing this you have the best of both worlds. So just think about what's most important to you: controlling your diabetes, or eating high carb food? For me it's a no brainer.

Robbity

 

[TracyC]

I'm guessing you wont negatively impact your overall trajectory if it's a once in a blue moon treat - provided you're in good health and generally managing nicely.
I did read that if you know you are going to have a bit of a blowout you can undertake some intense exercise the day before and your body will be looking to replenish glycogen in your muscles after that which offsets your planned carb intake. You'll only know how effective that is by actually testing though. And I'm guessing this works best for people who enjoy exercise - people who don't tend to have a different idea of what intense is.

Thats really interesting to know! I have recently re-taken up running again. Currently not doing loads of distance, usually about a 2 mile run... 4 days a week as part of a 0 to marathon training plan so it will increase weekly. Always had the worry in the back of my mind about the way carbs would work in that situation actually, most runners load carbs quite heavily especially when they have long distances to cover. Is going to have to be something I look into in finer detail I think.

 

[Catlady19]

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I was meaning if i perhaps went out, a birthday or something and had something then. If the BG goes up to a bad level i understand thats damaging but...is it not the case that its only very bad if it stays consistently high over a period of time ( weeks/months ) in terms of diabetic complications?

I would have what you fancy, you have to have some fun sometimes! Just make sure you get back on board the next day and that it doesn't happen too regularly. Have fun!

 

[AndBreathe]

Thats really interesting to know! I have recently re-taken up running again. Currently not doing loads of distance, usually about a 2 mile run... 4 days a week as part of a 0 to marathon training plan so it will increase weekly. Always had the worry in the back of my mind about the way carbs would work in that situation actually, most runners load carbs quite heavily especially when they have long distances to cover. Is going to have to be something I look into in finer detail I think.

Interestingly, there are more and more endurance runners using a ketogenic (fat burning) approach, rather than carb loading. If you Google the subject, there quite a lot come up, including Mo Farrah, who hasn't done so badly on it.

 

[TracyC]

Interestingly, there are more and more endurance runners using a ketogenic (fat burning) approach, rather than carb loading. If you Google the subject, there quite a lot come up, including Mo Farrah, who hasn't done so badly on it.

Thats really interesting and good to know! I haven't looked too deeply into it yet because its a few months off , if i follow the plan really before I'm going to need to worry about it really. Just back in from a 3 mile run ( up hill all the way, half killed myself lol ) just take a small amount of water with me for that, but its when I get past 5 miles, in the past I have found i benefited from something more, maybe a sports drink or I used to use the SiS gels, but avoiding carbs now makes them out the question. Besides I always felt a bit irritated with the fact I was running not just for fun but to burn calories too and then pumping a whole load more back in in the form of energy supplements!!

 

[AndBreathe]

Thats really interesting and good to know! I haven't looked too deeply into it yet because its a few months off , if i follow the plan really before I'm going to need to worry about it really. Just back in from a 3 mile run ( up hill all the way, half killed myself lol ) just take a small amount of water with me for that, but its when I get past 5 miles, in the past I have found i benefited from something more, maybe a sports drink or I used to use the SiS gels, but avoiding carbs now makes them out the question. Besides I always felt a bit irritated with the fact I was running not just for fun but to burn calories too and then pumping a whole load more back in in the form of energy supplements!!

Obviously you'll have to look into it for yourself for a deeper understanding, but I believe some of the "magic" to it is when and how you fuel. Fats can take longer to metabolise than a big, fat hit of sugar, so that demands feeding earlier. I imagine fuelling up a margin of time before running, then maybe snacks earlier in the run/event than you would take carbs, in order for them to get going in your system.

Some margin of protein also metabolises into glucose.

I just googled "low carb marathon training" and had loads of results, including this one: http://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/do-low-carb-diets-improve-endurance-performance

Happy reading.

 

[TracyC]

Obviously you'll have to look into it for yourself for a deeper understanding, but I believe some of the "magic" to it is when and how you fuel. Fats can take longer to metabolise than a big, fat hit of sugar, so that demands feeding earlier. I imagine fuelling up a margin of time before running, then maybe snacks earlier in the run/event than you would take carbs, in order for them to get going in your system.

Some margin of protein also metabolises into glucose.

I just googled "low carb marathon training" and had loads of results, including this one: http://www.runnersworld.com/newswire/do-low-carb-diets-improve-endurance-performance

Happy reading.

Aye it is, a lot of runners plan meals up to a week prior to a big run, and some eat directly before...maybe a protein bar or a banana ..and some cant ( I cant ) because it will make them feel sick. It is all just very individual. Ive seen something recently that is a sugar free strip containing strong caffeine, cant remember the name of it just now but will look it up again. x

 

[Finsky]

There is book called 'The art and science of Low Carbohydrate performance'...available for Kindle as well as on paper form.
That could provide just the right info for you. I haven't had chance to read it yet...I'm just in the middle of the same writers other book of the same subject in more general term 'art and science of low carbohydrate living'. That one has been brilliant reading so far..!!

 

[TracyC]

I havent

I'm currently jogging in the morning, effectively two thirds of the way through a 16 hour fasting period (and I'm on the 800 cal diet). I expected it would be difficult but in fact there have been no real energy issues - if anything I feel more energetic and have just started increasing pace. I'm going every other day but feel like I could manage every morning.

Fats vs sugars are two completely different sources of energy so there may not even be parallels between how you prep for a longer run with one vs how you do it with the other and how you maintain (or even need to) energy during the run.

Things may change for me when the last of the fat - the low hanging fruit - has gone, but even with no 'excess' we're typically packing enough body fat to get us through long endurance events without snacking. Theoretically.

Not noticed a difference in how I'm running now compared to how I used to before changing to a LCHF diet either, but I do think I might later on, however this thread has given food for thought on that. Yes, i think the trouble with running is its so addictive, I do have to stop myself going out for a run on my days off, but I know the recovery is the most important part of training and my legs love me for it in the end, have ended up with over training injury issues, so I'd say even if you can do every day, don't. I try and do something everyday though even if its just walking the dog. Im not one to go to the gym or exersize classes so I guess I'm a bit limited.

 

[TracyC]

There is book called 'The art and science of Low Carbohydrate performance'...available for Kindle as well as on paper form.
That could provide just the right info for you. I haven't had chance to read it yet...I'm just in the middle of the same writers other book of the same subject in more general term 'art and science of low carbohydrate living'. That one has been brilliant reading so far..!!

Thank you, will give that a look!! x